Stories by Phillip S. Smith
Read more of Phillip S. Smith's work at the Drug War Chronicle.
Posted on Jan 9, 2012, Source: Drug War Chronicle
The court will consider the case of Joelis Jardines, who was arrested after a Florida police officer's drug dog sniffed his front door and alerted to the odor of marijuana.
Posted on Sep 2, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
A New Jersey man convicted of marijuana manufacture after he grew 17 plants in his backyard faces deep injustice.
Posted on Aug 26, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
The state's fractious marijuana community seems to be trying to overcome differences and unify so that the overarching goal can be attained.
Posted on Aug 20, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
Lots of happy talk about how to win the Mexican drug war, but we're ignoring the most radical option: legalizing the drug supply.
Posted on Aug 9, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
The upward tick in support for freeing the weed is another encouraging sign in the turn on public opinion.
Posted on Aug 2, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
Facing a huge budget shortfall, Chicago may switch to issuing fines for marijuana.
Posted on Jul 28, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
Two different initiative efforts aimed at the November 2012 ballot are getting underway in Ohio and a bill is pending in the state legislature.
Posted on Jul 22, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
Medical marijuana patients across the state will have access.
Posted on Jul 21, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
Author John Gibler's new book surveys surveys the unending flow of drugs north and guns and cash south and the tens of thousands of murders they cause.
Posted on Jul 15, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
ONDCP plans to focus on opium and heroin trade in Afghanistan and cooperate with Mexican and Central American authorities in the $1.4 billion Plan Merida.
Posted on Jul 8, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
Relations between the medical marijuana movement and the Obama administration are starting to feel like the Cold War.
Posted on Jul 2, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
Thousands of inmates imprisoned on federal crack cocaine charges will be able to seek sentence reductions and early release after a US Sentencing Commission vote.
Posted on Jul 2, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
The DEA claims that concert camping venue engaged in open sales of cocaine, marijuana, LSD (acid), ecstasy, opium and marijuana-laced food products.
Posted on Jun 3, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
A half-century of global drug prohibition has showed us what it can deliver, and the world is increasingly finding it wanting.
Posted on May 26, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
A bipartisan group of US representatives have introduced bills to protect patients, caregivers, and providers from ongoing federal arrests, prosecutions, and harassment.
Posted on May 24, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
In the 5-4 decision, the Court said the reduction in prisoners was "required by the Constitution" to correct longstanding abuses of prisoners' rights.
Posted on May 18, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
It all comes down to what the 4th amendment describes as "exigent circumstances."
Posted on Apr 29, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
The decision is now Gov. Schweitzer's, and the clock is ticking.
Posted on Apr 11, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
All California has done is shift the burden of the state's corrections overcrowding to the counties, fails to fund crime prevention services like drug treatment, and more.
Posted on Apr 5, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
The Committee for the Positive Insistence on a Sane Society (PISS) said it was sending the urine sample to Scott to peacefully protest against his drug testing policy.
Posted on Mar 31, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
Whether it's medical marijuana, decriminalization, or legalization, New Englanders are keeping the pressure on.
Posted on Mar 14, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
Patients, providers, advocates, and family members have lined up to unleash volleys of criticism at NJ's proposed medical marijuana rules.
Posted on Mar 11, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
Medical marijuana had the support of a whopping 79% of respondents. Support was above 70% in every demographic, with even 72% of Republicans favoring it.
Posted on Feb 11, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
See-saw battle over medical pot emerges.
Posted on Feb 3, 2011, Source: Drug War Chronicle
As states' budgets bleed, some of them are shifting from "tough on crime" to "smart on crime."
Posted on Nov 19, 2010, Source: Drug War Chronicle
The newly elected rightist Dutch government said it wants to bar foreigners from the country's famous cannabis coffee shops.
Posted on Nov 19, 2010, Source: Drug War Chronicle
DEA chief nominee Leonhart is opposed by the drug reform, medical marijuana, and hemp movements, but insiders say it is all but a done deal.
Posted on Nov 11, 2010, Source: Drug War Chronicle
The conservative Heritage Foundation has issued a backgrounder report urging for hundreds of millions in cuts to the nation's funding of the failed drug war.
Posted on Oct 14, 2010, Source: Drug War Chronicle
The campaign to pass California's Proposition 19, the tax and regulate marijuana legalization initiative, is seeing some good-sized late donations
Posted on Oct 10, 2010, Source: StoptheDrugWar.org
Prop. 19 would make California the first state to legalize marijuana.
Posted on Sep 16, 2010, Source: Drug War Chronicle
Michigan could become the first state in the nation to drug test drivers if a Republican lawmaker has his way, even though research shows tests generate false positives.
Posted on Sep 10, 2010, Source: Drug War Chronicle
Panel of marijuana criminal defense attorneys on the opening day of NORML's 39th Annual National Conference in Portland unanimously suggest: exercise your right to remain silent.
Posted on Sep 3, 2010, Source: Drug Reform Coordination Network
The drug war has become an issue in the Kentucky Senate race after Republican Rand Paul attacked federal funding of drug task forces.
Posted on Aug 16, 2010, Source: Drug War Chronicle
Support for legalization correlates with support for liberal positions on other social issues.
Posted on Aug 8, 2010, Source: Drug War Chronicle
For nearly 30 years, the Campaign Against Planting has waged a quixotic battle to eradicate California's outdoor marijuana industry. It's at it again this year.
Posted on Jul 16, 2010, Source: Drug War Chronicle
With $7.3 billion spent and 21,000 fighters from all sides and an estimated 14,000 civilians killed, Plan Colombia's positive effects aren't easy to distinguish.
Posted on Jul 5, 2010, Source: Drug War Chronicle
Arizona activists have qualified an initiative for the ballot and look to be sitting pretty -- at least for now.
Posted on Jun 11, 2010, Source: Drug War Chronicle
Fire bombs. Graffiti attacks. Anonymous anti-medical marijuana flyers handed out to school children. "Ganja-preneurs" are pushing the envelope in the Big Sky State.
Posted on Jun 1, 2010, Source: Drug War Chronicle
In 1980, 2,884 SWAT deployments were recorded nationwide; the number today is estimated by experts at 50,000 annually or more.
Posted on May 26, 2010, Source: Drug War Chronicle
Less than six months from election day, the CA initiative to legalize marijuana has the support of half the voters, according to two polls.
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