Confessions of a Journalist Turned Weed Smuggler
Co-published with Rolling Stone. A veteran reporter looks back on when he was laid off from his newspaper gig and instead of taking a dead-end desk job turned to running van loads of marijuana across state lines.
How I Became A Modern Bootlegger
Co-published with Literary Hub. “Even after 25 years in journalism, I never knew humanity the way I did working at a strip club and moving product.”
In Washington, a ‘Black Box’ of Practices Hides Civil Forfeiture from Oversight
Co-published with Crosscut. The state ranks near worst in the nation for constraints on civil asset forfeiture.
The Strange, Failed Fight to Rein in Civil Forfeiture in Washington
Co-published with Crosscut. Washington police sell or use millions of dollars’ worth of seized property each year. Legislators haven’t managed to change the rules.
Washington Civil Forfeiture Law Turns Minor Drug Offenses into Major Losses
Co-published with Crosscut. Even as Washington winds down its drug war, police still seize homes and cash from low-level suspects.
Stress and Boredom During COVID-19 Leading to Increased Drug and Alcohol Use
Co-published with Erie News Now. Other factors include a lack of routine, and concern over the state of stimulus checks.
‘Operation Clean Sweep’ Arrest Reports Show Most Arrests Were For Drug Possession
Co-published with WBUR. A review of Boston police reports reveals the majority of those arrested in “Operation Clean Sweep” were not charged with drug crimes, contrary to claims by city leaders.
The Hidden Poverty in Marijuana’s Black Market
Co-published with Huffington Post with additional support from Capital & Main. Photography by Talia Herman. As the timber industry collapsed, one Northern California town turned to marijuana.
How Pregnancy Drug Laws Hurt Children
Co-published with The Verge. Harsh pregnancy drug laws keep many women from seeking prenatal care, and that puts mother and baby at greater risk.
The American Opiate Epidemic
Co-published with Fast Company Co.EXIST. Portsmouth, Ohio, is a small Rust Belt city ravaged by job loss and economic stagnation. Over time, prescription painkillers replaced the American Dream. When even the pills became too expensive, heroin replaced
My Time in Motel Hell
Co-published with Fusion. Motels aren't just a place for travellers to sleep—they've also become the front lines in America's housing crisis.
Stray Bullets
Co-published with The Atavist, excerpted on Mother Jones. Tony Davis was 18 when he took another boy's life in a drive-by shooting. Now he's a middle-aged man worthy of redemption.