Reefer Madness: Drug Laws Are So Fifties

Advocacy group calls for a return to the Seventies on sentencing

"...But the Boggs Act (and its successor, the Narcotics Control Act of 1956, which increased Boggs Act penalties)..."

Oct. 17, 2008 News Column by Jordan Smith

Grass

"...century. Grass is a documentary about how our proscriptive laws and attitudes have been shaped by conscious terror and..."

Aug. 11, 2000 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Shapleigh on the Border

El Paso senator lays down the law on what's really important on cross-border crime

"...leadership, and not wasting time with unconstitutional local immigration laws...."

July 9, 2008 News Post by Richard Whittaker

Tricks of the Trade?

"...will show viewers how to hide their stash, “avoid narcotics profiling” and to fool, “every time,” those pesky drug-sniffing..."

Dec. 22, 2006 News Post by Jordan Smith

Where's Your Evidence?

Advances in forensic science have made physical evidence increasingly crucial in criminal justice – but the practice of preserving and maintaining that evidence is often underfunded, poorly managed, or just plain sloppy

"...storage and retention in Texas reflects that while state laws firmly mandate the preservation and maintenance of evidence that..."

Feb. 15, 2013 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Drug Warriors

Hays County drug war is costing lives and money.

"...four-month undercover marijuana sting conducted by the Hays County Narcotics Task Force. Windle, a 25-year-old electrician's apprentice, had been..."

Nov. 5, 1999 News Feature by Nate Blakeslee

Drug War Blowback

Drug-raid tactics come under increasing scrutiny

"...a team of at least seven Austin Police Department narcotics officers, that was not an option. In fact, the..."

Dec. 21, 2007 News Feature by Jordan Smith

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"...Our country should adopt compassionate access to marijuana laws, similar to those passed in Canada earlier this year...."

Dec. 7, 2001 Column

If You're a Viper

From 'La Cucaracha' to Snoop Dogg and Willie Nelson: P-O-T

"...clippings from this decade begin to note problems with narcotics in San Antonio, including opium and marijuana. An article..."

May 25, 2007 Music Feature by Margaret Moser

The Journey of a Gun

Gun traveled circuitous path to Kevin Brown's hands

"...of state firearms law, if not also federal gun laws. Yet such transactions involving firearms, especially in connection with..."

Oct. 5, 2007 News Feature by Jordan Smith

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"...be destroyed because we choose not to drink addictive narcotics to achieve a mellow level of recreational intoxication. Fuck..."

Dec. 14, 2001 Column

The Agony of the Ecstasy

Will the federal and local crackdown on ecstasy put raves out of business?

"...the latex toddler-plug has come under the classification of narcotics paraphernalia. Ditto for those colorful glow-sticks endemic to most..."

Nov. 16, 2001 Music Feature by Marc Savlov

APD's Sleep Disorder

The APD praised a longtime officer – until she claimed a disability

"...on Short Kemp Street and compiling evidence for a lawsuit against the owner of a Rundberg Lane flophouse that..."

Aug. 24, 2012 News Feature by Jordan Smith

The Facts Were Immaterial

The 'counterintelligence' operations of Hoover's FBI included harassment, vilification, violence – and fake 'underground' newspapers in Bloomington, D.C., and Austin

"...the fall of McCar­thyism. Bureau officials believed that existing laws were insufficient to control the activities of certain dissident..."

June 7, 2013 News Feature by Dale Brumfield

Asking Questions Later

"...of the TCSO, in conjunction with the Capital Area Narcotics Task Force, had been executing a search warrant for..."

April 12, 2002 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Point Austin: Standing Our Ground Against ALEC

The corporate bill caucus you never elected

"...last year the major promoter of "Stand Your Ground" laws underlying the Zimmerman case. Although Zimmerman's defense did not..."

July 26, 2013 News Column by Michael King

Paul-itically Incorrect

Ron Paul's Wacky Views Highlight a Bitter Race

"...Advocating the abolition of federal drug laws may not sit well with the constituents of the..."

Nov. 1, 1996 News Feature by Alex de Marban

Majority of Americans Say Legalize It

Federal lawmakers file bill to protect tokers

"...prohibition as damaging: 72% say efforts to enforce pot laws cost more than they are worth. Moreover, 60% say..."

April 16, 2013 News Post by Jordan Smith

The Supremes Take a Hit

The federalist smoke from medical marijuana reaches the Supreme Court. Can they clear the air on states' rights, pot, and the Constitution?

"...use the drug in compliance with state medical marijuana laws? Does the wholly intrastate cultivation and distribution of medicinal..."

Dec. 10, 2004 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Don't Fear the Reefer!

Momentum builds for Lone Star legalization of marijuana

"...D-Hous­ton, sees it, all this talk about changing pot laws was inevitable. As Naishtat has fought long and hard..."

March 14, 2014 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Reefer Madness

War on Prohibition is the new War on Drugs

"...busting people for smoking pot. In 1970, going into narcotics [work], the "War on Drugs" [had just been] coined..."

Nov. 2, 2007 News Column by Jordan Smith

Crackpot Crackdown

Joining a long East Texas tradition, Jackson County DA Bobby Bell has convicted 28 black people on drug charges via manufactured evidence and railroaded trials. One small-town exile, her family, and a few neighbors are finally fighting back.

"...one area lawyer. "If you're charged with a felony narcotics offense there's not any way you're ever going to..."

Oct. 21, 2005 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Naked City

"...Scofflaws, it's time to pay up -- or pay in..."

Feb. 22, 2002 News Feature by Lauri Apple

Naked City

Poll: If Limbaugh did the crime, he should do the time

"...into the pokey for having his maid illegally obtain narcotics to feed his OxyContin pain pill addiction? Or, despite..."

Jan. 16, 2004 News Feature by Jordan Smith

A Fetus Is a Fetus, or Is It?

Will AG buy Texas District and County Attorneys Association's claim that changes in law, instituted by legislators during the last two legislative sessions, mean doctors who perform some abortions are now eligible to face capital murder charges and possibly a death sentence?

"...thinking – appears to share. At issue are two laws: The first, passed in 2003, defines a fetus as..."

July 21, 2006 News Feature by Jordan Smith

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"...of our Founding Fathers, who established a government of laws to be enforced equally, regardless of the race, religion,..."

Oct. 15, 2004 Column

The People vs. Mike Sheffield

The new APD oversight agreement is a first for Austin -- but will it do what it's supposed to do?

"...veteran of APD, and currently a detective in the narcotics division. But since 1998, he has been president of..."

March 30, 2001 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

Headlines / Quote of the Week

"...massacre. It would incentivize states to pass "red flag" laws, permit juvenile records in background checks for gun purchasers..."

June 17, 2022 News Feature

Nobody Wants to Stop Voters From Approving Prop A

Pro-legalization and pro-freedom folks see eye to eye on the May 7 ballot

"...is connected to a violent felony or a felony-level narcotics case designated as "high priority" by APD leadership. If..."

April 29, 2022 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Hiring More Police Is Not a Great Way to Prevent Murders

A closer look at Austin's growing number of homicides

"...such as the Metro Tactical unit that assists with narcotics investigations, to keep patrols fully staffed, meaning officers are..."

Oct. 15, 2021 News Feature by Austin Sanders

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