Author Archives: Pete

The Economist has always been better than most on drug policy, and this piece – Illegal Drugs: The Great Experiment – is really outstanding. The Economist has long argued that prohibition is illiberal in principle and harmful in practice, and … Continue reading →

In yet another boneheaded ruling – this time unanimously – the Supreme Court has ruled that mistakes made by dogs in the field don’t count and that police have no interest in going on fishing expeditions in your car. Wow. … Continue reading →

That’s the intriguing question posed by John Ford in Marijuana Legalization: Why the Pot Business Needs Unions to Survive Though the image of straight-laced hard-working blue-collar labor collaborating with hippy stoners doesn’t quite seem to match up, it is actually … Continue reading →

Those who don’t learn from history… Marijuana legalization bill may threaten fabulous Prohibition II profits by Paul Carpenter The next time they designed such a system, the gangsters and their allies were more clever. With Prohibition II, they skillfully made … Continue reading →

This account of Mayor Bloomberg’s opposition to legalizing marijuana sure seems to indicate that he’s trying for the record. Bloomberg: I Oppose Legalizing Marijuana Bloomberg says he opposes legalizing marijuana because it’s stronger than it used to be. He added … Continue reading →

Senator Ron Wyden has just introduced the Senate companion bill to H.R. 525, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2013, today. The original cosponsors are: Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) Sen. Mitch McConnell … Continue reading →

Some concern has been expressed regarding this ThinkProgress piece Federal prosecutors will crack down on recreational marijuana dispensaries and growers even in states where they are legal, U.S. drug czar Gil Kerlikowske told a Canadian news magazine this week. The … Continue reading →

Strong smell of marijuana reported inside Colorado Capitol Wednesday morning A strong smell of marijuana was reported inside the Colorado Capitol Wednesday morning, 7NEWS Reporter Russell Haythorn confirmed. The entire Senate chamber smelled like marijuana, said Doug Schepman, Communications Director … Continue reading →

David Bratzer is a LEAP speaker in Canada (and a really nice guy). For some good news today, check out this speaking engagement he had yesterday: ‘Groundbreaking’ conversation as Halifax police chief hosts session with drug law reformer Canadian president … Continue reading →

The federal government would like all companies to drug test all their workers, and so, of course, would the companies who make billions of dollars each year from the drug testing boom. And yet, what value does suspicion-less drug testing … Continue reading →