Featured Articles

ASA: Medical Marijuana Guidelines Are a "Huge Victory"

Alex Coolman
August 27, 2008 14:18

Despite my extremely crabby reaction to the Attorney General's release of medical marijuana guidelines, Americans for Safe Access is calling them "a huge victory" for the medical marijuana movement. ASA also says that the AG's issuance of the guidelines sends...Despite my extremely crabby reaction...

Armentano on the Relationship Between Medical Marijuana and Pharmaceuticals

Alex Coolman
July 09, 2008 14:37

Paul Armentano has a post at the NORML blog that addresses my absolute favorite spot in the law: that awkward no-man's-land between criminal drug law and pharmaceutical administrative law, which is where the demonized, criminalized plant marijuana, which will drive...Paul Armentano has a post at...

The Kelly Surprise: Attorney General Concedes That Amendment of Compassionate Use Act Was Unconstitutional

Alex Coolman
November 06, 2008 23:07

Surprising news in California medical marijuana law: the California Attorney General has conceded that the legislature's amendment of the 1996 Compassionate Use Act was unconstitutional, meaning that criminal defendants may soon be able to regain the ability to put on...Surprising news in...

Recent Articles

Top 10 Drug Law Blog Stories of 2008

Alex Coolman
January 02, 2009 18:40

Here are the Top 10 Drug Law Blog stories of 2008. Keep in mind that my stories reflect the focus of this blog -- i.e. on changing areas of criminal drug law, with emphasis on California -- and so do...Here are the Top 10 Drug Law Blog stories of 2008. Keep in mind that my stories reflect the focus...

Court Halts Random Drug Testing of School Employees in West Virginia

Alex Coolman
December 31, 2008 17:58

A federal judge in West Virginia on Monday (12/29/08) issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Kanahwa County School Board???s plan to randomly drug test nearly all public school employees.The American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia and the ACLU had argued that...A federal judge in West...

How to End The Violence Caused by Prohibition in Mexico? Ask a Federal Agent

Alex Coolman
December 30, 2008 15:46

The Los Angeles Times has a piece today containing suggestions from various officials for dealing with the extraordinary violence that has gripped Mexico since that country began pursuing a policy of aggressive drug prohibition. The most noteworthy remarks come from...The Los Angeles Times has a...

NYT on the Science of Rehab

Alex Coolman
December 24, 2008 16:16

The New York Times had an interesting piece this week looking at the science -- or lack thereof -- behind rehab programs. The key part: [V]ery few rehabilitation programs have the evidence to show that they are effective. The resort-and-spa...The New York Times had an interesting piece this week...

RSS Problems?

Alex Coolman
December 21, 2008 17:41

The other day, a reader noted that the RSS feed on this blog seemed to be screwed up. I went to look at the website of Feedburner, the service that does my feed, and I couldn't tell if anything was...The other day, a reader noted that the RSS feed on this blog seemed to be screwed up. I went to...

In re Noelle M. on Staying Sentences (PC 654) for Multiple Drug Sales

Alex Coolman
December 19, 2008 15:17

It was not error for a trial court to refuse to apply Penal Code section 654 to stay multiple sentences for sale of methadone even though the separate sales all occurred during a single football game, the Third District Court...It was not error for a trial court to refuse to apply Penal Code...

Mentch: Cal Supremes Drop a Footnote on "Prospective" Primary Caregiver Defenses

Alex Coolman
December 19, 2008 15:01

Sorry for the dearth of posting this week. Dealing with work takes time and energy, but it's nothing compared to the time and energy required when dealing with kids. Yipes! Anyway, the California Supremes on Wednesday (12/17/08) issued an interesting...Sorry for the dearth of posting this week....