'Synthetic' marijuana is problem for US military

This article in today's North County Times describes a problem where mixtures of different herbs, spices, and chemicals are being sold and used by military members to get "high." Apparently as soon as a new drug combination can be tested for in urine, a new drug combo is developed that has similar effects but is difficult to test for in urine.

'Synthetic' marijuana is problem for US military:

The Government tries to ban each drug combination, which may be sold (advertised/labeled) as incense, bath salts, aroma therapy, or other purposes--but is actually smoked or ingested for recreational drug "highs."

If this situation is taken to the extreme limit, no chemicals will be permitted to be sold, and all gardens will need to be inspected by DEA. Individuals will be required to provide breath or blood samples at routine traffic stops.

The war on drugs is very frustrating for everyone involved, and it clearly is going to result in more erosion of our rights and freedoms before the war will be declared "over." -- if ever.

'via Blog this'

Motel Is Latest Stopover - WSJ.com

Property Forfeiture in drug-related cases is just one more example of how the drug war has eroded our US Citizen's rights. In this case, a motel owner is going to lose his property because someone using drugs stayed in it?

Motel Is Latest Stopover - WSJ.com:

Tax Report: Going After State-Tax Deadbeats - WSJ.com

The State of California is getting serious about people paying their personal income tax. The state is now able to deny car license for people delinquent on their taxes.

Tax Report: Going After State-Tax Deadbeats - WSJ.com:

I wonder if the State could also deny driver's licenses, license plates, and even free K-12 education to Federal agents, FBI, Prosecutors etc who knowingly break our California law that allows people to sell and use medical Marijuana? They are now even going after advertisers who host medical marijuana ads.

Yes we all understand that under Federal law it is illegal. However I'm sure the Feds have much bigger crimes to fight than these relatively easy-to-catch people who are operating storefront businesses in California.

Report: Global Commission on Drug Policy

A report was released today from a commission made up of highly respected, international dignitaries that clearly explained why the "drug war" is a failure. Of course, immediately the findings of the report were rejected by the US "Drug establishment. Here is a link to the report: http://www.globalcommissionondrugs.org/Report

Flight Across the Atlantic - RU27 - RU17

These little droids built by Rutgers University demonstrated an amazing feat in crossing the Atlantic. Flight Across the Atlantic - RU27 - RU17 -- Now they are building a lot more for other scientific studies.

It appears to me that these would be ideal drug smugglers. Particularly if they were designed to mimic sea creatures, such as dolphins.

Our DEA, Coast Guard and Navy is probably already working on technologies to defeat it. I'd also bet that the drug smuggler cartels are also working on the technology.

Portugal and Drug Legalization

I just read this article in Time: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1893946,00.html that describes the results in Portugal 10 years after decriminalization of drugs. It appears that the drug addiction problems in Portugal did not get any worse, and may have actually improved. In addition, the economic, political, and social costs of drug enforcement were sharply lower.

It is a shame in the US that the main opponents of drug decriminalization are our community leaders who directly profit from our current drug enforcement activities: Prosecutors, Police, DEA, FBI --is it just "job protection?"