Author Archives: Pete Guither

A reported increase in cocaine prices has naturally caused the Drug Czar to step forward and claim victory in the war on drugs and in the Colombian fiasco in particular. But while this Knight-Ridder story, picked up by a ton … Continue reading →

Radley Balko has a great couple of pieces (1, 2) on the new version of the horrendous Straight programs (see also our discussion about the Semblers last week) called Kids Helping Kids. The Agitator already has this list, but it’s … Continue reading →

In the early history of marijuana prohibition, there were plenty of bizarre stories. There was government expert Dr. James Munch who testified in court, under oath, that marijuana had turned him into a bat (until even Anslinger was embarrassed by … Continue reading →

… or another one in your face, Drug Czar! Via Marijuana Policy Project: Largest-Ever Study of Marijuana, Depression Finds Fewer Depressive Symptoms, Better Mood: ALBANY, NEW YORKÖIn the largest-ever study of marijuana and depression, to be published in the journal … Continue reading →

No, I wasn’t at the Drug Policy Alliance convention — I was in a kind of personal computer hell for a few days. Three disconnected events: 1. A separate website I run had its server and two backups fry at … Continue reading →

Well, I finish my run in Marat/Sade this evening. It’s been a wonderful show and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, but losing every evening for the past 8 weeks has taken its toll. I now will need some time … Continue reading →

A good article at Reason by David Weigel: When Patriots Dissent — Surprise: Standing up to the PATRIOT Act can be good politics. The article gives a nice background of the erosion of support for the Patriot Act, and while … Continue reading →

Thanks to Daksya — Check out this excellent re-cap by Dahlia Lithwick of the Supreme Court’s oral arguments on Georgia v. Randolph. You can get a real sense of what mattered (particularly in 4th amendment terms) to the different Justices … Continue reading →

Via MPP: WASHINGTON, D.C.ÖIn the wake of June’s Supreme Court ruling allowing federal prosecutions of medical marijuana patients even in states where medical use of marijuana is permitted, U.S. Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA) and a bipartisan group of cosponsors have … Continue reading →

A couple of interesting pieces to read if you’ve got a little extra time. “bullet” Ambassador de Sade, By John Gorenfeld in AlterNet. Bush’s ambassador to Italy doesn’t speak Italian, and his qualifications seem to be a history of running … Continue reading →