Monthly Archives: March 2008

A sane alderman

Posted on March 15, 2008 by Pete Guither

Chicago Alderman Freddrenna Lyle (6th) in opposing the ban on little plastic bags: “But we’ve got enough laws we can’t enforce. We don’t want to make any more or criminalize legal conduct.”

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Open Thread

Posted on March 14, 2008 by Pete Guither

“bullet” Bartonville, Illinois (just down the road from me) running “drug enforcement zones.” It sounds Constitutionally questionable, but unfortunately, the press coverage is extremely vague, so I’m not quite sure exactly what they’ll be doing. “bullet” Clarence Page: A ‘wire’ … Continue reading →

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Preparing you for the authoritarian state

Posted on March 13, 2008 by Pete Guither

If you read fantasy stories about demons, you’ll often find the notion that the demon is powerless unless it is invited in, and then it feeds on fears to gain power and wreak destruction. That’s how freedom is lost. One … Continue reading →

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Not only do we keep spending more on failure, but we make sure we spend the most on the areas of highest failure

Posted on March 12, 2008 by Pete Guither

* 2008 and 2009 based on estimated actual/anticipated figures [Via CESAR Fax]

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When you can’t be right, just call your opponents crazy

Posted on March 12, 2008 by Pete Guither

Statement this morning in Vienna by Antonio Maria Costa, director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime: “I attended the meeting of the drug alliance [DPA] in New Orleans last December, 1200 participants, 1000 lunatics, 200 good people … Continue reading →

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Open Thread

Posted on March 11, 2008 by Pete Guither

“bullet” Thailand In the end, the war on drugs was simply a populist killing spree of small fry. No big drug dealers were ever affected, and after a while the drug business returned to normal. What is so sad about … Continue reading →

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United Nations drug policies violate United Nations charter

Posted on March 11, 2008 by Pete Guither

A coalition of groups including the International Harm Reduction Association, Human Rights Watch and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, have published a report taking the United Nations drug control policies to task for not being in compliance with essential human … Continue reading →

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In which I once again offer to debate someone

Posted on March 11, 2008 by Pete Guither

I write a letter Medical cannabis bill distinct from legalization In the recent Pantagraph story about a medical cannabis bill advancing to the Illinois Senate (March 6, Page A8), Limey Nargelenas of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police complained … Continue reading →

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It is said that the position of the Attorney General is the top lawyer of the land. What an insult that is to the legal profession.

Posted on March 10, 2008 by Pete Guither

Mukasey Puts Latest Crack in Truth on Drugs – a powerful piece in the Chicago Tribune by Carol Brook, Deputy Director of the Federal Defender Program for the Northern District of Illinois. This week, my phone has been ringing off … Continue reading →

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And you can use radiation to stop unwanted hair growth

Posted on March 9, 2008 by Pete Guither

This, apparently, is some kind of actual serious scientific research (although I’m really starting to wonder about the lab scientists down under — it seems like some of the kookiest marijuana stuff is coming from the Aussies and the Kiwis. … Continue reading →

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