HOT OFF THE 'NET

DEA FORCED TO SCRUB MISLEADING INFO ON THE AMA'S POSITION ON MARIJUANA

By Charmie Gholson

Activists get the DEA to remove obsolete information from its website
claiming that the American Medical Association (AMA) still opposes
medical marijuana

http://drugsense.org/url/Ehx7vMI5

CONGRESS: BUDGET DEAL INCLUDES SERIES OF DRUG REFORM VICTORIES

Drug War Chronicle, Issue #612

US House and Senate negotiators in conference committee approved the
finishing touches on the Fiscal Year 2010 budget Tuesday night, and
they included a number of early Christmas presents for different drug
reform constituencies.

http://drugsense.org/url/Ky5h8KWK

MOMS SAY MARIJUANA IS SAFER THAN ALCOHOL

A feature story from a Phoenix news station regarding the movement to
legalize marijuana so that people have a safer alternative to
alcohol. It features SAFER Executive Director Mason Tvert and his
mom, Diane, discussing the relative safety of marijuana compared to
alcohol, as well as the efforts underway to end marijuana prohibition
so that people are no longer being steered toward drinking and away
from making the safer choice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSOlApmc_nI

D.C. TAKES ANOTHER STEP TOWARD MEDICAL MARIJUANA

by Ben Morris

Congress released the language of a long anticipated bill today that,
among other things, will lift the ban on Washington, D.C.'s medical
marijuana law. D.C. is now one big step closer to protecting patients
from arrest and jail for using marijuana with a doctor's recommendation.

http://drugsense.org/url/Ym34udwa

CULTURAL BAGGAGE RADIO SHOW

Century of Lies - 12/06/09 - Bruce Mirken

Bruce Mirken, outgoing director of communications for the Marijuana
Policy Project re his 8 years serving drug reform + Jack Cole, Dir of
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition

http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/node/2685

Cultural Baggage Radio Show - 12/06/09 - Mason Tvert

Mason Tvert, director of Safer Choice in Colorado discusses progress
in fighting reefer madness

http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/node/2684

NEW POLL, MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SUPPORT MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION

Many adults in the United States are willing to legalize marijuana,
according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 53 per cent of
respondents support this notion, while 43 per cent are opposed.

http://drugsense.org/url/VvvTcV0n

THE SECRET TO LEGAL MARIJUANA? WOMEN

By Daniela Perdomo

Why women have signed onto marijuana reform -- and why they could be
the movement's game-changers.

http://drugsense.org/url/O9A1kZ3q

THE BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS OF DRUG LEGALIZATION

A new report by Harvard Professor Jeffrey Miron builds on his earlier
work focused solely on marijuana legalization. Starting on page nine,
it discusses how to explore the complex issue of tax revenue that
could be generated by legalized and regulated drugs.

http://drugsense.org/temp/Miron-economic-report.pdf

INTERNATIONAL CENTRE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND DRUG POLICY LAUNCHED

"Individuals who use drugs do not forfeit their human rights ... Too
often, drug users suffer discrimination, are forced to accept
treatment, marginalized and often harmed by approaches which over-
emphasize criminalization and punishment while under-emphasizing harm
reduction and respect for human rights."

Navanethem Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, March 2009

http://drugsense.org/url/T6vhe7jd

COCAINE MAFIA

Vanguard correspondent Christof Putzel travels to southern Italy to
investigate how Europe's growing appetite for cocaine is funding the
growth of West African crime syndicates and fueling a turf war with
Italy's largest mafia organization, the Camorra.

http://current.com/items/91650781_cocaine-mafia.htm

WHAT YOU CAN DO THIS WEEK

CALL FOR PAPERS: CHILDREN OF THE DRUG WAR

An upcoming compilation of essays will highlight the impacts of the
war on drugs from the perspectives of children and young people. You
can submit a proposal for an essay until January 29, 2010.

http://www.idpc.net/alerts/call-for-papers-children-of-the-drug-war

HELP STUDENTS FOR SENSIBLE DRUG POLICY WIN $25,000

Students for Sensible Drug Policy is one day away from winning
$25,000 through a voting competition on Facebook! Help us spread the
word to your friends - we need all the votes we can get!

Ask your facebook friends to vote for us by sending them this link:

http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/428379

We're ranked in the top 100 now -- if we can keep that position by
Friday at midnight, we'll win $25K and be entered into the next round
of voting for a chance at $1 Million! That's a lot of money that can
be used to challenge the War on Drugs.