New Episode of Charlo’s Place: Making Dabs with Extracted CEO Ryan Hedrick
Yesterday, Extracted Colorado founder and CEO Ryan Hedrick swings by Charlo’s Place to offer education on rosin tech and to discuss his decision to go from being an employee to a boss. Ryan explains how you can make your own dabs at home with a flat iron and why he says this method of pressing
Montana Reduces Medical Marijuana Card Fee by 94%
By The Associated Press The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services is lowering its fee for medical marijuana cardholder registrants by about 94 percent. The department, which administers the program, announced the change this month. As of Saturday, people renewing or applying for a new medical marijuana card will pay $5 instead of
Congressman Swalwell Adds His Support for California’s Prop 64
SACRAMENTO, CA — Yesterday, the Yes on 64 campaign announced East Bay congressman and former Alameda County prosecutor Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) announced his support for Proposition 64, the statewide ballot measure known as the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA). Prior to his election to Congress in November 2012, Swalwell served
Arkansas Medical Marijuana Measure Qualifies for November Ballot
LITTLE ROCK, AR — Arkansas voters will decide this November on a statewide initiative to permit physician-authorized patients to possess and cultivate cannabis. The Secretary of State’s office has affirmed that initiative proponents, Arkansans for Compassionate Care, submitted sufficient signatures from registered voters to qualify the measure for the November ballot. The 2016 Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act […]
Medical Marijuana Laws Linked to Less Prescription Drug Use, Medicare Spending, Study Finds
ATHENS, GA — The enactment of statewide medicinal cannabis laws is associated with a quantifiable decline in the use of traditional prescription drugs, according to data published in the July edition of the scientific journal Health Affairs. Investigators at the University of Georgia assessed the relationship between medical marijuana legalization laws and physicians’ prescribing patterns […]
Hawaii Governor Signs Medical Marijana Expansion Law
HONOLULU, HI — Hawaii Governor David Ige has signed legislation, House Bill 2707, to expand the state’s medical cannabis program. The measure expands the pool of practitioners who may legally recommend cannabis therapy to include advanced nurse practitioners. Separate provisions in the bill removes the prohibition on Sunday dispensary sales and on the possession of marijuana-related […]
Rhode Island Governor Signs Bill Allowing PTSD Patients Medical Marijuana Access
PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo has signed legislation, House Bill 7142, to make post-traumatic stress patients eligible for medical cannabis treatment and to accelerate access to those patients in hospice care. Members of both chambers previously overwhelmingly approved the measure. Full text of the bill is available here. The law takes immediate effect. […]
Senator Daylin Leach Paves Way For Medical Marijuana In Pennsylvania
Forum: Medical Marijuana News Posted By: Katelyn Baker Post Time: 07-13-2016 at 02:51 PM
Colorado Cannabis Sales Reach Nearly Half a Billion Dollars in 5 Months
After the first five months of the year, Colorado is on pace to reach $1 billion dollars in cannabis sales during 2016. The Colorado Department of Revenue released data Wednesday showing that Colorado cannabis shops reeled in nearly $98.6 million in sales during May, bringing the year-to-date tally for 2016 to just over $486 million. […]
Inside the Montana Medical Marijuana Mess: One Patient’s Story
Today I read that Initiative 182 (I-182), Montana’s medical marijuana initiative version 2.0, had officially qualified for the November ballot. The news sent a rush of relief through my body. I’d heard that enough signatures had been gathered back in June, but there had been no news since then. Half the states in the U.S. […]
Medical Marijuana Update
Forum: Medical Marijuana News Posted By: Katelyn Baker Post Time: 07-13-2016 at 03:17 PM
US CA: Medi-pot Measure Moves On
The Chico News & Review, 14 Jul 2016 – Petition Approved for Initiative to Replace Measure A An initiative aimed at establishing new guidelines for the growing and sale of medical marijuana in Butte County has enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot, county Clerk-Recorder Candace Grubbs confirmed Wednesday (July 13).
US CA: Column: No To Low THC
Sacramento News & Review, 14 Jul 2016 – Hey I heard some folks in Colorado were trying to change their pot laws. Can I get an update? – -Pueblo Boulder There were a few concern trolls, calling themselves the Healthy Colorado Coalition, that wanted to put an initiative on the ballot that would do a […]
US CA: Editorial: Tax Weed For Homelessness?
Los Angeles Times, 14 Jul 2016 – L.A. County’s Latest Plan – to Slap a Levy on Marijuana Sales – Comes With Several Drawbacks. Running out of time and options to raise money to address the homelessness crisis, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors turned Tuesday to a new funding source: weed.
US CA: Cloverdale Seeks to Join Growing Number of California
The Press Democrat, 14 Jul 2016 – With medicinal marijuana becoming more regulated and the possibility that California voters will legalize pot in November, Cloverdale is pursuing a local tax on cannabis-related businesses. A majority of Cloverdale voters would need to approve the tax, which the City Council is likely to place on the November […]
US CA: Column: A Multibillion Dollar Industry Without a Bank
SF Weekly, 14 Jul 2016 – As the California campaign for the Adult Use of Marijuana Act gains momentum and state economists forecast an industry that could grow to $15 billion annually by 2020, creating thousands of jobs and generating millions in tax revenue, there’s a dark cloud hanging over potential victory celebrations on Nov. […]
US AZ: Column: Free Kyle Catlin
Tucson Weekly, 14 Jul 2016 – Parents of Medical Marijuana Patient, Caregiver in Prison Are Not Giving Up Until Their Son Is Free Suson Catlin has been letters to the Governor’s Office hoping someone out there will help get her 27-year-old son, Kyle, out of prison-where he’s been since mid-January over nonviolent marijuana felony charges. […]
US CO: Column: Dear Stoner: How Much Marijuana Can a Tourist
Westword, 14 Jul 2016 – Dear Stoner: I’ll be visiting Colorado this summer, and everyone is telling me I can only buy a quarter-ounce. Is that true? If so, is that for every shop, or can I buy more at another? Based B Dear Based: It used to be that way, but not any longer! […]
US OR: Column: California’s Pot Initiative
Portland Mercury, 14 Jul 2016 – Is That State’s Brand-New Cannabis Initiative Any Good? What do you think of California’s brand new pot initiative? IT’S A MIXED BAG, but I’m getting on board. Last week, California announced that the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA) officially has a home on the state’s November ballot. Over […]
Florida Governor Rick Scott Signs Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Bill
Today, Florida Governor Rick Scott approved a bill aimed at reforming the practice of civil asset forfeiture, following unanimous passage in both the House and Senate. The bipartisan unanimity of passage in both chambers was driven by a diverse and disparate coalition of law enforcement and reform advocates, including the Drug Policy Alliance, which retained […]
Colorado Youth Aren’t Using More Marijuana, But They’re Bearing the Brunt of Enforcement
Last week was exciting for folks (nerds?) like me who are interested in the public health implications of marijuana policy reform, especially those of us in Colorado. With the long-awaited release of the 2015 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, we got an updated snapshot of how youth in the state are responding to implementation of Amendment […]
Top Adviser to Richard Nixon Admitted that ‘War on Drugs’ was Policy Tool to Go After Anti-War Protesters and ‘Black People’
A decades old quote from President Nixon’s administration is making front page news and being shared widely around the web. The quote from John Ehrlichman, who served as President Richard Nixon’s domestic policy chief gained new notoriety after appearing in a cover story in Harper’s Magazine by author Dan Baum. “You want to know what […]
Activists Around the World Say “Support. Don’t Punish” and Call for Drug Policy Reform
Every year at the end of June, on the United Nations’ International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, governments around the world re-commit themselves to eradicating drug use and trafficking worldwide. Some choose to use this day to celebrate their contributions to the global ‘war on drugs’ by highlighting arrests made and drugs seized […]
Freedom Should Be Free
Last month, U.S. Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA) introduced the No More Money Bail Act of 2016. This bill would prohibit the use of money bail at the federal level and deny states access to Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funds until they end the use of monetary payment as a condition for pretrial release. Currently, these […]
June 23: Activists in Hundreds of Cities Across the Globe Stage Actions Calling for Drug Policy Reform
On Thursday, June 23, activists will gather at 8 pm in front of the Brooklyn House of Detention and hold a rally as The Illuminator projects images and videos of people from all walks of life who use or have used drugs – fathers, teachers, friends, nurses – as part of the Support. Don’t Punish […]
Nancy Reagan’s Role in the Disastrous War on Drugs
Nancy Reagan, the former first lady and widow of President Ronald Reagan died on Sunday in California at age 94. Front pages around the world are remembering her life. The stories all talk about the powerful love between Nancy and Ronald and her impactful role as first lady. When highlighting her advocacy, one of the […]
The Drug War Started 45 Years Ago Today. Here’s How to End it For Good
Former President Richard Nixon officially declared a “war on drugs” 45 years ago today. His primary motivation was to go after anti-war protesters and black people. It doesn’t get clearer than this frank explanation from one of Nixon’s top policy advisers, John Ehrlichman: “We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against […]
Maine Governor Vetoes Legislation Seeking to Increase Access to Life-saving Overdose Antidote Naloxone
Maine Governor Paul LePage vetoed legislation this week that would have allowed access to the life-saving overdose antidote naloxone without a prescription. Explaining his veto, LePage wrote “naloxone does not truly save lives; it merely extends them until the next overdose.” Every state in the nation, with the exception of five, have either passed or […]
Senate Appropriations Committee to Allow Banks to Provide Services to State-Legalized Marijuana Stores
The Senate Appropriations Committee voted today 16 to 14 to allow banks to provide services to marijuana businesses. Currently, because marijuana is illegal under federal law, both medical and non-medical marijuana businesses are unable to access banking services like any other business. Consequently, many marijuana businesses operate on a cash-only basis, leading to huge public […]
You Can’t Fight Racial Injustice without Ending the Drug War
Last month, the internet erupted in outrage over a decades old quote from an official in the Nixon administration that gained a new moment in the spotlight when it was featured in a cover story in Harper’s Magazine. The quote shocked many but it also affirmed what others knew all along: the war on drugs […]
New York State Assembly Passes Landmark Legislation to Seal Past Marijuana Possession Convictions
Albany — Yesterday, the New York State Assembly voted in support of A10092, a bill that will seal the criminal records of people who have been unjustly and unconstitutionally arrested for simple possession of marijuana in public view. The bipartisan vote was 99 in favor and 42 opposed. Over the last 20 years, over 700,000 […]
Top African American Leaders Join Over 1,000 Worldwide Calling for End to “Disastrous” Drug War, Ahead of UN Special Session
(New York, New York) – On the eve of the 2016 United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on the World Drug Problem, world leaders and activists have signed a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urging him to set the stage “for real reform of global drug control policy.” The unprecedented list of […]
Mexico, Instead of Denying Crimes Against Humanity, Commit to Drug Policy Alternatives
Last week, the Open Society Foundations published a ground-breaking report, “Undeniable Atrocities”, which accuses the Mexican government of committing crimes against humanity during Mexico’s Drug War. The work presents evidence compiled over three years by the Open Society Justice Initiative and five Mexican human rights organizations. The report concludes that there is reasonable basis to […]
Update From El Salvador: Faith Leaders Speak Out Against the Drug War as Caravan Travels to UN
“For a long time, we have been worrying about the harms produced by psychoactive substances, but not enough about the illicit drug market. My proposal is that we need to fight to decriminalize all psychoactive substances because the consequences of the drug war have been entirely negative. Drugs should really be treated as public health […]
Vice President Biden: Fix Your RAVE Act Law and Save Lives
Festival season is underway and sadly, we’ve already seen headlines about drug-related deaths. This summer, there’s a unique opportunity to do something to help prevent these deaths: join DPA’s #SaferPartying campaign and partner organization DanceSafe in asking Vice President Biden to support Amending the RAVE Act. The RAVE Act – or Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act, […]
Legal Experts Urge UN to Reject Drug Courts
The U.S.-led war on drugs and U.S.-shaped international drug policies are being scrutinized and debated this month by governments from around the globe as the world’s countries prepare to gather in mid-April for the United Nations General Assembly Special Session, or UNGASS, to review the world’s drug control regime. It is the first such meeting […]
Medical Professionals and Advocates Slam Governor’s Heroin Bill that Allows Hospitals to Detain People Against Their Will
ALBANY, New York — Medical professionals and advocates are expressing concerns about a provision of the heroin bill package being advanced by Governor Andrew Cuomo and the legislature, which would allow healthcare facilities to detain people who use drugs against their will for up to 3 days. Central concerns of medical professionals and addiction treatment […]
Tuesday: California Assembly Committee Hearing on Supervised Consumption Services for People Who Use Drugs
Tuesday, April 5, the California Assembly Public Safety Committee will hold a legislative hearing on AB 2495 (Eggman) to permit localities to establish supervised consumption services (SCS), which allow individuals to consume controlled substances in a safe space, provide sterile equipment, and connect patients to treatment, medical care, and other social services. “This bill will […]
Wednesday: Drug Policy Alliance to Testify at Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing on Alternatives to Failed Drug War
On Wednesday morning, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs will hold an unprecedented rountable hearing entitled “America’s Insatiable Demand for Drugs: Examining Alternative Approaches.” The hearing comes at a time where the country is struggling to tackle the opioid epidemic, and policymakers are in search of innovative solutions that avoid the mistakes […]
President Obama Grants Clemency to 61 Individuals in Federal Prison for Drug Offenses
Today, President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 61 people incarcerated in federal prison for drug offenses. This follows the commutation of 95 people in December, 2015, 45 people in July of that year, 22 people in March 2015, and 8 people in December of 2014. All of those who received commutations today were serving […]
Report Finds Too Few Patients Can Access Medicine Through New York’s Overly Restrictive, Expensive Medical Marijuana Program
New York – Today, the Drug Policy Alliance issued a report assessing the first four months on the state’s medical marijuana program. The report is in response to demand for information in the face of the absence of all but the most limited public information from the New York State Department of Health. The report, […]
‘No More Drug War’ Caravan to Visit Five Impacted Countries on way to UN Session in NY
Twenty-two days, five countries, one message: end the drug war. Starting in Honduras on March 28th, the Caravan for Peace, Life and Justice will travel through El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and the United States with the goal of reaching New York City on the eve of the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on […]
Nearly 100 Organizations Oppose Ayotte Fentanyl Mandatory Minimum Expansion
Today, close to 100 groups from the civil rights, criminal justice, public health, and faith communities – including the ACLU, Drug Policy Alliance, United Methodist Church, Human Rights Watch, NAACP, and Treatment Communities of America – sent a letter to Senate leadership urging opposition to amendments offered by Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) to a defense […]
Glare on Nixon’s Motivations: The Drug War Was (And Still Is!) A Racist Policy Tool to Disrupt and Neutralize Black Communities
Earlier this week, the drug policy field was set ablaze with Harper’s Magazine cover page story, “Legalize It All: How to win the war on drugs,” a cutting narration of U.S. drug policies, past and present, and a call for reform to legalize drugs. Up front and center was a previously overlooked quotation from former […]
NYPD Commissioner Bratton’s Flawed Stance on Marijuana Enforcement
In the last week, NYPD Commissioner William Bratton has been in the news twice because of his flawed stance on marijuana enforcement. The attention stems from Bratton’s crediting of marijuana with rising violence in communities – an opinion that is both wrong and proven to be detrimental for people of color. Bratton posed the question […]
Costly and Punitive Legislation Seeking to Punish Drug Sellers Introduced in CO Legislature
Denver – Rep. Mike Foote (D-District 12) has introduced HB 16-1344, which seeks to expand the definition of special offender in the Colorado Uniform Controlled Substances Act of 2013. Under the proposed bill, defendants who provide a controlled substance to someone who dies after using the substance will be considered special offenders and face level […]
TODAY: Elected Officials, Community Members and Civil Rights Groups Demand Racial Equity in New York’s Response to the Heroin and Opioid Crisis
ALBANY, New York — Today, elected officials, community members, civil rights and legal advocates, and drug policy reformers joined together to call for the inclusion of communities of color in Albany’s response to heroin and opioids. In the midst of the opioid crisis, lawmakers and the media have increasingly highlighted strategies that treat drug use […]
60% of Californians Support Marijuana Legalization, Including Record Support from Latinos
A recent California poll shows that a clear majority of Californians support legalizing marijuana. The poll, conducted by Probolsky Research, found that nearly 60 percent of Californians polled would vote yes to a ballot initiative that would legalize marijuana for recreational use. The poll also found that marijuana legalization was supported by 58.3 percent of […]
Senate Hearing Today Highlights Failures of Policy Responses to “Synthetic Drugs,” as Advocates Call for Health-Based Approaches
Washington, D.C. – Senator Grassley (R-IA) held a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary earlier today titled “Deadly Synthetic Drugs: The Need to Stay Ahead of the Poison Peddlers.” The hearing reflects the intention of members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, including Senator Grassley and Senator Feinstein (D-CA), to give the Drug […]
Florida House Passes Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Unanimously
(New York, NY) – Today, the Florida House of Representatives unanimously passed SB 1044, reforming Florida’s “Contraband Forfeiture Act,” sending the legislation to Gov. Scott’s desk for a signature. Last week the Senate passed the legislation, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Brandes, in a 38–0 vote. The bipartisan unanimity of passage in both chambers was driven […]
Prince, Gone 2 Soon, Spotlights the Complexities of Opioid Use
Today would have been Prince’s 58th birthday, and so as we celebrate his life and musical contributions, I wonder how this tragedy could have been prevented, how we, as advocates for compassionate and health-based drug policies, can do better to educate people, end stigma around opioid use, prescription and otherwise, and prevent overdoses. Like most, […]
Responding to K2 with Facts Instead of Fear
This morning New Yorkers awoke to news in the New York Times and New York Post that on Tuesday dozens of people in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn had severe reactions to a batch of K2, a commonly used name for synthetic cannabinoid products. This most recent outbreak follows a spate of emergency room admissions last summer […]
President Obama Continues to Use Clemency Power and Commutes Sentences of 42 Individuals in Federal Prison for Drug Offenses
Today, President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 42 people incarcerated in federal prison for drug offenses. This follows the commutation of 58 people in May 2016 and 61 individuals on March 30, 2016. To date, Obama has granted clemency to 348 individuals. President Obama has been under significant public pressure from advocacy groups and […]
Senate Appropriations Committee Votes to Prevent DEA from Undermining State Medical Marijuana Laws
In yet another huge victory for marijuana reform, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted today by 21 to 8 to approve an amendment offered by Senator Mikulski (D-MD) to protect state medical marijuana laws from federal interference by the Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Administration. “Marijuana reforms are repeatedly winning votes in Congress,” said Bill […]
After Prince’s Tragic Overdose, Here’s What You Need to Know About Fentanyl
The toxicology results from music legend Prince’s tragic death last month are now public, and the media are focusing on what for many is a new word – fentanyl. It appears likely that Prince ingested it and tragically died some time later. So what is fentanyl? Fentanyl is a potent painkiller originally synthesized in the […]
Over 1,000 Leaders Worldwide Slam Failed Prohibitionist Drug Policies, Call on UN for Systemic Reform
More than 1,000 international leaders – prominent in the fields of politics, health, academics and entertainment – have publicly called for a “new global response to drugs,” in advance of an upcoming United Nations session. The UN is currently holding a General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on drugs, at its New York headquarters. The three-day […]
Be Honest, is your Psychedelic Use Purely “Sacred”?
With the growing acknowledgement of the use of psychedelics for medical, therapeutic or sacred uses, it may feel easier to “come out” about your personal use of these substances. But if you’ve ever used these drugs outside of those contexts (yes and sorry, this includes at Burning Man), then you should probably pause a bit […]
United Nations Orders Security to Confiscate Copies of Open Letter to Ban Ki-Moon Calling for End to Global Drug War
(New York, New York) – On the opening day of the 2016 United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on the World Drug Problem, the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) gathered more than 60 performers dressed in costumes from the era of U.S. alcohol prohibition to greet attendees at the entrance to the United Nations and […]
New Mexico’s Department of Health Administrative Delays are Preventing Thousands of Patients from Accessing Medical Cannabis
SANTA FE— New Mexico’s Department of Health administrative shortfalls are leaving medical cannabis patients without access to medicine and unprotected from criminal liability for purchase, possession, and cultivation across New Mexico. According to law, the Department of Health (DOH) is required to process medical cannabis program patient enrollment applications (26-2B-7 C NMSA 1978) in 30 […]
Performers Give Theatrical Greeting to Attendees of United Nations Special Session on Drug Policy
WHAT: On the opening day of the 2016 United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on the World Drug Problem, the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is gathering more than 60 performers dressed in costumes from the era of U.S. alcohol prohibition to greet attendees at the entrance to the United Nations and hand them copies […]
New Report Finds Racial Disparities Continue Under California’s Marijuana Enforcement
Hakeem Brown is unique. In the state of California, where black owned cannabis businesses are rare, Hakeem Brown owned and managed a licensed medical cannabis dispensary in Vallejo from 2009-2012, when it was shut down as part of a multi dispensary raid. The raid was deemed unlawful and the city was required to return the […]
Tuesday: D.C. Council Expected to Vote on Final Passage of Permanent Ban on Marijuana Clubs
The Council of the District of Columbia has scheduled a final vote Tuesday on legislation that would permanently prohibit adult consumption of marijuana everywhere but a private residence. Advocates warn that final passage of this bill will undermine existing laws that protect medical marijuana patients and yield more control over local marijuana policy to Congress, […]
Marijuana Infraction Enforcement Nearly 4 Times More Severe for Black Californians and 1.5 Times More Severe for Latino Californians than for Whites, Finds New DPA and ACLU Report
May 31, 2016 (Oakland, CA) – New data analyses conducted by the Drug Policy Alliance and ACLU of California find that racial disparities in marijuana policing have persisted, following the reduction of low-level marijuana possession from a misdemeanor to an infraction in 2011. Possession of under an ounce of marijuana is punishable in California by […]
Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Veterans Access to Medical Marijuana
The Senate Appropriations Committee passed a bipartisan amendment today, 20 to 10, allowing Veterans Administration (VA) doctors to recommend medical marijuana to their patients in states where medical marijuana is legal. The vote is the second time the U.S. Senate has advanced this issue. The amendment did not make the final appropriations bill last year […]
Free Conference on Public Health Strategies for New Psychoactive Substances, Like K2 and Bath Salts
The emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPS) – often called “synthetic drugs,” “legal highs,” or “research chemicals” – pose a number of challenges for policymakers, media covering these issues, medical and social service providers, and people who use these substances. Unfortunately, current media and policy responses to NPS – a broad category that includes everything […]
Race and the Drug War: Hundreds to Gather at Columbia University in New York City for Historic Strategy Session on the Eve of the UN Special Assembly on Drugs
On Sunday, April 17th, just prior to the UN General Assembly’s Special Session on Drugs (UNGASS), scholars and activists will participate in what is likely the largest strategy-session that has been held in New York City on racial justice and drug policy. Brought together by the Drug Policy Alliance and Columbia University’s Center for Justice […]
U.S. House Judiciary Committee Unanimously Approves Legislation That Helps Individuals Fight Warrantless Asset Forfeiture Seizures
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary unanimously approved asset forfeiture reform legislation. Known as the DUE PROCESS Act (H.R. 5283) and sponsored by Crime Subcommittee Chairman Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI), Crime Subcommittee Ranking Member Sheila Jackson Lee […]
Patients and Their Families Gather in Albany to Demand Changes to New York’s Broken Medical Marijuana Law
Albany – Today, dozens of advocates gathered in Albany to urge legislators to support a slate of bills that would amend the Compassionate Care Act, New York’s medical marijuana law. The law, which was passed in June of 2014, took eighteen months to implement and has been criticized for being one of the most restrictive […]
911 “Bad” Samaritan Law Sent to Ohio Governor Kasich
The Ohio Senate voted to pass a bill (HB 110) last night that was originally designed to save lives but has been amended to a point where it could do more harm than good. The original bill was modeled after laws in more than 30 states known as 911 Good Samaritan laws that provide people […]
Honduras Says No to Drug War: Caravan Kicks Off Epic Journey to UN
“We are all constantly threatened. We are all criminalized and targeted; but for us, love for our struggle is love for life and that’s what keeps us going.” As Marleny Reyes, an organizer with the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH), addressed around 30 members of the Caravan at COPINH’s headquarters, […]
Wednesday: Anti-Drug War Activist Anthony Papa Releases His New Book “This Side of Freedom: Life After Clemency”
Anthony Papa will release his new book, This Side of Freedom: Life After Clemency at the New York office of the Drug Policy Alliance (131 W. 33rd Street) on May 25th 2016. This Side of Freedom: Life After Clemency is a riveting, compelling tale about the life of activist, writer and artist Anthony Papa. He […]
April 11: Telephone Town Hall with Political Activist Dr. Angela Davis on Ending America’s Obsession with Prisons
On Monday, April 11 from 4 – 5pm EST, Dr. Angela Davis, political activist and Distinguished Professor Emerita from the University of California, Santa Cruz, will join the Drug Policy Alliance’s asha bandele for a discussion about America’s obsession with punishment and prisons and how to heal from the policies that have destroyed families and […]
Will Congress Allow for Science Over Hype Around “Synthetic” Drugs?
On Tuesday the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on novel psychoactive substances (NPS), focusing on synthetic cannabinoids (aka “Spice,” “K2,” etc.), cathinones (aka “Bath Salts”), and opioids (fentanyl). The hearing included testimony from two law enforcement representatives, the father of a teenager who died tragically from drug-related causes, and Professor David Nichols, a medicinal chemistry […]
Tuesday: U.S. Senate to Hold Sham Hearing on Marijuana Legalization
On Tuesday morning, Senator Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Feinstein (D-CA) will hold a hearing in the Caucus on International Narcotics Control titled “Is the Department of Justice Adequately Protecting the Public from the Impact of State Recreational Marijuana Legalization?” The hearing is ostensibly a response to a recent GAO report that criticized DOJ for a […]
House Votes to Allow Veterans to Access Medical Marijuana
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House passed a bipartisan amendment today, 233 to 189, allowing Veterans Administration (VA) doctors to recommend medical marijuana to their patients in states where medical marijuana is legal. The vote already passed the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, but narrowly failed in the House last year. The amendment will likely now make […]
UK Momentarily Spared From Ludicrous Drug Law
The global community of drug policy reformers can breathe a small sigh of relief this week after it was revealed that the enactment of the world’s most absurdly expansive drug law has been delayed. The United Kingdom’s Psychoactive Substances Act of 2016, which would effectively ban any drug that changes someone’s mood or behavior, may […]
One in 10 People Report Having Police Take Their Cash or Property without a Conviction in Los Angeles, Riverside & San Bernardino
LOS ANGELES–In a recent survey conducted by Public Policy Polling, a startling 10 percent of adults living in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties said that they had had their property taken by a police officer without being convicted of a crime. Nearly one in five (19 percent) of those living in these three […]
Senator Mitch McConnell Receives More Than 30,000 Petitions Calling for a Vote on Sentencing Reform
This past Tuesday, I had the honor of joining a great team of community activists to deliver more than 30,000 petition signatures to Sen. Mitch McConnell’s Kentucky office urging him to let the Senate vote on the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act. This important criminal justice reform bill would reduce harsh, lengthy mandatory minimum sentences […]
Ohio Legislature Considers 911 “Bad” Samaritan Law That Could Increase Overdose Deaths
As early as Wednesday the Ohio Senate could consider a bill (HB 110) that was originally designed to save lives but has been amended so badly it could do more harm than good. The original bill was modeled after laws in more than 30 states known as 911 Good Samaritan laws that provide people who […]
President Obama’s Opioid Plan Released Today Promotes Major Harm Reduction Policies
President Obama delivered remarks at an addiction summit in Atlanta today that detailed a set of actions his Administration is taking to address the opioid and heroin crisis. Although the actions outlined in this White House fact sheet are largely consistent with previous announcements in recent months by the Administration on the opioid crisis, advocates […]
2016: The Ground Has Never Been More Fertile to End the Drug War
Never before has the ground been more fertile for a shift in national and international drug policies. As detailed in the Drug Policy Alliance’s latest Annual Report, the drug policy reform movement is fast maturing. Even as we step up our attacks on drug war policies, we increasingly find ourselves working with people in government, […]
Leading Medical Experts Call for Drug Policy Overhaul, Including Decriminalizing Drugs and Exploring Legal Regulation
As policymakers weigh “what to do about drugs,” they almost always focus on the potential harms of drugs and almost never on the harms of our drug policies themselves. But earlier today an esteemed group of researchers issued a comprehensive report on public health and international drug policy that documents in meticulous detail the catastrophic […]
Baltimore Raven Eugene Monroe Launches Campaign to Change NFL Marijuana Policy
Starting left tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, Eugene Monroe has become a leading voice calling on the NFL to adopt a more rational marijuana policy. Yesterday, he launched a new Facebook page and website to support marijuana in the NFL, using the #cannabis4pain hashtag to relay his message. He specifically wants the NFL “to remove […]
Oklahoma Governor Grants Larry Yarbrough Clemency After 22 years in Prison
Activists have fought hard for many years to free Larry Yarbrough. Their prayers were answered when Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin granted Yarbrough executive clemency earlier this month. Several years ago, I wrote about Larry in a piece titled “How Three Joints and an ounce of Coke Got an Oklahoma Grandfather Life without Parole.” Behind the […]
Maryland GOP Governor Larry Hogan Signs Syringe Access Expansion Legislation
Today, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed the Opioid-Associated Disease Prevention and Outreach Act, after it passed the Maryland General Assembly with overwhelming bipartisan support. The legislation, also referred to as the Syringe Services Programs Bill, will allow thousands of Maryland residents to access life-saving sterile syringe exchange programs. Maryland has grappled with a rising rate […]
Florida Governor Rick Scott Signs Syringe Access Legislation
Today, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed the IDEA Act (“Miami-Dade Infectious Disease Elimination Act”), after it passed the Florida House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support. Florida leads the nation in new HIV cases, while Miami-Dade and neighboring Broward are #1 and #2 in the nation, respectively, for the rate of new HIV infections per […]
Thursday Webinar: Connecting the War on Drugs to the War on Immigrants
The Drug Policy Alliance, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, and Human Rights Watch invite you to join a free webinar on Thursday, May 12, 2016 at 11 am Pacific / 12 pm Mountain / 1 pm Central / 2 pm Eastern. The drug war has increasingly become a war against immigrant communities. Much as the drug […]
Supreme Court Rejects Nebraska and Oklahoma Lawsuit Over Colorado Marijuana Legalization
Today, the United States Supreme Court declined to hear the case brought by Nebraska and Oklahoma against Colorado over its marijuana legalization law. Oklahoma and Nebraska had claimed the Colorado law had created an increased law enforcement burden in neighboring states. The suit, filed by Nebraska Attorney General John Bruning and Oklahoma Attorney General Scott […]
Making Drug Policy More Evidence-based: The Role of Scientists and Other Scholars
A few years ago Nicholas Kristof, an op ed writer for the New York Times, penned an opinion piece titled Professors, We Need You! Nowhere is this truer than in drug policy where scientific evidence seems to have little to do with how policy gets made. Despite a robust research base and a plethora of talented […]
Retired Federal Judge, Law Enforcement, and Leading Drug Reform Organization Ask Court to Reconsider Silk Road’s Ross Ulbricht’s Harsh Prison Sentence
NEW YORK— The Drug Policy Alliance filed an amicus brief today urging the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to reduce the harsh life without parole sentence imposed on Ross Ulbricht, who was convicted of operating the Silk Road website. “We have learned from 40 plus years of the failed war on drugs that incarceration does […]
President Obama Grants Clemency to 58 Individuals in Federal Prison on Drug Offenses
Today, President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 58 people incarcerated in federal prison for drug offenses. This follows the commutation of 61 individuals on March 30, 2016, 95 people in December of 2015, 45 people in July, 22 people in March 2015, and 8 people in December of 2014. All of those who received […]
Better Drug Education Would Help Prevent Colorado Tourists From Wanting to Go to the ER for Marijuana
After relocating to Denver last month, I soon noticed a flurry of articles in local and national media suggesting that marijuana is increasingly driving Colorado visitors to hospitals. Other than feeling vaguely relieved to no longer count myself among the vacationers here, I wasn’t sure what to make of this information. I decided to take […]
California’s Golden Opportunity to Finally Legalize Marijuana is Coming in November
If you care about protecting the environment, if you care about raising revenue for the state, if you care about protecting young people, if you care about communities harmed by our past drug policies, if you care about racial justice, then you should care about the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA). This was the […]
Major Gathering at Columbia University to Address Race and Drug War on Eve of Historic UN Session
On April 17th, the eve of the UN General Assembly’s Special Session on Drugs (UNGASS), scholars and activists will participate in a one-day symposium and strategy session that highlights the connection between the global drug war and racial injustice. Brought together by the Drug Policy Alliance, and Columbia University’s Center for Justice and Center on […]
Colorado Legislature Approves Bill to Help Young Medical Marijuana Patients
Today, in a unanimous vote, the Colorado Senate approved legislation mandating that school districts establish a policy to ensure that young medical marijuana patients can take their medicine on school grounds. As a show of respect, the Senate directed their ‘yes’ votes to families and proponents in the gallery. Last week the Senate Education Committee […]
World Leaders Call Upcoming UN Special Session An “Historic Opportunity” to End Failed War on Drugs
(New York, New York) – A bold public statement was released today by the Global Commission on Drug Policy stating that “an historic opportunity to achieve more humane and effective drug policy is at risk.” The Commission is referring to the 2016 United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on drugs — a meeting of […]
Maine Legislature Overrides Governor LePage’s Veto of Life-Saving Naloxone Legislation
Over two-thirds of the Maine legislature voted today to override two harm reduction bills vetoed by Governor Paul LePage — LD1552, a bill that would provide public funding for syringe exchange and expand syringe access, and LD 1547, legislation to allow access to the life-saving overdose antidote naloxone without a prescription. LePage’s veto remarks of […]
New Poll Shows Strong Support for Asset Forfeiture Reform in Florida as Legislation Heads to Governor Rick Scott’s Desk
An overwhelming majority of registered Florida voters support civil asset forfeiture reform, according to a new poll released by Drug Policy Action. 84 percent of Florida registered voters, including 86 percent of all Republicans and 81 percent of independents, think police should not be able to seize and permanently take away property from people who […]
Maine Takes Two Big Steps Toward Decriminalizing Drug Use
The Maine legislature has enacted two bills this session that will greatly advance treating drug use as a public health issue instead of a criminal justice issue. Earlier today, LD 1554 passed into law without the governor’s signature, and will make simple drug possession a misdemeanor instead of a felony. Under the law, possession of […]
Tuesday: Maryland House of Delegates to Hold Groundbreaking Hearings on Two Harm Reduction Bills
Tuesday at 1pm, the Maryland House of Delegates will hold legislative hearings on two progressive legislative proposals aimed at treating drug use as a health issue. House Bill 1212 permits the establishment of safe consumption programs, which allow individuals to consume controlled substances in a safe space, provide sterile equipment, and connect patients to treatment, […]