A bill in California has bi-partisan support and would ban universal random drug testing of students, and only allow drug testing if administrators have “reasonable suspicions.” A companion bill would allow for testing of athletes specifically for performance enhancing drugs. Naturally, this reasonable approach doesn’t sit well with the Drug Czar’s office, which is [...]

From BBC News:

Brazil is close to adopting a plan to shoot down aircraft suspected of carrying narcotics over the Amazon jungle, the government has said.

Colombia and Peru called a halt to the controversial practice in 2001 after the Peruvian air force mistakenly shot down a plane carrying missionaries.

… Colombia resumed shooting [...]

Via NORML

Seattle, WA: The administration of the cannabinoid THC in mice delayed disease progression of an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to clinical findings published in the journal Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis & Other Motor Neuron Disorders. Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS is a chronic, often fatal condition marked [...]

Via TalkLeft comes word of another horrible bill with an exploitive and deceptive name: Defending America’s Most Vulnerable: Safe Access to Drug Treatment and Child Protection Act of 2004 sponsored by House Judiciary Chair Jim Sensenbrenner (R-5th district, WI). So far he’s the sole sponsor, but he has a lot of power, and it’s [...]

Via TalkLeft comes this AP report:

n a scathing criticism of the system used to punish federal crimes, a judge on Monday called the government’s sentencing guidelines unconstitutional, saying they unfairly limit the authority of judges. In a series of drug cases, U.S. District Judge William Young said the guidelines put too much power [...]