What is the problem with SPD? Not enough cops.

March 30th, 2008 Filed Under Legal News

Paul Hoppe The Stranger takes a look at the hiring issues within SPD and the proposed solutions. Although I do not agree with everything the article posits, it is very interesting. Read Jonah Spangenthal-Lee’s full article here.

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CSI hiring iPhone hackers

March 30th, 2008 Filed Under Blogs

I posted on this in my other blog.

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Injustice in Ohio

March 29th, 2008 Filed Under Marijuana Laws

I know it happens but this was one of the worst examples I have read in a while.

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Drugs or Bugs?

March 28th, 2008 Filed Under Uncategorized

The other bugs. I guess the Feds are looking for both.

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On Addiction

March 23rd, 2008 Filed Under Marijuana Reform

Read Deputy Director of NORML, Paul Armentano’s full article on Marijuana addiction here.

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Encouraging Conversation

March 18th, 2008 Filed Under Marijuana Laws, Marijuana Reform

Kathleen Taylor has written the following article that we have reproduced a portion of. If you wish to read the full article (highly encouraged), go here.

A College student loses his financial aid because of a youthful indiscretion. A woman coping with the ravages of ovarian cancer lives in fear of being arrested for using what best eases her suffering. Across town, a front door bursts open and police rush in to handcuff a man relaxing in his living room.

These events have one thing in common: marijuana. Whether it is being kicked out of college for a youthful mistake, being denied relief from pain as a cancer patient, or getting arrested for personal use in one’s home, marijuana laws have far-reaching consequences.

And these consequences are often totally disproportionate to whatever societal risk or danger marijuana use may pose.

So, can we talk?I think we should. As a nation, we spend at least $7.5 billion annually enforcing our marijuana laws. In 2006, the latest year for which we have numbers, a record 830,000 Americans were arrested for marijuana — 89 percent of them simply for possessing it.

Our criminal-justice system wastes time and resources with these low-level marijuana-possession cases while half our violent crimes go unsolved. And those facing the judge are disproportionately African American and Latino…

As parents, we want to shield our children from harm and reserve certain choices for when they are old enough to understand the risks and repercussions. Certainly, this is as true of marijuana as it is of alcohol and tobacco. But just as certainly, and as most teenagers will tell you, it is easier for them to buy marijuana than beer or cigarettes. Our marijuana laws don’t work. I know it. You know it. Scores of our neighbors know it.

But no one is talking. Most of us have our own ideas about what should be done, but this has to be a decision that we make as a community. Too much is riding on this issue not to have an honest, candid discussion. Please join us in the conversation.

Learn more about the ACLU campaign, “Marijuana: It’s Time for a Conversation,” hosted by travel writer Rick Steves, airs this month on local stations and is available free to Comcast On Demand subscribers in Western Washington. For more information: www.marijuanaconversation.org

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New List Serve

March 18th, 2008 Filed Under Uncategorized

Tribal Public Defenders has a new National list-serve. The membership already includes attorneys from 26 states. If you are a Tribal Public Defender please consider joining this community. It requires moderator approval to join. The website is here.

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New Website

March 16th, 2008 Filed Under Legal News

Ratemycop.com is picking up tons of publicity thanks to an article in Wired.

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A Hard Look at What We Are Doing

March 16th, 2008 Filed Under Legal News, Marijuana Laws, Marijuana Reform

Marijuana: It's Time For a Conversation Take some time out and check out, Marijuana: It’s Time for a Conversation. They have a program sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union and featuring noted travel writer and television host Rick Steves, “Marijuana: It’s Time for a Conversation” begins a long-overdue public discussion about marijuana and marijuana prohibition. If you have Comcast you can go to Channel 888, then go to “Community” and choose “Marijuana: Let’s Talk”(available free to subscribers 24/7). They have a program on KONG TV- Channels 6 and 16 (Seattle/Puget Sound Region) at 1:00 am on the following days: March 19, 2008, March 20, 2008, March 26, 2008, March 27, 2008.

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Random Drug Testing in School is Unconstitutional

March 13th, 2008 Filed Under Legal News

High school students do not get much of a break. When it comes to Rights, it is hard to believe how few a student can invoke in the school setting. However, today the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that they still have a few left.

“If we were to allow random drug testing here, what prevents school districts from either later drug testing students participating in any extracurricular activities, as federal courts now allow, or testing the entire student population?” ”In the context of randomly drug testing student athletes, we see no reason to invent such a broad exception to the warrant requirement as such an alleged exception cannot be found in the common law.”

You can read the full article by Rachel La Corte here.

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