Addiction and the Public Health Question

A brief foray into looking at Alabama state policy on fighting addiction.

Considering US Attitudes toward Latin America

Pondering lack of US interest in our friends to the south.

Denver Votes To Decriminalize Psychadelic Mushrooms

In a first of its kind move, voters in Denver have voted to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms.

How to Make the Border Situation Worse

Trump declares he will end aid to Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.

Trump Selects Former Attorney General William Barr To Be New Attorney General

William Barr, who served as Attorney General under President George H.W. Bush, has been selected to replace Jeff Sessions as Attorney General.

Election Day Was A Good Day For Marijuana Legalization

On Tuesday, Michigan joined the ranks of the states where marijuana is legal and several other states legalized it for medical purposes.

Three Pounds of Marijuana, Eight Years in Jail

Another drug war example.

Drug War Insanity

Scenes from the war on drugs.

Populist Wins Landslide In Mexican Presidential Race

Andrés Manuel López Obrador, a populist from the left, rode a wave of populism and public disdain for the outgoing President to a landslide win in Mexico

Will Mexico Pay for the Wall?

The answer is, of course, no. Really, this is a post about the wall as policy.

Tough Talk on Drugs is Empty Talk

President Trump is not being bold on drugs. Instead, he is just recycling old, failed idea.

Donald Trump Shrugging Donald Trump Shrugging

American Ideals?

Some thoughts about why the president’s remarks on immigration are so problematic.

Trump’s Weird Threat to Colombia

More foreign policy amateurism.

Trump and Latin America

Trump isn’t going to win any regional popularity awards in LA.

Mexico’s Supreme Court Opens The Door To Marijuana Legalization

A decision from Mexico’s Supreme Court has opened the door to legalization of marijuana south of the border, but it’s likely to proceed much slower than in the United States or Canada.

Bernie Sanders Wants To End The Federal Marijuana Ban, Conservatives Should Support Him

Senator Bernie Sanders wants to let states decide how to regulate marijuana, or to not regulate it at all if they choose. Intellectually honest conservatives should support his effort.

US-Latin American Relations

Some thoughts on a column by Roger Noriega on the Obama administration and Latin America,

Most PATRIOT Act ‘Sneak And Peek’ Warrants Used In War On Drugs, Not War On Terror

Not surprisingly, a law passed in the wake of the September 11th attacks has been used mostly for things that have nothing to do with terrorism.

The New York Times Endorses Marijuana Legalization

The Grey Lady sees the light on a major part of the War On Drugs.

House Votes To Protect States That Legalize Marijuana From Federal Raids

A victory for Federalism and sanity in the War On Drugs.

How the Drug War Disappeared the Jury Trial

Only a tiny percentage of those in American prisons ever got a trial.

Refer Madness Among The Acela Corridor Crowd

The latest news on the marijuana legalization front has led David Brooks and others to go into a completely pathetic panic.

The USA v. the FARC

Newly disclosed details about the US role in Colombia.

Privacy is about Policy

Discussion of privacy really ought to be focused on the legal regime, not technical capabilities.

Drug War Using American Phone Records More Than Terror War

Prism ain’t got nothin’ on the Hemisphere Project.

Cocaine and Geopolitics

Some info from the World Drug Report

Basic Truths on US-Mexican Relations

In fact, yes: the demand for drugs does come largely from the US.

Taxing Ammunition

Taxing Ammunition Should Be Considered to Reduce Gun Violence

War on Murder or War on Drugs: Pick One

Stony Brook finance prof Noah Smith writes, “The Single Best Anti-Gun-Death Policy? Ending the Drug War.”

Latin American Leaders Question War On Drugs In U.N. Speeches

Our War On Drugs is having a disastrous impact on our neighbors to the south, and they’re starting to notice.

The War On (Some) Drugs Has Killed More Mexicans Than Fast & Furious

America’s Drug War has caused more problems for Mexico than Fast & Furious ever will.

Ambition v. Ambition

Issa, Holder, and a little Madison.

Trying to Sort out the “Fast and Furious” Situation

Fast and furious, or a lot of sound and fury signifying not too much?

Mexican Drug War Claims 50,000 Lives, Little Attention

Since Mexico’s President Felipe Calderón began an all-out assault on drug cartels in 2006, more than 50,000 people have lost their lives across the country in a nearly-continuous string of shootouts, bombings, and ever-bloodier murders.

Gary Johnson Wins Libertarian Party Nomination For President

The Libertarian Party has chosen another former Republican politician as their Presidential nominee.

A Crack in the Logic of the Drug War Coalition?

Well, maybe a tiny one.