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Georgia Governor Pushing More Alternative Programs for Non-Violent Drug Offenders

from Savannah Morning News (GA), February 01, 2011
Location: 
GA
United States
See map: Google Maps
Gov. Nathan Deal says he's moving ahead to reduce Georgia's prison population by diverting non-violent drug offenders to other programs. A 2009 national report said drug prohibition related crimes were listed as the primary offense for about 17 percent of Georgia's prisoners. Deal has made it clear he's not interested in springing repeat or violent offenders. But locking up non-violent offenders wastes their lives, strains the state's budget and depletes its work force, he said.
Publication/Source: 
Savannah Morning News (GA)
URL: 
http://savannahnow.com/news/2011-02-01/gov-deal-working-divert-non-violent-drug-offenders-programs-outside-prison

Republican Lawmakers Shifting Tough-On-Crime Stance As State Budget Problems Multiply

from Los Angeles Times (CA), January 31, 2011
In no state is the philosophical U-turn more abrupt than in Oklahoma, where last year the Legislature was barreling in the opposite direction. New Republican Speaker of the House Kris Steele is expected to unveil a package of proposals that would divert thousands of nonviolent lawbreakers from the prison system and ramp up paroles. Similar crash prison reductions are going on from coast to coast. Michigan has shuttered 20 correctional facilities and slashed spending by nearly 7 percent. South Carolina expects to reduce its inmate numbers by 8 percent by putting drug dealers, burglars and hot check writers into community programs instead of behind bars.
Publication/Source: 
Los Angeles Times (CA)
URL: 
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-us-broken-budgets-prison-problems,0,2779184.story

The Deadly Failure of Drug Policy in the Americas (Opinion)

from Colombia Reports (Colombia), January 31, 2011
Location: 
Jeffrey Haire believes that our prohibitionist drug policy has failed and opines that removing the profit from drug trafficking organizations will effectively destroy them. He says the "Law enforcement–Industrial complex" is already up and running and could handle any enforcement issues related to minors using adult substances or people operating vehicles or acting out in public. We have the expertise and the economic savvy to remove the profit from the drug traffickers and produce substances that are safe for recreational use. The key though, is to produce substances cheaply enough, and tax them reasonably so that their price still falls below what a black market producer could afford to market.
Publication/Source: 
Colombia Reports (Colombia)
URL: 
http://colombiareports.com/opinion/157-guests/14009-the-deadly-failure-of-drug-policy-in-the-americas.html

Massachusetts State Legislator Files Marijuana Legislation

from Marblehead Reporter (MA), January 27, 2011
Location: 
MA
United States
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Ellen Story, D-Amherst, responding to the 69 percent of the voters in her district who instructed her to vote "in favor of legislation that would allow the state to regulate and tax marijuana like alcohol" on Nov. 2, 2010, is sponsoring "An Act to Regulate and Tax the Cannabis Industry." Assigned House Docket Number 01091, it will receive a bill number in the near future. If enacted, the state’s current prohibition upon adults having or growing a personal supply will be repealed, analogous to alcohol-control laws for home winemaking.
Publication/Source: 
Marblehead Reporter (MA)
URL: 
http://www.wickedlocal.com/marblehead/news/x286169782/State-legislator-files-marijuana-legislation

Former President Alejandro Toledo: Peru Must Consider Decriminalizing Drug Use

from Reuters, January 27, 2011
Location: 
Peru
Former president Alejandro Toledo, the frontrunner in Peru's presidential race, said he would consider decriminalizing drug use if elected. Peru currently allows people to possess small amounts of recreational drugs, including cocaine. Toledo said he might loosen them further. A growing number of Latin American countries already have relaxed laws targeting drug consumers in order to focus police resources on traffickers.
Publication/Source: 
Reuters
URL: 
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2717646120110127

Cut Drug War Spending (Action Alert)

by David Guard, January 27, 2011, 02:53pm

We Are the Drug Policy Alliance.

Tell President Obama to stop wasting money on the failed war on drugs.

Take Action!

Email the President

Dear Friends,

In his State of the Union address a few days ago, President Obama said it is time for the federal government to tighten its belt and stop wasting so much money. One of the biggest – and most destructive – wastes of money is the war on drugs. President Obama is working on a new federal budget – urge him to stop wasting money on the failed war on drugs.

In these times of deficits and budget cuts, let’s send a clear message: no more money for marijuana arrests. No more money for laughably stupid anti-marijuana ads. No more money for random drug testing. No more money for SWAT raids on people's homes for suspected drug law violations. No more money for long prison sentences for low-level, nonviolent drug offenses. No more money for the drug war. Period.

Tell the President that our tax dollars should be spent more wisely.

With your help we can eliminate or cut drug war waste and dismantle the war on drugs. Please take a minute to write the White House and tell President Obama to stop wasting your tax dollars on failed drug policies.

Sincerely,

Bill Piper
Director, Office of National Affairs
Drug Policy Alliance

Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne Recommends State Tax on Medical Marijuana

from KNXV (AZ), January 26, 2011
Location: 
AZ
United States
See map: Google Maps
Attorney General Tom Horne announced a plan for Arizona to tax medical marijuana. Horne added that the Department of Revenue informed his office that they plan to take the advice and tax the sales. The taxes could yield revenues for the state in the approximate amount of $40 million per year, according to a report.
Publication/Source: 
KNXV (AZ)
URL: 
http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/health/horne-recommends-state-tax-on-medical-marijuana

Seminar on Medical Marijuana Tax Issues

by David Guard, January 26, 2011, 03:03pm

In an effort to get more owners of medical marijuana businesses to properly remit sales and use taxes, the city of Boulder, Colorado is hosting an informational seminar on marijuana taxes.

The seminar will focus on the city's tax rules as they pertain to medical marijuana businesses, and will include topics such as audits and tax returns.

The event requires reservations. To reserve a spot, call 303-441-4017.

Date: 
Wed, 01/26/2011 - 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Location: 
1777 Broadway Municipal Building Plaza
Boulder, CO 80302
United States
See map: Google Maps

State Senator: Should Indiana Legalize Marijuana?

from The Republic (IN), January 25, 2011
Location: 
IN
United States
See map: Google Maps
A state senator is asking a question she hopes will spur debate over sentencing laws and possibly save Indiana millions of dollars: Should the state legalize marijuana? Sen. Karen Tallian, D- Portage, is sponsoring a bill that would direct the criminal law and sentencing study committee to examine Indiana's marijuana laws next summer and come up with recommendations. Senate Corrections Committee Chairman Brent Steele, R-Bedford, said he would give Tallian's proposal a legislative hearing.
Publication/Source: 
The Republic (IN)
URL: 
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/604978fe95284f7e9051ea1963c14085/IN-XGR-Legalizing-Marijuana/

Washington State Bill Proposes to Sell Marijuana Through State Liquor Stores

from The Seattle Times (WA), January 25, 2011
Location: 
WA
United States
See map: Google Maps
State Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, D-Seattle, is again proposing that the state legalize marijuana and regulate it much like alcohol. House Bill 1550, filed today, proposes that marijuana be sold through state liquor stores to adults aged 21 and over, and that the state Liquor Control Board issue licenses to commercial growers. Dickerson sponsored similar legislation in the previous legislative session, but the bill was voted down in the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee.
Publication/Source: 
The Seattle Times (WA)
URL: 
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2014032323_billwouldsellpotthroughstateliquorstores.html

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