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ACLU and Drug Policy Alliance Threaten to Sue Schwarzenegger for Suspending California's Medical Marijuana Law (07/12/2005)
SACRAMENTO - The American Civil Liberties Union and the Drug Policy Alliance threatened today to sue the Schwarzenegger administration unless it reverses its illegal suspension of California's Medical Marijuana Program.

ACLU Applauds Oregon Attorney General's Statement that Medical Marijuana Program Remains 100 Percent Legal (06/17/2005)
PORTLAND, OR - The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon expressed satisfaction that the state attorney general's office acknowledged today that Oregon's medical marijuana program remains in full force and effect despite the U.S. Supreme Court's decision last week in Gonzales v. Raich. The attorney general's opinion means that the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) must immediately resume issuance of medical marijuana registry identification cards to qualified applicants - a process that DHS had temporarily suspended pending the attorney general's review.

ACLU of Alaska Calls on Attorney General to Clarify State's Commitment to Uphold Medical Marijuana Statute (06/16/2005)
JUNEAU, AK - The American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska announced today that it has submitted a letter to the state attorney general's office requesting public acknowledgment of the continued validity of the state's medical marijuana law. The letter comes after newly appointed Alaska Attorney General David W. Márquez last week announced that the state's medical marijuana law was under review and could be declared inoperative following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Gonzales v. Raich.

"Girlfriend Problem" Harms Women and Children, Impacted Families Call Mandatory Sentences Unfair and Destructive (06/14/2005)
WASHINGTON -- Several formerly incarcerated women, a child of an incarcerated woman and national experts on sentencing policy - including the American Civil Liberties Union - told lawmakers today about the negative effects of drug sentencing laws have on women and families and urged reform. Under current drug laws, even those with little involvement in drug trafficking operations - often women in relationships with men involved in drug-related activities - are held liable for the entire quantity of drugs charged in connection with the conspiracy.

U.S. Attorney Retracts Threat of Prosecution After Receiving Demand from ACLU of Hawaii (06/13/2005)
HONOLULU -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii today said it appreciated the ""clarification"" of comments by U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo regarding doctors who recommend medical marijuana to their patients.

ACLU of Oregon Urges State Officials to Immediately Resume Medical Marijuana Card Program (06/09/2005)
PORTLAND, OR -- The American Civil Liberties of Oregon issued a letter today to the State Attorney General's office and the Department of Human Services urging the immediate resumption of the state's medical marijuana card program in compliance with state law.

ACLU of Hawaii Demands Immediate Retraction from U.S. Attorney (06/08/2005)
HONOLULU -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii (ACLU) demanded in a letter today that U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo immediately retract comments threatening to arrest doctors who recommend medical marijuana to their patients.

State Medical Marijuana Laws Remain Valid Despite U.S. Supreme Court Ruling in Gonzales v. Raich, ACLU Says (06/06/2005)
WASHINGTON -- In response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling today in Gonzales v. Raich, that the federal government can enforce federal laws prohibiting the cultivation, possession, and use of medical marijuana even in states where medical marijuana is legal under state law, the American Civil Liberties Union urged state and local governments to protect individual patients and their caregivers.

In Wake of ACLU Civil Rights Lawsuit Settlement, African Americans Affected by Texas Drug Task Force Scandal Call for Reconciliation at Town Meeting (06/02/2005)
HEARNE, TX -- At a community meeting tonight, African American residents in this rural community of 5,000, where the American Civil Liberties Union recently settled a major civil rights lawsuit against agents of a federally funded regional narcotics task force, will meet with local and state officials to discuss ways to work together to reform drug law enforcement in Robertson County, where Hearne is located.

"No More Tulias" Legislation Introduced in Congress, ACLU Supports Oversight, Accountability of Drug Task Forces (05/25/2005)
WASHINGTON - Legislation introduced today would provide oversight and accountability for the millions of federal dollars distributed to state and local law enforcement agencies to fight the drug war. The American Civil Liberties Union called the bill an important first step toward stopping widespread drug task force scandals such as the one in Tulia, Texas, where many of the town's African American residents were arrested on bogus drug charges.

Civil Rights Lawsuit Settled by Robertson County, Texas and ACLU (05/11/2005)
HEARNE, TX -- Robertson County, the American Civil Liberties Union and the law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr today announced the resolution and an end to a civil rights lawsuit which arose from the arrest of 27 African American residents in this Texas town. The charges against the plaintiffs in this case were ultimately dismissed. The details of the settlement are confidential. However, both Robertson County and the ACLU are satisfied with the resolution of this case.

Drug Policies are Destroying Families, Groups Charge (03/17/2005)
NEW YORK -- The ACLU, Break the Chains: Communities of Color and the War on Drugs, and the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law today released a report that compiles for the first time existing research on the effects of current drug laws and sentencing policies on women and their families. The report, Caught in the Net: the Impact of Drug Policies on Women & Families, is co-authored by the three organizations and is being launched at a national conference of experts on issues relating to women, families and drugs at NYU School of Law on March 17th and 18th.