In May 1995, the American government's Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made an attempt to disrupt the supply chain of methamphetamine precursors, such as pseudoephedrine, by shutting down two major suppliers of the precursors under authority granted by the Domestic Chemical Diversion Control Act. Was it successful? Only temporarily, according to new research by Carlos Dobkin and Nancy Nicosia. (via)
posted by Pants! on Apr 8, 2009 - 47 comments

Prescription for Disaster: The dangers of teens using prescription pain killers and other doctor-prescribed drugs.
posted by jacobw on Jan 16, 2009 - 51 comments

Students for Sensible Drug Policy responds to "Operation Sudden Fall" [more inside]
posted by needsnoprosecutor on May 9, 2008 - 62 comments

Ten Years in Jail for Selling Lightbulbs
posted by lalochezia on Mar 6, 2008 - 91 comments

The House of Death A DHS/DEA/DoJ/US Media coverup. Another victory in the War on Drugs?

When 12 bodies were found buried in the garden of a Mexican house, it seemed like a case of drug-linked killings. But the trail led to Washington and a cover-up that went right to the top.

Other online coverage (1, 2, 3)
posted by i_am_a_Jedi on Dec 3, 2006 - 26 comments

Marc Emery speaks out about his activism, recent arrest and possible extradition to the US. A follow up to this post.
posted by btwillig on Aug 17, 2005 - 19 comments

What does the DEA say about drugs in your state? (Some states take a very hard line against gateway drugs...)
posted by dilettante on Aug 13, 2005 - 36 comments

Radley Balko fisks the DEA's Karen Tandy 'So which is it? Are doctors a "very small part of the problem," or are they "the primary sources of diverted pharmaceuticals available on the illicit market?" ...I guess it depends on whether the agency is trumpeting its victories to Congress, or defending its tactics from critics in newspaper op-eds.'
posted by Kwantsar on May 16, 2005 - 34 comments

Where not to hide your drugs. Tips from the DEA. [via boingboing]
posted by srboisvert on Oct 14, 2004 - 24 comments

DEA wants to reclassify low grade painkillers as morphine equivilants. The DEA, in all it's wisdom, has decided that the next target on the "war on drugs" is hydrocodone, the most commonly used prescription pain killer in the country. "Ah," you say..."but surely there's congressional oversight for that sort of radical change in the Drug Schedule." But you'd be wrong. Funny old world when the budget and staff keeping getting bigger and bigger and the only way they can win a battle is to chase the arthritic.
posted by dejah420 on Feb 17, 2004 - 33 comments

Marijuana Buzz Linked to 'Runner's High.' How do I begin to pose one suitable question? Will we see tapped-out stoners jogging roadside in Phish-logo sweats and Nikes? Will the DEA outlaw running? Will states enact "medical running" legislation? Will the ONDCP be forced to release new "Now go tell your teammates you were caught getting high from running; they'll understand" ads?
posted by ZenMasterThis on Jan 10, 2004 - 31 comments

Operation Pipe Dreams And Headhunter - retail smiley-face ceramic pipes are gone. The DEA, maintaining its track record of ineffectual policies, programs, methods, procedures, and purpose has successfully brought an evil crime ring to its knees. No more will you have to worry about tobacco water pipe accessory related muder or hippy headshop related gang activity. In addition to striking fear in the hearts of college freshman and sophmores everywhere, I hope this spells the beginning of the end of those who would sell incense and tapestries to our children. OUR CHILDREN.
posted by jdaura on Feb 24, 2003 - 54 comments

DEA fails White House budget review. (PDF) Busy raiding the homes of disabled medical marijuana users, the DEA has been, in the words of the White House Office of Management and Budget, "unable to demonstrate its progress in reducing the availability of illegal drugs in the U.S." [via MPP]
posted by botono9 on Feb 12, 2003 - 7 comments

"We're very sorry, but the DEA has asked us to arrest you." A Canadian citizen, on a connecting flight between Canada and Ireland, is pinched in the Netherlands at the request of the US government. To prevent him from testifying in a Canadian drug trial?
posted by kablam on Nov 2, 2002 - 14 comments

WOD hits new low in ridiculosity. From the Shameless Scare 'Em for Ratings files: Flush from the 911 hyper-commemoration news frenzy, but just a little disappointed that the evil-doers didn't do any (as hyped), the news media finds itself on 912 with too much time on their hands. What to do? Break out the tried-and-true emerging drug menace story you keep on hand for just such a news lull!
Khat, (briefly) touted as a new drug menace back when our boys were (briefly) in Somalia, was then shilled as the drug that made somalis into raving homicidal maniacs. IT'S BACK!! According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, chronic use can cause violence and suicidal depression similar to amphetamine addiction, though the agency said it was unaware of any examples(emphasis mine). no laughing now, they want you to take this threat seriously Some say its harmless, others like to compare it to Methedrine
posted by BentPenguin on Sep 12, 2002 - 18 comments

The war on drugs claims forest as casualty. A forest fire that burned out of control for almost two weeks and devastated over 50,000 acres near San Diego was caused by a helicopter looking for pot farms, a California Department of Forestry investigation has concluded. [link via disinfo]
posted by drezdn on Aug 17, 2002 - 33 comments

DEA leaked report on Israeli spy ring Leaked report with blacked out names and no title etc? Note that the spies, if such they are, were gathering info dealing with drug enforcement and not with American military. Is this good? No Bad? yes. But seemingly not bad enough to anything other than shipping them out. Israeli mb big on Ecstasy and DEA well aware of this (If I am, why wouldn't they?). pdf file
posted by Postroad on Mar 23, 2002 - 7 comments

Eat a candy bar - go to Jail. An update on a previous Mefi thread: Hemp foods are now illegal as per new DEA rules that took effect this Monday, 02/06. (PDF version is available as well.) This Canada study shows that it would take the consumption of a hell of a lot of Hemp products to reach the same THC levels as Marijuana.
posted by bkdelong on Feb 8, 2002 - 13 comments

Run Juice Run!!! O.J. Simpson's house raided by the FBI and DEA! Yeah, I know, a news story, but its O.J.! O.J. suspected in Ecstasy Drug Ring. Along with a few other illegal activities. Is this his third strike???
posted by da5id on Dec 4, 2001 - 38 comments

DEA nominee leaves the door open for medical marijuana
He's probably just getting my hopes up.
posted by snakey on Jul 18, 2001 - 2 comments

New Cautions Over a Plant With a Buzz - NYT article about Salvia Divinorum, an apparently legal, unscheduled hallucinogenic plant which is getting increased attention from both drug users and DEA agents. Has anyone actually used this stuff- is it all hype or does it really work? And how long before the DEA works to make it illegal?
posted by hincandenza on Jul 12, 2001 - 27 comments

Busted! DEA cooks the books to show a 'major success' in the War on Drugs.
posted by snakey on Feb 2, 2001 - 11 comments

The DEA has proposed rules that would make many hemp-based products, including hemp foods and hemp personal-care products, illegal. But you can help protect the future of hemp as a renewable resource. This site makes it easy to send a letter, fax or email to your local representatives protecting industrial hemp.
posted by snakey on Dec 21, 2000 - 8 comments

DEA Raids Lakota Sioux Industrial Hemp Crop The DEA destroys 1.5 acres of Industrial Hemp with "No detectable THC content" - and devastates a native american family farm. This is the only place I found a story about the Raid. Can you say news blackout?
posted by snakey on Sep 12, 2000 - 2 comments