Philadelphia Weekly | Daniel McQuade

How Could Anyone Think 'Gossip Girl' is Good TV?new

It might make sense if a bunch of rich high school kids had exciting adventures and did really cool things, but on Gossip Girl rich high schoolers are just as boring and pathetic as regular high schoolers. That's probably true in real life, but that's not why we watch TV.

Philadelphia Weekly | Daniel McQuade | 11-17-2008 | TV

Tags: The CW, TV, Gossip Girl

A New Bill Introduced Rethinks Drug-free School Zonesnew

With the densest population in the country, New Jersey's cities are almost completely consumed by drug-free school zones. The result is that nearly every offender convicted under the law--an astounding 96 percent--was either black or Hispanic.

Philadelphia Weekly | Daniel McQuade | 07-14-2008 | Drugs

Tags: Drugs, race, density, New Jersey, drug-free school zones

The Feds Cry Wolf on Pot Potency (Again)new

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) trumpeted its most recent report on increased marijuana potency in the starkest language possible. But there's no evidence that more potent marijuana is any more dangerous for users.

Philadelphia Weekly | Daniel McQuade | 06-30-2008 | Drugs

Tags: Drugs, Marijuana, potency, The Office of National Drug Control Policy

Is Bad Journalism to Blame for Marijuana Prohibition?new

Drugs are dangerous. Drugs ruin people's lives. Drugs can kill. But that doesn't mean they always do. The truth is, most people who use drugs -- both legal and illegal -- do so responsibly and without any noticeable detrimental effect. But that's just not a good story.

Philadelphia Weekly | Daniel McQuade | 05-19-2008 | Drugs

Tags: media, Drugs, Marijuana, sensationalism, drug users

Barney Frank's Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Shouldn't be Controversialnew

It's been more than 36 years since a national commission appointed by President Richard Nixon recommended the decriminalization of up to 100 grams of marijuana for personal use, but no bill has been introduced in Congress to decriminalize marijuana since 1984; the Shafer Commission's recommendations remain ignored. Until two weeks ago.

Philadelphia Weekly | Daniel McQuade | 05-05-2008 | Drugs

Tags: War on Drugs, Drugs, Marijuana, decriminalization, Barney Frank

Don't Look to Obama or Clinton for Progressive Drug Reformnew

Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have far superior drug policy plans than Republican nominee John McCain, who claimed to not even know that many federal raids on state-approved medical marijuana patients have taken place. But neither is the reformer this nation's drug policy needs.

Philadelphia Weekly | Daniel McQuade | 04-22-2008 | Drugs

Tags: 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, reform, Drugs, Marijuana, drug laws

The Nostalgia of 'American Gladiators'new

Viewing American Gladiators as a parody of over-the-top American sports coverage makes an already fun show even better.

Philadelphia Weekly | Daniel McQuade | 01-22-2008 | TV

Tags: TV

Same Big Brother, Different Mothernew

Recently, the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act was introduced in the House of Representatives. The bill increases penalties for online copyright infringement. With bipartisan support, it's likely to pass.

Philadelphia Weekly | Daniel McQuade | 01-02-2008 | Music