XPost: alt.drugs.pot, alt.hemp.politics, rec.drugs.cannabis
From: bliss@mouse-potato.com

Drug War Chronicle, Issue #1003 -- 12/28/17
Phillip S. Smith, Editor,psmith@drcnet.org https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/1003

A Publication of StoptheDrugWar.org
David Borden, Executive Director,borden@drcnet.org
"Raising Awareness of the Consequences of Drug Prohibition"

Table of Contents:

1. PLEASE RENEW YOUR SUPPORT OR BECOME A NEW MEMBER THIS YEAR
Last week we warned that hardliners in Washington are trying to undo the progress we've made in stopping the drug war. Your support is needed the last few days of this year to fight back. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/dec/27/please_renew_your_support_or

2. THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY: THE TOP TEN US DRUG POLICY STORIES OF 2017 [FEATURE]
It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. Tens of thousands die of drug overdoses, hundreds of thousands get arrested for drugs, yet marijuana is seeing boom times. As we bid adieu to 2017, here are the year's drug policy highlights. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/dec/27/good_bad_ugly_top_ten_us_drug_policy

3. FROM BLOODY DRUG WAR TO LEGAL POT: TEN GLOBAL DRUG POLICY HIGHLIGHTS (AND LOWLIGHTS) OF 2017 [FEATURE]
Here's a round up of major global drug policy news and events of 2017. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/dec/28/top_ten_2017_global_drug_policy

4. FOUR REASONS BLACK INCARCERATION RATES ARE GOING DOWN, WHILE WHITE RATES ARE
GOING UP [FEATURE]
The prison population is a little whiter than it used to be. Here are some reasons why. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/dec/28/four_reasons_black_incarceration

5. MEDICAL MARIJUANA UPDATE
Congress extended Rohrabacher-Blumenauer protections for another few weeks, the
VA will now let doctors discuss -- but not recommend -- medical marijuana, a Utah poll has strong support for a medical marijuana initiative, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/dec/27/medical_marijuana_update

6. CHRONICLE AM: BC PILOT PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE FREE OPIOIDS TO ENTRENCHED USERS, MORE... (12/21/17)
Austin mellows out on pot policy, the VA lets doctors talk about -- but not recommend -- medical marijuana to patients, British Columbia is set to begin a pilot project of giving medical-grade opioids to chronic users, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/dec/21/chronicle_am_bc_pilot_program

7. CHRONICLE AM: ROHRABACHER-BLUMENAUER AMENDMENT REAUTHORIZED FOR NOW, MORE...
(12/22/17)
Congress reauthorizes the federal ban on funding to prosecute medical marijuana
in states where it is legal, Massachusetts regulators approve draft rules for the legal marijuana industry, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/dec/22/chronicle_am

8. CHRONICLE AM: KAMPIA OUT AT MPP, LABOR UNIONS EYE CA POT WORKERS, MORE... (12/26/17)
Rob Kampia is no longer employed by the Marijuana Policy Project, labor unions are eyeing California's cannabis workforce as a recruiting bonanza, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/dec/26/kampia_mpp_california_labor_unions

9. CHRONICLE AM: NEW CA POT AND DRIVING LAWS, IL BLACK HEROIN PROBLEM, MORE... (12/27/17)
Getting caught smoking pot while driving will soon net you a $70 ticket in California, the Urban League charges that black heroin and opioid problems in Illinois don't get enough attention, pilots will soon face DOT testing for prescription opioids, and
more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/dec/27/chronicle_am_new_ca_pot_and

(Not subscribed? Visithttp://stopthedrugwar.org to sign up today!)

================

1. PLEASE RENEW YOUR SUPPORT OR BECOME A NEW MEMBER THIS YEAR https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/dec/27/please_renew_your_support_or

Dear Reformer:

Last week I warned that hardliners in Washington are trying to undo the progress we've made in stopping the drug war. From prosecutions (https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/may/12/chronicle_am_ag_sessions_orders) to asset forfeiture (https://
stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/jul/20/chronicle_am_ma_mj_compromise_bill) to
sentencing (https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/jul/12/chronicle_am_ct_ends_civil_forfe) to human rights (https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/nov/17/update_and_
action_alert_trump), the president and the attorney general are largely making wrong and wrongful moves. Committee chairs in Congress are blocking good bipartisan bills. Even medical marijuana is at risk now. The president has encouraged human rights
violations in other countries' drug wars. And legalization is up in the air (http://www.newsweek.com/sessions-suggests-doj-preparing-federal-crackdown-recreational-marijuana-728003).

Your support has made our work possible for 24 years. Thanks to contributions from our members, StoptheDrugWar.org has pressed for reform, grown the movement, and advanced the legalization debate. But the challenges we're facing
are more urgent today
than ever.

As I've written, our organization continues to play a unique role for drug policy reform, in both the US and international arenas, and our staff make up some of the movement's most experienced human capital. We recently published issue 1000 of our widely-
used newsletter, Drug War Chronicle (https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/1000). We are pressing a comprehensive drug policy reform agenda (https://stopthedrugwar.org/global) at the United Nations. And we're playing a significant leadership role (info
here (https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/mar/31/vienna_side_event_EJKs) and here (https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/nov/17/update_and_action_alert_trump)) in the international campaign to stop Rodrigo Duterte's brutal drug war killing
campaign in the Philippines.

Your generous donation will help us advance these programs while holding the line on policy. (http://stopthedrugwar.org/donate) We can't do this work without your support, and the remaining days this year really count. I hope you'll take a moment to
renew your support or become a new member of our organization (http://stopthedrugwar.org/donate) at this dangerous and critical, but still promising time in the issue.

Visithttps://stopthedrugwar.org/donate (https://stopthedrugwar.org/donate) to give by credit card or PayPal. If you want to donate by mail, send your check or money order to P.O. Box 9853, Washington, DC 20016. Tax-deductible donations
should be made
payable to DRCNet Foundation, our 501(c)(3) nonprofit; or non-deductible donations should be payable to Drug Reform Coordination Network, our 501(c)(4) lobbying nonprofit. Visithttps://stopthedrugwar.org/about (https://stopthedrugwar.org/about) to read
more about our programs, for info on how to donate stocks, and for other info.

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,

David Borden, Executive Director
StoptheDrugWar.org
P.O. Box 9853, Washington, DC 20016
http://stopthedrugwar.org (http://stopthedrugwar.org)



================  ...


                                         ___________________

                                          It's time to correct the mistake:
                                       
Truth:the Anti-drugwar
<http://www.briancbennett.com>

                                      Cops say legalize drugs--find out
why:
<http://www.leap.cc>

                                       Stoners are people too:
<http://www.cannabisconsumers.org>
                                       ___________________

     bliss -- Cacao  Powered... (-SF4ever at DSLExtreme dot com)

--
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      It is by the beans of cacao that the thoughts acquire speed,
      the thighs acquire girth, the girth become a warning.
      It is by theobromine alone I set my mind in motion."
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