MetaFilter posts tagged with drugwar

Everything you never wanted to know about the American prison-industrial complex

Optimus Chyme — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:32:06 -0800

Everything you never wanted to know about the American prison-industrial complex. Part 2: Prison Nation.

Pot Tax on Oaksterdam

hortense — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:29:43 -0800

Oakland California passes landmark marijuana tax cnn video VIP

Mexico votes to decriminalize drugs.

flyinghamster — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:10:53 -0800

The Mexican legislature has voted quietly to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and other drugs.

DEA's Greatest Success?

Pants! — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:29:14 -0800

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)

You got yourself on video selling drug paraphernalia.

Talez — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 18:24:32 -0800

Under Pennsylvanian state law, it's illegal to sell containers if the store owner "knows or should reasonably know" that the buyer intends to use them to package drugs. A confidential informant entered a convenience store to buy tiny ziplock bags at about 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 11, 2007. After making the purchase the Philadelphia PD Narcotics Field Unit raided the store for selling drug paraphernalia destroying the store's security system in the process and allegedly stealing money, batteries, cigarettes and food among other items. He's not the first one to make this complaint either.

A Profile in Courage

empath — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:58:39 -0800

With so many of our citizens in prison compared with the rest of the world, there are only two possibilities: Either we are home to the most evil people on earth or we are doing something different--and vastly counterproductive. Obviously, the answer is the latter.

Sen. Jim Webb takes on the real third rail in American politics, the entire criminal justice system.

Atlanta police sentenced for death caused by paramilitary-style drug raid

Joe in Australia — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:38:14 -0800

Three police officers were sentenced today for killing 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston in a paramilitary-style raid. The officers shot Ms Johnson five or six times and then handcuffed her while they planted drugs in her basement. She bled to death on the floor of her own home. The Agitator covers the story through a single headline headline. The officers will receive Federal sentences of between five and ten years each as well as - a nice touch - being forced to pay for her funeral.

The Play at Home Game!

cjorgensen — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:30:21 -0800

Become a Virtual Texas Deputy! (via)

How Opium Can Save Afghanistan

homunculus — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:15:42 -0800

Poppy For Medicine. "America's drug war in Afghanistan has been a miserable failure. So why not legalize opium production and let Afghanistan become the Saudi Arabia of morphine?"

Narco-State

homunculus — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 09:25:44 -0800

Is Afghanistan a Narco-State? "Drug-related corruption pervades the government in Afghanistan, a former U.S. counternarcotics official says."

When we go to win a war, we win it.

Smedleyman — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 22:42:06 -0800

American Drug War - The Last White Hope (in case you missed it on Showtime) Includes footage of and interviews with gang members, narcs, prisoners (like Tommy Chong), and other folks on the front lines of the drug war including Freeway Ricky Ross (infamous for starting the crack epidemic) and DEA Agent Celerino Castillo who both wound up working for the CIA. Drug WarRant site mentioned in the film.

They say it doesn't constitute an extraordinary circumstance

orthogonality — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:39:11 -0800

Jayci is ten years old. She's about to die of an incurable brain cancer. Her dying wish is to see her daddy one last time. But daddy in prison on a drug charge, and won't be released until August. By which time Jayci will be dead. Federal prison rules allow for furloughs in "a family crisis." But only at the warden's discretion. "They say it doesn't constitute an extraordinary circumstance".

On Skid Row

sleepy pete — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 14:21:43 -0800

On Skid Row is a five part video series about Skid Row in Los Angeles from GOOD Magazine. Introduction, Kids, Drugs, God, Afterword via y2karl's earlier via

Shiiiieeeet

AceRock — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:09:33 -0800

The Wire's War on the Drug War By Ed Burns, Dennis Lehane, George Pelecanos, Richard Price, David Simon

To Snitch or Not To Snitch: That Is The Question

jonp72 — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:16:46 -0800

Stop Snitchin' may be the hidden link between hip hop and the 1980s alternative rock group, House of Freaks. According to the New York Post, journalist Ethan Brown has accomplished "making the Stop Snitching movement seem reasonable" in his new book Snitch: Informants, Cooperators, and the Corruption of Justice. Brown argues that harsh mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses have created a "cottage industry of cooperators" and informants who fabricate evidence, because Provision 5K1.1 of federal sentencing guidelines gives leniency in exchange for "substantial assistance to authorities." According to Brown, two of these criminal cooperators included Ray Dandridge and Ricky Gray, the perpetrators of the Richmond spree murders that ended the life of Brian Harvey of House of Freaks, his wife, and his two children. On the other hand, Mark Kleiman argues that the Stop Snitchin' movement has driven homicide clearance rates so low that, in some cities, "you have a better than even chance of literally getting away with murder." Wikipedia on Stop Snitchin' Popmatters on the Stop Snitchin' phenomenon Rapper Cam'Ron: Snitching Hurts His Business The Snitching Project Snitching: The Institutional and Communal Consequences "Tell, Tell, Tell (Stop Snitchin')" by Project Pat

Like Freakonomics man...

i_am_a_Jedi — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:55:14 -0800

On the Legalization — or Not — of Marijuana (via - with Pete's response)

RIP Robin Prosser

homunculus — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:03:14 -0800

Robin Prosser was a former concert pianist and systems analyst who suffered from an autoimmune disease similar to lupus for over 20 years. The disease left her in constant pain and made her allergic to most pharmaceutical painkillers. Only medical marijuana brought her relief, but last spring the DEA seized her medicine. Unable to cope with the chronic pain any longer, she committed suicide on October 18th. [Via Andrew Sullivan.]

Pain Management as a Human Right

homunculus — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 20:15:01 -0800

Recognizing Pain Management as a Fundamental Human Right. These pieces from the journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society argue that under-treated chronic pain is becoming a public health crisis which must be addressed. But a warning to pain doctors in the U.S. who prescribe opioids in doses that seem high to narcotics agents and prosecutors: “Be afraid.” [Via Hit & Run and TalkLeft.]

Prison Rape and the War on Drugs

homunculus — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 20:23:50 -0800

Stories from Inside: Prisoner Rape and the War on Drugs (PDF). A new report by the human rights group Stop Prisoner Rape. [Via Drug WarRant.]

Drug Tax Stamps

TheOnlyCoolTim — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 08:55:23 -0800

Many people want to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana and other drugs, however, few know that many U.S. states are content simply to tax. In fact, even the federal government wants a share (middle of p. 89 of the PDF), and used tax stamps in early prohibition, but only the states have recently issued issued cool stamps (be sure to click "exhibit"). The point, of course, is not to actually tax the drugs, but to penalize the drug dealers for tax evasion as well as drug sales. They have brought in some money, though. A few interesting state government pages: Conecticut, Nebraska, North Carolina and their tax return form, and Kansas.

“Frightened,” Maye said. “Very frightened.”

Sticherbeast — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 09:45:30 -0800

The Case of Cory Maye. A cop is dead, an innocent man may be on death row, and drug warriors keep knocking down doors.

Puppycide

homunculus — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 20:51:48 -0800

The Drug War Goes to the Dogs. SWAT teams (usually the young ones) seem to commit a lot of puppy cide. (Via The Agitator, who is also a MeFite.)

Narc!

trharlan — Fri, 08 Apr 2005 13:29:49 -0800

High school kids. Doing drugs! A 23-year-old female undercover agent posed as a student at Milford High School. The investigation culminated Friday with the arrest of 16 students on drug-trafficking charges. Twelve are juveniles. Public opinion is running 20 - 1 in favor of the sting.
Sandy Howdyshell, a 34-year-old Milford graduate who has an elementary school student in the district, said she was undecided on the school district's $108.6 million bond issue that will appear on ballots May 3 - until she heard about the undercover investigation... "I think it was a brilliant idea to put an undercover cop in the high school," Howdyshell said. "This event certainly has made an impact in my eyes. Now I know I'll be voting to support Milford schools."

NORML Releases Most Comprehensive Analysis Of US Marijuana Arrest Data To Date

trharlan — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 08:37:01 -0800

NORML Releases "Most Comprehensive Analysis Of US Marijuana Arrest Data To Date"

Among the reports' findings: * The enforcement of state and local marijuana laws annually costs US taxpayers an estimated $7.6 billion, approximately $10,400 per arrest. * While adult African Americans account for only 8.8% of the US population and 11.9% of annual marijuana users, they comprise 23% of all marijuana possession arrests in the United States.

How to Teach Kids About Drugs

Asparagirl — Fri, 12 Nov 2004 00:15:32 -0800

It's Just A Plant: a children's story of marijuana "One night Jackie woke up past her bedtime. She smelled something funny in the air, so she walked down the hall to her parents' bedroom." Here's a new way for parents to teach their kids about drugs--through a brightly-illustrated children's book, not second-hand misinformation or Drug Warrior scare tactics. Parents, librarians, and booksellers, please take note. [via D'Alliance, the blog of the Drug Policy Alliance]