Vice policy predictions

To add to the list of depressing news for the day, have a look at the sorry fate that the medical marijuana bill in Minnesota suffered. Nonetheless, I think the wind is blowing in one direction in the US; and that is towards legalization. These are not the wishful words of an optimist but a [...]

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More Lynch footage from Reason

Reason has some exclusive footage from the aborted sentencing yesterday. Meanwhile, if you are a reader who is not entirely familiar with the timeline and details of the Charlie Lynch case, I strongly recommend this excellent Reason summary. To read my various posts on the case, click here.

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Obama’s medical marijuana lies

In response to questions from the court about how to proceed with the Lynch case given that government policy on this issue seems to have reversed, this is what the US Department of Justice wrote in a letter sent earlier today by Marshall Jarrett, Director. Not only does the DoJ has no intention of intervening in the [...]

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DEA to end medical marijuana raids?

So says Eric Holder. As I wrote in this post, ending the raids was one of Obama’s campaign promises, so one would reasonably expect him to reverse Bush policy on this issue.  Politicians though, have lied on such matters before and political appointees even more so; thus I will wait to see actual change on [...]

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More on Obama and DEA raids

Jacob Sullum writes: Yesterday I wondered whether and when President Obama would follow through on his oft-repeated campaign promise to stop the DEA from undermining state medical marijuana laws by harassing patients and dispensaries. Today The Washington Times reports that Obama plans to suspend the DEA’s raids once he “nominates someone to take charge of DEA, which [...]

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Obama and DEA raids

Having praised Obama yesterday, I think it is all the more important to point out that so far, there are no signs he has reversed the policy of raiding medical marijuana units in states like California (where medical marijuana is legal). As Jacob Sullum puts it: “I’m not going to be using Justice Department resources [...]

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Washington Post decides to make the war on drugs its cover story

Here’s the link. It’s a long poignant piece that points out the folly of the drug war by focussing on the outrageous case of Cheye Calvo. The fact that pieces like these do appear in the mainstream media (Washington Post is regarded as one of the three most important US newspapers, along with NYT and [...]

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The Agitator pens a letter on behalf of the greatest swimmer ever

Wow. Dear America, I take it back. I don’t apologize. Because you know what? It’s none of your goddamned business. I work my ass off 10 months per year. It’s that hard work that gave you all those gooey feelings of patriotism last summer. If during my brief window of down time I want to [...]

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If you are going to read just one article on the drug war, read this one

The absurdity of the drug war is so gargantuan that a critic simply has no idea where to begin. There are a lot of things that are wrong in this world and a lot of things that are unlibertarian but very few are so wrong, so unlibertarian and so stupid. Yet, ask a common man [...]

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Charlie Lynch to be sentenced on February 23

I just thought I’d share this email I received via the Friends of Charles Lynch mailing list earlier today: Today in Federal court Charles C. Lynch’s motion for a new trial was denied. Lynch brought new evidence to court showing that he had nothing to do with his employee’s alleged street sales. Judge Wu stated [...]

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Busting drug cops

I love Kop Busters! KopBusters rented a house in Odessa, Texas and began growing two small Christmas trees under a grow light similar to those used for growing marijuana. When faced with a suspected marijuana grow, the police usually use illegal FLIR cameras and/or lie on the search warrant affidavit claiming they have probable cause [...]

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Folly revisited

Tomorrow is the 75th anniversary of Repeal day, the day the United States repealed one of the most foolish and disastrous laws ever conceived, prohibition. Read this excellent article by Radley Balko where he discusses the lessons to be learnt from that era, and why modern America’s war on drugs is every bit as foolish [...]

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The tragic case of Clarence Aaron

At the age of 23, he introduced two men who wanted to do trade with each other. He has been in prison since. He will remain in prison for the rest of his life. Link 1. Link 2.

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Charlie Lynch update

Here’s a video of the October 6 protest: Lynch appears in court for sentencing on November 24. He could theoretically be sent to prison for 100 years. If you are new to my blog, or unfamiliar with the story of Charlie Lynch, please go through my old posts on the subject. Or better still, watch [...]

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Another victim of the insane war

This is a shocking story.

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