Back to Portugal

Researching Drug Policy for Oregon

Brooklyn Bridge, 30-second exposure on Ilford paper with a pinhole camera.

Dear subscribers,

I’m back. Finally. Two quick updates.

One, I’m going back to Portugal in less than two weeks. I’ll report on drug policy there and what it can teach us, something I’ve discussed in this newsletter.

Now a delegation of Oregon officials, including state lawmakers, policy advocates, and law-enforcement leaders, is going to Lisbon to study drug treatment, prisons, health care, and harm reduction. Oregon is the first US state to decriminalize drug possession, and it hasn’t gone well—yet. I will be tagging along with the delegation from October 28 to November 3, writing about this for a publication not to be named (it’s not a lock yet).

And no truth to the rumor that after the delegation leaves, I’m going up north to ride the Douro valley by motorcycle, for a travel article. Definitely not true. Not at all.

Second, the book. As usual, silence has been golden. I am weeks behind on my self-imposed deadline for turning it in, with great results. I am knocking off chapter rewrites and expect to submit the manuscript before I leave for Portugal.

Thanks for your patience.