Clinic Edition Internal Mayo Medicine Review Seventh

Today, one person will likely die of a drug-related overdose somewhere in our state. A family is gathering to visit a loved one in prison on a drug charge. A new name is placed on a waiting list for a treatment program. A parent is having their parental rights terminated because of their untreated addiction. And tonight, a teenager at a party will have to make a decision: do I or don't I?

Something is fundamentally wrong with a system that advocates serving more time for a nonviolent drug offense then for a hideous crime committed by a sociopath like Robert Chambers. This problem needs to be fixed now -- not "next time."

A review of Rhode Island's current criminal justice approach to its drug problems, and a recommendation that it repeal its mandatory minimum sentencing laws.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger made news this week when the Associated Press reported an interview Schwarzenegger did with the British edition of GQ where he said marijuana is not a drug, it's a leaf. DPA's Tony Newman discusses his views on this in his latest blog published by the Huffington Post.

Should drugs like marijuana, heroin, and cocaine be legal? Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, clashes with David Murray, chief scientist at the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy.