There’s yet morerationality in the news today! Let’s stop quibbling about decriminalized marijuana for dying people and get to the heart of the matter: legalize, regulate, and tax. That’s what they’re looking into in Rhode Island. Katherine Gregg reportsin the Providence Journal: The measure poses a number of specific questions for study, among them: “Whether…
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In the Supreme Court round up, I’m happy that 13-year-olds can’t be forced to strip for suspicion of carrying ibuprofen. Clarence Thomas once again comes out as the dufus court jester in the 8-1 decision: “Preservation of order, discipline and safety in public schools is simply not the domain of the Constitution.” No, Sir. But…
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Looks like the line between paying a C.I. and criminal bribery isn’t so fine after all. Thanks to Marc S. for commenting on this post and informing me that what the DEA agent did is in fact a crime. It’s called commercial bribing in the second degree and in New York State it’s a class…
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A friend of mine, who only wants to be broadly identified as being in a form of “real estate business” in New York City, routinely complains to me about police trying, without a search warrant, to bully and threaten his employees in order to gain access to clients’ private property or information on someone or…
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Imagine that. The Agitator pretty much sums it up. And here’s the story in the Washington Post. The best line is: “In the sense that we kept these drugs from reaching our streets, this operation was a success.” But, uh, you already had the drugs, remember? Then instead of taking them off the streets you…
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The Mexican legislature has voted to decriminalize possession of up to 5 grams of marijuana, 1/2 gram of cocaine, 40 milligrams of methamphetamine, and 50 milligrams of heroin. From the story by Tracy Wilkinson in the LA Times: The battle between law enforcement authorities and drug suspects has claimed more than 11,000 lives since he…
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I’m back from two weeks in Spain… but I’ll spare you the details except to say there was hiking in the Alpujarras involved. And very sore feet. And lots of pork. Meanwhile, I was just quoted in a widely read article (the AP is great for that) about dirty narcs in NYC. Though I don’t…
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I’m supposed to grading papers so I’ll keep this short. But what does the police beating in Birmingham and the foiled terrorist plot in New York have in common? Neither would have happened were it not for the war on drugs. Three of the four bad guys in New York were in prison… for drug…
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If you have an hour-plus to spare, listen to Glenn Greenwald talk about Portugal’s experience with drug decriminalization since 2001. Here’s a link to the video and also a downloadable audio podcast. Under Portugal’s new regime, people found guilty of possessing small amounts of drugs are sent to a panel consisting of a psychologist, social…
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My NYPD students tell me that New York doesget the doors they bust down fixed. Not in Baltimore. Police bust down your door in the course of duty? It’s on you. Even if it turns out you’re innocent. Peter Hermann writes: First city cops bust down the wrong door on a drug raid. Then, when…
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