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Drug War Chronicle #678 - April 7, 2011

Phillip S. Smith, Editor - David Borden, Executive Director
California Gov. Jerry Brown takes a tiny step toward corrections reform.
California Gov. Jerry Brown takes a tiny step toward corrections reform.

California Corrections "Realignment" Not Nearly Enough [FEATURE]

California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill "realigning" corrections in the state, but that's just the tiniest of baby steps toward fixing an out of control prison system. How about some real sentencing reform?
hostagenation.jpg
hostagenation.jpg

Chronicle Book Review: Hostage Nation

We review a book on Colombia and US drug policy seen through a lens focused on American contractors and Colombian politicians kidnapped by the FARC.
medical marijuana bags (courtesy Daniel Argo via Wikimedia)
medical marijuana bags (courtesy Daniel Argo via Wikimedia)

Montana Senate Votes for Medical Marijuana Repeal Bill

It may be up to Democratic Gov. Bryan Schweitzer to save medical marijuana in Montana. Only a procedural vote is left before the legislature repeals the voter-approved law.
Industrial hemp in France produces oils and fiber. (Image via Wikimedia.org)
Industrial hemp in France produces oils and fiber. (Image via Wikimedia.org)

Illinois House Kills Hemp Bill

The Illinois House has turned back a bid to permit farmers there to apply to grow hemp. Opponents cited the federal ban on hemp production and law enforcement's inability to tell the difference between hemp and weed.
Will voters take matters into their own hands now? (Image via Wikimedia)
Will voters take matters into their own hands now? (Image via Wikimedia)

Marijuana Legalization Bill Dies in Washington State

A move to legalize weed through the legislative process has died in Olympia, but some are acting to put a legalization initiative on the November ballot.
No growing your own, you Mainers! (Image courtesy of the author)
No growing your own, you Mainers! (Image courtesy of the author)

Maine Marijuana Decriminalization Bills Die

Bills that would have decriminalized up to five ounces of weed or six pot plants were killed in a Maine legislative committee last week.

Did You Know? Felon Loss of Voting Rights, on Procon.org

ProCon.org is a series of in-depth web sites presenting information and views on controversial issues, several of which relate to drug policy. The Chronicle is running a six-part series of info items from ProCon.org, and we encourage you to check it out.
prohibition fuels violence (image via Wikimedia)
prohibition fuels violence (image via Wikimedia)

Mexico Drug War Update

More bloody days in Ciudad Juarez, and violence flares in Veracruz as well.
prohibition corrupts (image via Wikimedia)
prohibition corrupts (image via Wikimedia)

This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

Missing drug money, meth-dealing sheriffs, cocaine-snorting crooked cops, cops turned robbers -- it's just another week on the corrupt cops beat.
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This Week in History

Events and quotes of note from this week's drug policy events of years past.
Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.