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A Franklin man with multiple sclerosis was sentenced today to five years in prison for growing marijuana that he has said was used for medicinal purposes. The sentence handed down to John Wilson is the minimum prison term that he could have received. Wilson's attorney, James Wronko, said he will file a motion to stay the sentence pending an appeal. full story

At least two US citizens were killed in their own homes by American police enforcing the war on drugs in a 48-hour period late last week. One was a 52-year-old white grandmother; the other was a 43-year-old black man. Both allegedly confronted home-invading officers with weapons; both were shot to death. No police officers were injured. full story

Dutch "coffee shops", a euphemism for outlets selling soft-drugs,  have announced they are going on strike on 9 June, the day the country will hold parliamentary elections. The idea behind closing for the day is to encourage all those who like to smoke a joint  to get out and vote for the parties which will ensure that coffee shops will not be banned in the Netherlands. full story

The gangland-style murders of three people with ties to the U.S. consulate in this border city have confirmed for many people what residents here already knew: President Felipe Calderón's strategy of sending in the troops to corral drug gangs has failed. full story

Former candidate for mayor and founder of ProfitfromPot(.com), Pastor Craig Rubin, was arrested at temple on October 22, 2009 for a second time in what was a "politically motivated" police action. The District Attorney's office had been pushing to put Pastor Rubin behind bars for years now, claims Rubin. Months later DA Cooley has decided to drop all charges because Rubin is going to jail anyway -- unless he can get the public's help. full story

"Who's that pretty lady, mommy?" I remember asking when I first saw Jean Simmons in The Robe, a religious film that was one of the few I was permitted to watch growing up Catholic. (I had already seen The Sound of Music six times.) full story

It was less than one year ago when acting U.S. DEA administrator Michelle Leonhart publicly declared that the escalating violence on the U.S.-Mexico border should be viewed as a sign of the "success" of America's drug war strategies. full story

More 12-year-olds in the U.S. get high by sniffing inhalants than by using marijuana, cocaine or hallucinogens combined, a new government report finds. A survey released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration finds that lifetime use of potentially deadly inhalants among 12-year-olds was 6.9 percent in 2008, compared with 5.1 percent for illegal prescription drugs, 1.4 percent for marijuana, 0.7 percent for hallucinogens and 0.1 percent for cocaine. full story

For Brian McGacken of Farmingdale, New Jersey, an evening of loud sex resulted in a 10-year prison sentence for growing marijuana. On Feb. 17, 2007, New Jersey state troopers arrived at McGacken's home, responding to an anonymous 911 call complaining of screams coming from McGacken's home. McGacken explained the noise was a bout of loud sex; his girlfriend appeared at the front door and corroborated his claim. full story

Marijuana is the illegal drug of choice in the Canadian Forces, according to the first random tests of the entire military. Almost one in 20 Forces members - 4.7 per cent - "recently" used illicit drugs, says the newly released study based on random urine samples. And the vast majority were using some form of cannabis, with cocaine, morphine and codeine far behind. full story