Author Archives: Pete

D.E.A. Squads Extend Reach of Drug War by Charlie Savage, New York Times The D.E.A. now has five commando-style squads it has been quietly deploying for the past several years to Western Hemisphere nations […] The evolution of the program … Continue reading →

Via Buzzfeed, some absolutely amazing photos of hummingbirds taken by Jeff Scheetz.

The always excellent Hungarian Civil Liberties Union has videotaped the opening session speakers from the conference, and has them available here, including: Gavin Newsome, California Lieutenant Governor “We Need Stronger Leadership to End it” Gary Johnson, former New Mexico Governor … Continue reading →

It’s the 5th of November — the Guy Fawkes Gunpowder Treason and Plot day. That particular story has very little personal interest to me except as an historical oddity. On the other hand, the date came alive again to me … Continue reading →

Interesting article in the Chicago Sun-Times, mostly notable for the fact that I have rarely seen, in a mainstream publication, the mention of marijuana as a connoisseur item (at least, other than in Oakland). “It’s like a fine glass of … Continue reading →

At the international reform conference yesterday, Gary Johnson talked about removing marijuana from Schedule 1 and pardoning non-violent marijuana offenders.

Wrong. Meet Real ID, as described by the ACLU in The Slow, Quiet Death of Real ID The Real ID Act of 2005 is a federal law, and, as a federal law, supersedes state law. If fully implemented, the law … Continue reading →

Link KMPH News has learned that the state sent out notices to 1,200 drug agents, dozens of them in the Central Valley: get ready to get out. Reality sinking in? Senior Special Agent Ben Buford says the Bureau of Narcotics … Continue reading →

I’ve been doing a bit of tweeting this week as part of our Drug Facts Week response. It’s been quite wonderful, with dozens of people out there re-tweeting, reaching hundreds, if not thousands. All the tweets are linked to the … Continue reading →

Prince George’s County (yes, that one). Students at Concord Elementary School in District Heights created a human chain and released balloons Wednesday afternoon as part of a Red Ribbon Week celebration. […] At Concord Elementary, the balloon release was “a … Continue reading →