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Drug War Chronicle, Issue #1044 -- 11/16/18
Phillip S. Smith, Editor, psmith@drcnet.org https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/1044

A Publication of StoptheDrugWar.org
David Borden, Executive Director, borden@drcnet.org
"Raising Awareness of the Consequences of Drug Prohibition"

Table of Contents:

1. MEXICO'S SUPREME COURT EFFECTIVELY LEGALIZES MARIJUANA POSSESSION, CULTIVATION, AND USE [FEATURE]
The US is about to become the only one of North America's three largest countries not to have legalized marijuana. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2018/nov/15/mexicos_supreme_court

2. MEDICAL MARIJUANA UPDATE
There's a push in Congress to provide protections for veterans who want
to use medical marijuana, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2018/nov/15/medical_marijuana_update

3. THIS WEEK'S CORRUPT COPS STORIES
A Los Angeles sheriff's deputy gets caught in a brazen ripoff, a
Maryland prison guard is the last of 16 to head to prison for their
roles in a massive racketeering scheme, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2018/nov/15/weeks_corrupt_cops_stories

4. CHRONICLE AM: FED SENTENCING REFORM BILL LOOMS, HHS RECOMMENDS KRATOM
BAN, MORE... (11/13/18)
Congress could move on both sentencing reform and industrial hemp in the
lame duck session, HHS recommends banning kratom, Thailand moves to
legalize and regulate both kratom and medical marijuana, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2018/nov/13/chronicle_am_fed_sentencing

5. CHRONICLE AM: TRUMP ENDORSES PRISON REFORM BILL, CITIES CALL FOR MJ RESCHEDULING, MORE... (11/14/18)
President Trump has given his endorsement to a limited bipartisan prison
reform bill, the National League of Cities calls for marijuana
rescheduling, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2018/nov/14/chronicle_am_trump_endorses

6. CHRONICLE AM: "DOZENS" OF UNDERGROUND SAFE INJECTION SITES IN
SEATTLE, NJ POT VOTES COMING, MORE... (11/15/18)
A local activist reveals that "dozens" of unpermitted safe injection
sites are operating in the Seattle area, New Jersey legislative leaders
say marijuana legalization will see votes this month, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2018/nov/15/chronicle_am_dozens_underground

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1. MEXICO'S SUPREME COURT EFFECTIVELY LEGALIZES MARIJUANA POSSESSION, CULTIVATION, AND USE [FEATURE] https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2018/nov/15/mexicos_supreme_court

In an earth-shaking development, Mexico's Supreme Court ruled last
Wednesday (https://twitter.com/SCJN/status/1057756168406396930/photo/1)
that the country's prohibition of marijuana use, possession, and
personal cultivation is unconstitutional. The decision came in a pair of
cases challenging the ban on weed, and because these rulings mark the
fifth time the court has ruled similarly, the opinions are now legal
precedent in the country.

The high court in Mexico City based its decision on constitutional
protections of individual autonomy.

"The fundamental right of the free development of the personality allows
adults to choose -- without any interference -- what recreational
activities they desire to undertake and protects all the activities
necessary to make that choice… The effects of marijuana consumption do
not justify an absolute prohibition of its use," the court held.

But the court also noted explicitly that the right to grow, possess, and consume marijuana "is not absolute and the consumption of certain
substances can be regulated."

That means it will be up to lawmakers to come up with rules around the
legal use of marijuana, as well as any move toward a regulated, legal
marijuana market in the country. And that is likely to happen: Parties
backing President-Elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), who is
supportive of marijuana legalization (https://www.marijuanamoment.net/where-mexicos-next-president-stands-on-marijuana/)
and open to considering broader legalization (http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/english/obrador-legalize-drugs), control absolute majorities in both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.

In its rulings, the high court ordered the federal health regulatory
agency, COFEPRIS, to authorize the use of marijuana by adults who choose
to do so, but it also added: "albeit without allowing them to market it,
or use other narcotics or psychotropic drugs."

Mexico has already decriminalized both pot possession and the possession
of personal use amounts of other illicit drugs.

Coming less than two weeks after Canada's marijuana legalization came
into effect, the striking decision by the Mexican Supreme Court is only
going to add to the pressure to advance federal marijuana legalization
here in the US.

"This is extraordinary because it is taking place in one of the
countries that has suffered the most from the war on drugs," said Hannah Hetzer, senior international policy manager for the Drug Policy
Alliance. "With marijuana already legal in Canada, now both of the US's neighbors will have legal marijuana, making the US federal government's prohibition of marijuana even more untenable."

If the Democrats take control of the House this week, expect to see a
strong push for federal legalization (https://www.alternet.org/drugs/key-congressman-earl-blumenauer-bold-plan-end-federal-marijuana-prohibition),
along the lines that Congressional Cannabis Caucus founder Rep. Earl
Blumenauer (D-OR) laid out earlier this month. If the Republicans retain control of the Senate, as is widely expected, the upper chamber would be
a tougher nut to crack -- but GOP senators may want to reflect on the
fact that, according to the most recent Gallup poll (https://news.gallup.com/poll/243908/two-three-americans-support-legalizing-marijuana.aspx),
support for legalizing weed is at an all-time high of 66 percent, and
even 53 percent of Republican voters now are on board.

This article was produced by Drug Reporter (https://independentmediainstitute.org/drug-reporter/), a project of the Independent Media Institute.

The Drug Policy Alliance is a financial supporter of both Drug War
Chronicle and Drug Reporter.

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___________________

It's time to correct the mistake:
Truth:the Anti-drugwar
<http://www.briancbennett.com>

Cops say legalize drugs--find out why:
<http://www.leap.cc>
Stoners are people too:
<http://www.cannabisconsumers.org>
___________________

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--
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"It is by will alone I set my mind in motion.
It is by the beans of cacao that the thoughts acquire speed,
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It is by theobromine alone I set my mind in motion."
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