Economics

Journalist and Mexico resident has Robert Joe Stout has written a new book about the "landmines" facing Mexico, including the drug war and official corruption. It couldn't be more timely.

Congress may "just say meh" to DC legalization, Washington state's first pot auction was a success, it's back to the drawing board for Florida Charlotte's Web regulators, Lebanese hash farmers have an unusual problem, Guatemala's president said pot legalization could be coming soon, and more.

A California initiative to raise medical malpractice liability limits is using the focus group-friendly drug testing of doctors as a sweetener, but even that may not be enough to save Proposition 46 as the medical community (and drug reformers) unite against it.

Marijuana policy researcher and analyst Beau Kilmer talks to the Chronicle about marijuana legalization, taxation, public health, and related issues. Plenty to chew on here.

Journalist (and New Mexico goat farmer) Doug Fine has written the handbook to America's next hemp revolution. It's pretty inspiring, and a fun read, too. Check out our review of Hemp Bound.

Now, here's some news we didn't expect: US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has endorsed a pending hemp bill in his home state of Kentucky.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, presidential pre-candidate for Mexico's left-leaning Democratic Revolutionary Party, says he will end the drug war if elected. Meanwhile, the rightist PAN's nominee takes a drug test.

Between now and the seating of a new Congress after the 2012 elections, drug reform is going to be a tough slog on Capitol Hill. But that doesn't mean reformers are going away, or that there aren't battles to be fought and won.

The Global Commission on Drug Policy, made up of former heads of state and other international dignitaries, is calling for fundamental reform of the international drug control system.