NORML's planning it's next steps:This week, Massachusetts became the 13th state in the country to decriminalize marijuana when voters approved Question 2 on the ballot, which made getting caught with less than an ounce of marijuana punishable by a civil fine of $100.The change in the law means someone found carrying multiple joints will no … Continue reading Next steps in pot policy

Ethan Nadelmann looks forward to drug policy reform opportunities under the Obama administration:"...he has said that America should start treating drug use as a health issue instead of a criminal justice issue. He supports repealing the federal syringe ban and ending the DEA's raids on medical marijuana patients. He is also co-sponsor of Senator Biden's … Continue reading Drug Policy in the Obama Era

What is there to say? This is just sad.No recidivism rates were offered to provide context?In Michigan, the two year recidivism rate for parolees is almost 50% and Washtenaw County is around 75%.Three months of residential treatment costs about $8000 and they can then move into sober housing and pay their own way. Three months … Continue reading Penny wise and pound foolish

A primer on recovery capital just became available.

Powerpoint presentations and other files from the Global Methamphetamine Conference are here.

Tobacco use is continuing its transition from celebrated to tolerated and is slinking in the direction of prohibition.

Join Together has put together a roundup of the election ballot proposals.Looks like it was a good day for marijuana advocates and mixed day for other areas of the drug war.

Robert's story:Long-time addict Robert Vincent says he's living proof that getting free, daily heroin can improve the quality of a drug user's life, possibly steering him closer to recovery."I wasn't waking up in the middle of the night worrying where I was going to get the money to get my fix," said Mr. Vincent, who … Continue reading A Peek Inside Heroin Maintenance

I've been waiting for a large treatment program to implement a web-based recovery support program. I've been curious to see what it might look like and how they would navigate privacy issues.MORE is hardly innovative. We'll see what future iterations look like.

In a study with subjects receiving low intensity outpatient treatment, those who received buprenorphine for 12 weeks did significantly better than those receiving it for 2 weeks.The difference in retention is striking 70% for extended detox, compared with 20% for short term detox. There were also improved short term and 12 month outcomes in opiate … Continue reading Extended vs Short-term Buprenorphine for Young Opiate Addicts