Author Archives: Pete Guither

This is the day that Saint Urho drove the grasshoppers out of Finland, thus saving the grape and (some say) marijuana crops. Enjoy.

There’s a must-read article by Marc Caputo in the Miami Herald today: Crist wants to maintain drug penalties Check out the well-constructed lede: Though he has admitted to smoking marijuana, Gov. Charlie Crist said he still favors Florida’s tough drug … Continue reading →

Chicago Alderman Freddrenna Lyle (6th) in opposing the ban on little plastic bags: “But we’ve got enough laws we can’t enforce. We don’t want to make any more or criminalize legal conduct.”

“bullet” Bartonville, Illinois (just down the road from me) running “drug enforcement zones.” It sounds Constitutionally questionable, but unfortunately, the press coverage is extremely vague, so I’m not quite sure exactly what they’ll be doing. “bullet” Clarence Page: A ‘wire’ … Continue reading →

If you read fantasy stories about demons, you’ll often find the notion that the demon is powerless unless it is invited in, and then it feeds on fears to gain power and wreak destruction. That’s how freedom is lost. One … Continue reading →

* 2008 and 2009 based on estimated actual/anticipated figures [Via CESAR Fax]

Statement this morning in Vienna by Antonio Maria Costa, director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime: “I attended the meeting of the drug alliance [DPA] in New Orleans last December, 1200 participants, 1000 lunatics, 200 good people … Continue reading →

“bullet” Thailand In the end, the war on drugs was simply a populist killing spree of small fry. No big drug dealers were ever affected, and after a while the drug business returned to normal. What is so sad about … Continue reading →

A coalition of groups including the International Harm Reduction Association, Human Rights Watch and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, have published a report taking the United Nations drug control policies to task for not being in compliance with essential human … Continue reading →

I write a letter Medical cannabis bill distinct from legalization In the recent Pantagraph story about a medical cannabis bill advancing to the Illinois Senate (March 6, Page A8), Limey Nargelenas of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police complained … Continue reading →