Common Sense for Drug Policy

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Recent Updates & Additions

Medical Marijuana: New Jersey becomes fourteenth state to allow legal access to medical marijuana
Medical Marijuana: Rhode Island Moves One Step Closer to Establishing its First Dispensary (08/24/09)
Mexico: Mexico Decriminalizes "Personal Use" Amounts of Drugs (08/21/09)
Heroin Maintenance Treatment: Canadian Study Finds Active Ingredient in Heroin More Effective than Methadone in Helping Addicts Recover (08/20/09)
Medical Marijuana: FBI Raids Medical Marijuana Doctor Referral Service and Dispensary, Nabbing Confidential Patient Records in the Process (08/17/09)
Mexico: Obama Administration Submits Favorable Report to Congress Regarding Mexico's Drug War Human Rights Record (08/17/09)
Hemp: Oregon Governor Gives Industrial Hemp Bill His Signature (08/13/09)
Medical Marijuana: Federal and Local Law Enforcement Team Up to Raid LA Dispensaries (08/12/09)
Mexico: Obama and Harper Pledge Continued Support for Calderon's Drug War at North American Leaders Summit (08/11/09)
Mandatory Minimums: Washington State Moves to Eradicate "Three-Strikes" Mandatory Sentencing Laws (08/11/09)
Latin America: First Annual Latin American Conference on Drug Policy Indicates Latin America's Increasing Shift Toward Drug Legalization (08/11/09)
Afghanistan: Pentagon Adds Drug Traffickers to Hitlist Despite International Concerns Over Legality (08/10/09)
Federal Drug Control Strategy: Senate Confirms Treatment Expert as Deputy Director of ONDCP (08/09/08)
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Mandatory Minimums: "Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act" Passes House Judiciary Committee (07/30/09)
Mexico: Mexican Officials Urge Calderon to Change Course in Drug War (07/28/09)
ONDCP Watch: Obama Administration Anti-Drug Budget Continues to Prioritize Interdiction Over Treatment (07/27/09)
Harm Reduction: House Passes Appropriations Bill With Needle Exchange Funding Ban Repeal In Tact (07/25/09)
Higher Education Act Reform: House Education and Labor Committee Removes Financial Aid Penalties for Students Convicted of Drug Possession (07/22/09)
Mandatory Minimums: House Subcommittee Unanimously Approves the "Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2009" (07/22/09)
ONDCP Watch: Drug Czar Restates Federal Opposition to Marijuana Legalization at Ironically Focused Speaking Engagement (07/22/09)
Anti-Drug Ads: House Appropriations Committee Reduces ONDCP Ad Budget (07/10/09)
Afghanistan: US Announces New Approach to Drug War in Afghanistan (06/27/09)
CSDP Launches YouTube Account: Check out our new YouTube channel, CSDPTube!
Drug Crazy: How We Got Into This Mess and How We Can Get Out: The book by Mike Gray that helped spark a social and political revolution, now available online
New PSA: Would you rather die for a myth or live through medical research?

The Drug Truth Network broadcasts from the studios of KPFT in Houston, TX, to more than 69 affiliate stations in the US and Canada. DTN's flagship program, Cultural Baggage, airs every Wednesday at 11:30am Central time. DrugTruth's Century of Lies is broadcast Tuesdays at 11:30am Central time. In addition, DTN produces daily 3-minute newsfeeds, the 4:20 Drug War News. Past shows are available in the DTN archive. Learn the truth about the war on drugs, check out the Drug Truth Network.

Subscribe to the Cultural Baggage, the Century of Lies, and the 4:20 News podcasts. Point your podcast software to these URLs:
http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=views/latest_cb/feed
http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=views/latest_col/feed
http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=views/latest_420/feed

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition

One of the fastest-growing organizations working for drug legalization today is Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. Learn more about LEAP and why they're now fighting to end the drug war. Check out the new LEAP video produced by CSDP chair Mike Gray. In the words of retired anchorman Walter Cronkite: "Anyone concerned about the failure of our $69 billion-a-year War on Drugs should watch this 12-minute program. You will meet front line, ranking police officers who give us a devastating report on why it cannot work. It is a must-see for any journalist or public official dealing with this issue." Learn more about LEAP's views and work by watching this short video, produced by Mike Gray and available for viewing below as well as on CSDPTube.

"Chronic Pain & Opioids: Debunking The Myths"

Chronic pain is a progressive disease of the nervous system. Chronic pain victims often benefit from supplementation with pharmaceutical opioids. Read more about this often-misunderstood and misreported subject in "Chronic Pain & Opioids: Debunking the Myths," by Frank B. Fisher, MD. Copies are also available in PDF.

Vital Information For Families

One of the most important online addiction resources available today: Addict in the Family by Dr. Andrew Byrne. Use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs cuts across all political, social and economic lines. Learn what to do if you discover you have an addict in the family. Also, read a review of 'Addict' from the Drug War Chronicle by clicking here.

NarcoTerror -- The Convergence Of Prohibition And Terrorism

Experts claim that terror groups are funded predominantly by opium profits. However, efforts to curtail those profits and thus undercut such groups' power are frequently inconsistent, ineffective, and damaging to innocent citizens not involved in terrorist activities. Moreover, were the drugs from which insurgent groups profit legal and regulated, we could take away from them a major funding source. Click here to find out more.

Check out this Common Sense public service ad which asks, "Is the funding of terrorism another unintended consequence of drug prohibition?" and this ad, "Now That We're In A Real War..."

Recommended Reading: Here are some great books on drug policy which should be part of anyone's library.

The Experts Directory

The Directory of Drug Policy Experts was created by the Partnership for Responsible Drug Information (PRDI). Recognizing its value, Common Sense secured permission from PRDI to post the Directory on its site and to periodically update it. By consenting to be listed, the experts do not imply any endorsement of CSDP or its positions or proposals. In turn, individuals are listed herein based solely on the basis of their expertise. To check out the Directory, click here.

Eight Steps To Effective Drug Control: Reformers Present Ideas For New Federal Drug Strategy

We can no longer afford to pour $20 billion annually into a discredited drug strategy that has made our country less healthy and less safe. Experience and research in the USA and around the world shows that there are effective alternatives. This isn't just about saving money -- it's about protecting kids, saving families and preserving our long cherished American values. (Also for convenience, a PDF copy of "Eight Steps" can be downloaded by clicking here. And you can download a PDF of the CSDP news release on the Eight Step plan by clicking here.

New Research

Common Sense for Drug Policy highlights research not highly publicized elsewhere and comments on official or governmental research, which is often full of misinformation and statistical spin. Read about recently released research findings and get links to source materials here. Also check out CSDP's research section for additional materials.

Marijuana is medicine for millions of patients around the US. Federal opposition persists in spite of successful medical marijuana programs in several states. States, cities moving to allow medical use by those in need. Click here for the latest news and information about medical marijuana. Having doubts about cannabis' medicinal qualities? Take a look at what these California retirees have to say about the drug that changed their lives (viewable below as well as on ):

US Drug War In South America

While the US drug war in Mexico receives the bulk of mainstream media attention these days, other Latin American countries are also participating in and affected by the US war on drugs. Click here for more about the US drug war in South America.

Drug War In Asia

Click here for the latest news about the US drug war in Asia.

Official Corruption

Official Corruption: an inevitable byproduct of the war on drugs? That's been the experience of many US cities as well as globally. Click here for more info.

Drug War In Mexico

US drug 'war' in Mexico results in many real casualties as Mexican citizens literally caught in crossfire. Officials in police, military, even president's office implicated in drug-trafficking, corruption, and violence. Click here for more about the US drug war in Mexico.

Canadian Drug Policy Reform

Canadians urge their government to avoid undertaking a US-style 'drug war.' Should the US stop pushing counterproductive polices and start learning from its northern neighbor?

Marijuana (Cannabis)

Millions of people within the US and around the world use marijuana, or cannabis. The drug - even when smoked - is far less dangerous than alcohol, yet it remains prohibited in the United States. Learn more about marijuana and marijuana-related policies by clicking here.
Also visit Drug War Facts: Marijuana for more information.

Initiatives Move Drug Policy Reform Forward

Citizens, fed up with inaction, are enacting reforms to drug control policies by direct vote. Several states and localities have already passed ballot measures legalizing medical marijuana, setting rational drug enforcement priorities, and mandating treatment instead of incarceration. Click here to find out more.

United Kingdom Moves Toward Reform

Drug policy reform continues to generate controversy but moves slowly ahead in United Kingdom. Click here for the latest news about UK drug reform.

Harm Reduction

Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies that reduce negative consequences of drug use, incorporating a spectrum of strategies from safer use and managed use to abstinence. Some aspects of harm reduction such as needle exchanges, safe injection sites, and heroin maintenance can generate controversy yet are effective drug control strategies. Click here for more info. Also, check out this CSDP public service ad, US Meddling In Global AIDS Crisis: "A Triumph of Ideology Over Science."

International Drug Policy Reform

Policies in many European nations move toward reform, harm reduction and decriminalization. Drug warrior nations find repressive policies backfire. Read about drug policy reform efforts as well as detrimental policies under way internationally here. Also check out Drug War Facts: International Policies & Trends.

Methadone, Buprenorphine, and Heroin Addiction Treatment

In the US, methadone clinics face heightened restrictions in several states, localities in spite of their record of success. Internationally, countries discuss expansion of access to methadone, buprenorphine and heroin maintenance. Meanwhile research shows that access to opiate agonist therapy helps reduces HIV transmission among injection drug users. Click here for more news about heroin and methadone maintenance treatment.

Methamphetamine

Federal, state authorities move against some domestic methamphetamine production and trafficking yet laws seem to be backfiring as use remains high and imported product floods market. Click here for more news about methamphetamine in the US. Also, check out Drug War Facts: Methamphetamine for more background info.

Check out this PDF of CSDP's meth-related PSA, Is It Sound Policy To Jail Expectant Mothers?

Upcoming Events

Overzealous Enforcement & Fatal Errors

Police raids on the wrong properties, innocent citizens victimized by overzealous enforcement, suspects shot by over-eager agents, innocent citizens denounced by paid informants, lives lost or threatened because of official mistakes; these stories demand a second look. Click here to find out more.

Needle Exchange & Safer Injection Facilities

Syringe exchanges and safe injection facilities work to reduce spread of HIV/AIDS. Click here for the latest news and information about syringe exchanges.

Pain Management & Drug Control Policy

Pain management: where healthcare and drug control policies intersect. Check out ManagingPain.org, the Common Sense project specifically addressing pain management, diversion, and related issues.

Families, Students Organize Against Repressive Anti-Drug Measures

The drug war brings with it consequences that affect not only drug users and dealers but also - and perhaps most significantly - families, the poor, students, and other disenfrancished or disempowered communities. Follow the link for news and information about the impact of the drug war on families, students, and youth. Also, check out Drug War Facts: Families.

ONDCP Watch

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (or ONDCP) sets the agenda for U.S. anti-drug efforts both foreign and domestic. Its director, colloquially dubbed the "drug czar," acts as an advisor to the President and the public on drug-related matters, but ONDCP so frequently lies, wastes money, and hides facts from its constituents that the Office has become difficult to trust. Click here for news & information about the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and the federal drug strategy.

Reformers point out there are effective alternatives in an 8-point plan to control drug abuse and the drug markets. A PDF copy of "Eight Steps" can be downloaded by clicking here.

Cities & Counties Organizing Against The Drug War

From Syracuse, NY to King County, WA, citizens are organizing against the war on drugs by forming broad coalitions and getting local governments involved in exploring alternatives.

Mandatory Minimums

Mandatory minimum sentences condemn many nonviolent drug offenders to unjustly long prison sentences. Without rehabilitation and treatment for offenders, and prisons become breeding grounds of resentment and crime. Moreover, mandatory minimum sentences more broadly impact communities of color, undermining faith in law enforcement. While reformers are making headway, we're only at the tip of the iceberg. Click here for the latest news about mandatory minimum sentences.

See Drug War Facts: Mandatory Minimums and Drug War Facts: Prisons for more information. Also, check out this Common Sense public service advertisement on prison crowding and mandatory sentencing.

Afghan Drug War

As the Obama administration ramps up the US war on the world's top heroin-producing country, narcotics take center stage in both the news and strategic debates.

Treatment Alternatives To Incarceration

Treatment alternatives to incarceration include intensive probation, drug courts, and the Prop36/DTEF model. Rehabilitation and treatment initiatives are gaining popularity as prison populations swell, and research proves these programs more effective than simple incarceration. Click here for more.

Higher Education Act Reform

The punitive drug provision of the Higher Education Act currently denies federal aid to college students convicted of drug crimes while currently enrolled at an institution of higher education. Previously, the law applied to all persons with previous drug convictions. Support grows yearly for legislation to repeal the HEA drug provision.

Check out Students for Sensible Drug Policy and the Coalition for Higher Education Act Reform for more info and to get active on this issue.

Profiling & Racial Bias In The War On Drugs

Far too often, the drug war targets communities of color. From Tulia, TX, to New York, in Georgia and Kentucky and everywhere in between, a few in authority create a huge problem for society by clamping down hard on the already-disenfranchised. Local communities, churches and activists organize protests and demand action. Click here for news and information on racially biased drug control policies and practices.

Reform Of New York's Rockefeller Laws

Baby steps toward reform: New York reforms Rockefeller Laws, yet bad policies continue to plague New York state's legal system & citizens. Broad coalition for reform includes activists, families of inmates, hip hop culture figures, and many others.

Focus On Ecstasy

Although ecstasy no longer garners the same degree of media coverage it once enjoyed, its proponents continue to advocate for safer, more effective approaches to ecstasy control and pioneering researches discover new therapeutic uses for the so-called "party" drug. Click here to find out more.

Hemp News

Hemp, the non-psychoactive form of cannabis, can be used to create such everyday products as rope, food, clothing, soap, cosmetics and more. However, the US Drug Enforcement Agency currently recognizes no differences between hemp and marijuana. States, hemp advocates, and even federal representatives are working to highlight that distinction and change restrictive hemp laws.
Find out more by clicking here .

Federal AntiDrug Media Campaign: A Costly Failure

Research proves ONDCP's ad campaigns consistently fail to have any positive impact and may, in fact, be counterproductive. Luckily, the ad campaign's budget was recently cut, but we must still keep our eyes on the agency's anti-drug efforts on TV, film, and in print.

UN Drug Policy News, Research and Reports

UN moves slowly toward embracing harm reduction policies and gives a nod to reform activists in 2009 report.
For more UN reports, news, and information, click here.

DARE Revamps Program

Research confirms DARE is a failure. Proven alternatives are available. DARE program leaders concede critics are right, DARE is a failure, and unveil new program.

For additional information, check out the Winter 2002 issue of ReconsiDer Quarterly. Also, read this paper by Rodney Skager, Professor Emeritus of the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at the University of California-Los Angeles, titled "On Reinventing Drug Education, Especially for Adolescents," , prepared for the 2nd International Conference on Drugs & Young People, April 4-6, 2001 in Melbourne, Australia. Another article of interest is this piece by Mothers Against Misuse and Abuse (MAMA) founder Sandee Burbank, "Dare To Tell Your Kids The Truth - Quandaries Of A Thinking Parent." Also, check out Drug War Facts: Adolescents / Education & Prevention of Substance Abuse for more information.