Jessie Bullock

Bio

A Stanford University M.A. Candidate, Spanish and Portuguese speaking girl, Jessie focuses her research on Latin American policy, drug policy, and agricultural policy. You can probably find her talking about Brazil with a newspaper in one hand and glass of wine in the other.
Why Legal Weed in Colorado Could Be a Disaster
By Jessie Bullock
There's been a lot of buzz about marijuana recently. New Hampshire, Washington D.C., and Alaska are all making moves while Washington and Colorado are already lighting up. For many, it's high time things began to change. But while writers across the…
America's War on Drugs is Wrecking the Justice System in Places Like Bolivia
By Jessie Bullock
Since America's War on Drugs began in the 1970s, Bolivia has been heavily influenced by U.S. drug policy and punishment, and is today one of the most punitive countries in the world for drug-related crimes. Found guilty of murder in Bolivia? You're…
Marijuana Legalization: The Potrepreneurs are Coming
By Jessie Bullock
We all know that Washington and Colorado will lead the way with marijuana legalization in 2014. But what will the marijuana industry of the future look like? Will we see "WEED" or "BUDZ" as stock ticker symbols by 2018? 2020?  The marijuana industry…
Legal Marijuana: How It Could Change Chicago's Rap Scene Forever
By Jessie Bullock
“Bitch, I’m leaning like a kickstand / I’m high I’m smoking ganja,” says 18-year-old Chief Keef in the song "3Hunna," one of the songs that catapulted him to fame from Chicago’s South Side. Chief Keef sang about his love of marijuana long before he…
Today's Most Promising Remedy for the Drug War
By Jessie Bullock
Even Duluth, Minnesota (population 86,265) is catching on. Last month, municipal leaders announced plans to open a syringe and needle exchange facility in Duluth, the first of its kind in this mid-sized Midwestern city.  The Duluth syringe and…
Medical Marijuana States Face an Eager DEA That's Manipulating Its Numbers to Look Good
By Jessie Bullock
Another day, another DEA marijuana dispensary raid. Right? Wrong. Don't be fooled.  Although the DEA has increased their targeting of medicinal marijuana dispensaries since 2009 and numbers show that they spent $180k per day on medical marijuana…
To Make Marijuana Legalization a Reality, This Should Be Obama's Next Step
By Jessie Bullock
Last week, the Department of Justice announced that the federal government will not prosecute marijuana-based offenses in states that have already legalized marijuana. This is a victory for the marijuana legalization movement, but it does not go far…
Medical Weed Is Just the First Step, Are You Ready For THC Patches?
By Jessie Bullock
Today, in 20 states and the District of Columbia, your grandparents, former high school teachers, or sweet 7-year-old Mykayla Comstock can buy legal medical marijuana (with a patient ID card). The resounding praise of medical marijuana has grown…
3 Ways Drug Cartels Launder Their Money, Right In Front Of You
By Jessie Bullock
Drug cartels make millions of dollars annually on the black market. Where do they put it? As Walter White learned on Breaking Bad, it would look suspicious if he just opened a bank account and the cash flowed in. Instead, he laundered it. The…
Medical Marijuana's Worst Side Effect? Government Hypocrisy
By Jessie Bullock
With Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s monumental backing of medical marijuana last week and the admission of New Hampshire and Illinois into the cadre of states allowing medical marijuana, August has already been a great month for marijuana supporters. It is now…
Breaking Bad Conveys the Reality of the Drug Trade Better Than U.S. Drug Policy
By Jessie Bullock
The end is near. This Sunday, the final season of Breaking Bad kicks off and brings our nail-biting adventure with Walt, Jesse, and Hank to a close. Spoiler alert: the drug war and the DEA’s misguided prosecutions and investigations will carry on…
Welcome to San Pedro Sula, the Murder Capital Of the World
By Jessie Bullock
There are no television shows about the most dangerous city in the world. It's not New Orleans, Detroit, or even Ciudad Juárez. It is San Pedro Sula, Honduras, a city with nearly 900,000 people in the northwestern corner of Honduras. San Pedro Sula…
New Immigration Law: How it Could Impact the Midterm Elections
By Jessie Bullock
Let’s pretend for a moment that the immigration-reform bill actually gets passed in the House in the next few weeks. Will we see (already legalized) immigrants go to the polls in increasing numbers in the 2014 midterm elections and beyond, as 11…
Marijuana Legalization: 11 States On the Cusp Of Going Green
By Jessie Bullock
It looks like Miley Cyrus might not be the only recent advocate of legalizing marijuana. In her recent interview with Rolling Stone, Cyrus said, “I think alcohol is way more dangerous than marijuana — people can be mad at me for saying that, but I…
Immigration Reform 2013: A Small Group Could Ruin It For Everyone
By Jessie Bullock
Will the Senate come to an agreement about the 844-page immigration bill before their summer recess? There were echoes of encouragement in the Senate chambers on Tuesday, when the bill was advanced by an 84-15 vote to begin further discussion. As…
Marijuana Legalization: We Should Expand Rights, Not Reduce Them
By Jessie Bullock
More than $1 trillion to fight the failed War on Drugs over time. From January to May 2013 alone, 34 Mexicans have been killed every day by drug cartels. There was $25.6 billion requested by the federal government for the White House’s 2013 National…
Immigration Reform 2013: "100% Secure Borders" Is Never Going to Happen
By Jessie Bullock
The concept of “100% secure borders” may be the linchpin in the ultimate success or failure of the Gang of Eight’s comprehensive immigration reform bill. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) stated that the current bill has a major problem because “it doesn’t…
Venezuela News: Toilet Paper Shortage a Huge Embarrassment For Nicolás Maduro
By Jessie Bullock
Chavismo pt. II is off to a rocky start. Last week, international media outlets got word of Venezuela’s toilet paper shortage and plan to import 50 million toilet paper rolls before supermarkets were totally wiped clean. This is a major setback for…
Young People Would Ditch Whole Foods If They Knew the Truth About CEO John Mackey
By Jessie Bullock
Why are overpriced groceries from Whole Foods so popular? If we control for the quality of food sold, would Whole Foods charge the same as the local grocery chain, or would it still be a little more expensive? I am willing to bet it would be a…
Immigration Reform 2013: 4 Seen and Unseen Consequences Of the Senate Bill
By Jessie Bullock
What has come of the Gang of 8’s 844-page bill for comprehensive immigration reform released in mid-April? The bill will receive feedback from the Judiciary Committee on Thursday, but many unofficial players have had time to look at the bill and…