News: Law Enforcement & the War on Drugs [#144]

This Week in Drugs

Sarah and Rachelle discuss the failures of punitive drug policies. They discuss Maryland’s efforts to reduce drug trafficking, who should be held responsible when someone overdoses while incarcerated, and why compassion makes a difference. Big changes in Arizona and Florida are also on the agenda, but the highlight this week is a story about nuclear missiles and LSD.

News Updates:

• To cut prison drug smuggling, Maryland is restricting inmates’ access to books
• If an inmate dies of an overdose, who is to blame? This lawsuit says jailers are.
• ‘I need help,’ addicted dealer begs judge, ‘I’ve been coming to jail since I was 13’
• Bangladesh’s Philippines-style drugs war creating ‘atmosphere of terror’

Headlines:

• The Arizona Supreme Court has ruled that medical marijuana patients have the legal right to carry their medicine on campus at colleges and universities. Card-carrying medical marijuana patients may, however, still be subjected to disciplinary action or even eviction from campus housing.
• Florida Governor Rick Scott approved budget cuts which will target programs offering substance use treatment for incarcerated people across the state. Treatment providers and employers of inmates on work release oppose the cuts, with one employer stating “Not only are you taking jobs, you’re taking lives.”
• Fourteen members of the United States Air Force, responsible for guarding the country’s nuclear missiles at FE Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, have been disciplined for the use and distribution of LSD. According to officials, none of the use occurred while on duty.
• On Wednesday, while speaking at an American College of Emergency Physicians forum, US Surgeon General Jerome Adams announced his support for supervised injection sites. Citing the success of harm reduction efforts in France, he said simply “we know that this can work.”

Forecast:

• A bill in the legislature, SB 336, would allow individuals who qualify for opioid prescriptions to apply for the state’s medical cannabis program. Has already been approved by the Senate, and has been voted out of committee 8-3. Now, it will go before the House floor for final approval, before being sent to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner for his signature. But, Gov. Rauner has previously opposed attempts to expand the medical marijuana program. The legislation is expected to receive a full house vote by the end of the week.
• On Thursday, June 7, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction will release the European Drug Report 2018: Trends and Developments. The report includes a comprehensive analysis of patterns across the EU, the 2018 Statistical Bulletin, and 30 Country Reports. The actual launch will take place at 11:30 am CET on the 7th

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The post News: Law Enforcement & the War on Drugs [#144] appeared first on This Week in Drugs.