Author Archives: Pete

Tom Keane in the Boston Globe: Right wing takes lead on reforming crime policy DRUGS ARE BAD for you, no question. But wars on drugs are worse — at least the way we’ve been waging this battle. But change may … Continue reading →

Jacob Sullum on Why Prosecutors Love Mandatory Minimums When you see the stark choices that federal defendants face, you can begin to understand why an astonishing 97 percent of them decide to plead guilty. The bigger the gap between the … Continue reading →

While this isn’t specifically a drug policy post, it’s something I wrote for my friends on Facebook that I wanted to share… How’s your bullshit detector?  In today’s world, you really need a working one, and you need to keep … Continue reading →

Tracing the U.S. heroin surge back south of the border as Mexican cannabis output falls in the Washington Post. Farmers in the storied “Golden Triangle” region of Mexico’s Sinaloa state, which has produced the country’s most notorious gangsters and biggest … Continue reading →

The ONDCP ‘blog‘ talks about a recent Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) training event, where Acting Director Botticelli was apparently the life of the party. Acting Director Botticelli drew even greater applause with his announcement that ONDCP will increase … Continue reading →

Prohibition-speak: “There hasn’t been enough study…” Translation: “While there have been hundreds of studies on this topic, none of them have yet concluded what we wanted them to conclude.” Prohibition-speak: “Studies conclusively show…” Translation: “There was one study in New … Continue reading →

So, after the New York Times legalization editorial, a Kevin Sabet-coalition called called Grass is Not Greener ran a full page ad in the Times – one that has been widely ridiculed by reform groups for actually helping make the … Continue reading →

I told you I didn’t have the patience to watch the full “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” hearing on stoned driving. Fortunately, Paul Armentano has the patience, and he reports that the hearing organizer didn’t exactly get what he was hoping … Continue reading →

Request from a reader who is working on a dissertation regarding incarceration as a result of the war on drugs: DO YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW MEET THIS CRITERIA: * Adult daughters (at least 18 years old) * Identify as … Continue reading →

The Federal Marijuana Ban is Rooted in Myth and Xenophobia The federal law that makes possession of marijuana a crime has its origins in legislation that was passed in an atmosphere of hysteria during the 1930s and that was firmly … Continue reading →