MetaFilter posts tagged with drugwar

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.]