Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Weeds wins Royal Television Society award Nice to see this excellent Showtime series continuing to get good notice: Weeds, Sky One's drama about a housewife who deals marijuana, created a stir by beating Channel 4 imports Lost and Desperate Housewives to win the award for best international programme. [Thanks, Allan] 11:51:25 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

Rick Steves - A NORML guy Via a friend in Seattle... I think I would have really enjoyed a program that was held at the University of Washington this evening: "Marijuana, the Unnecessary War,", featuring travel writer Rick Steves along with Roger Goodman, director of the King County Bar Association's Drug Policy Project. Steves isn't worried what people think of his stoner stance. He doesn't need to get elected, he said, and doesn't care if people boycott his travel books and shows. The truth is, he hardly smokes anyway. "If I wasn't working so hard, I would smoke," he said. "I'm kind of a workaholic. I smoke overseas with European friends." Alcohol leads to other things, Steves said. Sex leads to other things. "Pot causes us to enjoy the Beatles." 11:45:49 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

Looks a lot like legalization Link LASHKARGAH, Afghanistan (AP) - Afghanistan will encourage its powerful drug lords to invest their illegally earned profits in the war-shattered country, according to the governor of the nation's top opium-growing region. The offer comes amid warnings of another bumper poppy crop that will fuel a booming narcotics trade, which already accounts for 35 percent of the impoverished country's income. "We as a government will provide them the opportunity to use their money for the national benefit," Helmand Gov. Mohammed Daud said during a trip to the region this week by U.S. Ambassador Ronald Neumann. "They must invest in industries. They must invest in construction companies," he said. But he said that so far the government has had no success in attracting the drug traffickers to open new businesses and that most of the money is being sent overseas. Yep. Kind of like legalization. Of course, Gov. Daud is really just looking for any way to get money. Not so long ago, he was begging the international community for more money for eradication efforts. Still, going after investment from the drug lords might be a more attractive option for Daud. The U.S. ambassador seemed unsure how to comment, which may be a sign that U.S. hard-line diplomacy regarding Afghanistan and drugs may be running into serious difficulties. [Thanks, Bill] 4:59:01 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

DEA is at it again Via Americans for Safe Access: This morning, in a cruel act of harassment and intimidation DEA agents, along with Riverside County Sheriff's officers, raided a small medical marijuana collective grow outside of Palm Desert, California. When the DEA knocked on the door, patient Gary Silva went to open it. DEA agents proceeded to kick in the door, dislocating Gary's shoulder and causing lacerations to his face. Gary uses medical marijuana for degenerative disk disease and nerve damage. He is currently being treated in the emergency room of a local hospital. Agents confiscated less than 80 plants and dry medicine, which were grown for several patient collective members. Patient records and equipment were seized as well. No arrests were made. DEA agents repeatedly told Gary that they would not be charging him, and that he would only be charged if he grew again. Emergency action information is available at their site. 4:42:21 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []