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Portugal’s Drug Policy…Treating, not punishing (August, 2009)

The evidence from Portugal since 2001 is that decriminalization of drug use and possession has benefits and no harmful side-effects.

Mexico Decriminalizes Drug Possession (August, 2009)

Mexico enacted a controversial law that decriminalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other drugs while encouraging free government treatment for drug dependency.

World Drug Report (June, 2009)

A UN agency has published a comprehensive report on the worldwide illicit drugs market, the World Drug Report 2009. The report shows drug related crime has increased 100% from 1995 to 2005.

Anti-Smoking Bill Passes (June, 2009)

The Senate struck a historic blow against smoking in America Thursday, voting overwhelmingly to give regulators new power to limit nicotine in the cigarettes that kill nearly a half-million people a year, to drastically curtail ads that glorify tobacco and to ban flavored products aimed at spreading the habit to young people.

Justice Dept. Seeks Equity in Sentences for Cocaine (April, 2009)

A senior Justice Department official urged Congress on Wednesday to lower the mandatory minimum prison sentence for the sale and possession of crack cocaine to match the punishment for powder cocaine, eliminating arbitrary sentencing disparities that have resulted in many more African-Americans’ being jailed for longer terms.

It was the first time such a high-level law enforcement official has endorsed legislation to eliminate inequities in cocaine sentencing. Barack Obama, while campaigning for the White House, had called for an end to the disparity.

Canadian Government to debate Bill C-359 to Decriminalize Marijuana (April, 2009)

On April 2nd 2009, Dr. Keith Martin, MP introduced a bill in the House of Commons to decriminalize the simple possession of marijuana.

“The ‘war on drugs’ has been a complete failure. It has not reduced the crime rate, drug use, nor has it saved money or lives. Decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of pot and up to two plants will sever the connection between organized crime and casual users of pot. This bill is bad news for criminal gangs, which are the only beneficiaries of the status quo because it would eliminate demand for their product. As a result this bill will significantly undermine the financial underpinnings of organized crime gangs in Canada,” said Dr. Martin.

Repealing Rockefeller Drug Laws (April, 2009)

Gov. David A. Paterson and New York legislative leaders have reached an agreement to dismantle much of what remains of the state’s strict 1970s-era drug laws, once among the toughest in the nation. The deal would repeal many of the mandatory minimum prison sentences now in place for lower-level drug felons, giving judges the authority to send first-time nonviolent offenders to treatment instead of prison.
The plan would also expand drug treatment programs and widen the reach of drug courts at a cost of at least $50 million.

Obama Administration to Stop Raids on Medical Marijuana Dispensers (March, 2009)

U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. said that the Justice Department has no plans to prosecute pot dispensaries that are operating legally under state laws in California and a dozen other states—a development that medical marijuana advocates and civil libertarians hailed as a sweeping change in federal drug policy.

Drug Decriminalization in Portugal (April, 2009)

For over seven years, drugs have been decriminalized in Portugal. This new study examines the Portuguese model and the data concerning drug-related trends in Portugal, and argues that, “judged by virtually every metric, the Portuguese decriminalization framework has been a resounding success.”

The National Criminal Justice Commission Act (March, 2009)

Sen. Jim Webb (D-Virginia) introduced a bill to create a blue ribbon commission to initiate a comprehensive review of America’s criminal justice system and drug policies.  The commission will spend eighteen months studying all aspects of the criminal justice system, report the findings to Congress and offer tangible recommendations for reform, including, possibly, an end to the cruel drug laws that send too many people to prison for too long.