Drug War Chronicle #1241 - October 30, 2026

Drug War Chronicle is in Full Production (at least for now)

Dear friends,

The Drug War Chronicle newsletter is in full swing again, at least for now. As you'll see in this week's issue, we have dramatically increased the scope of our daily news roundups, which are now titled "Drug War Daily Digest". We anticipate an increased number of feature stories most weeks as well, from next week – Phil is already working on them.

Imminently, we will also be offering the Daily Digests through daily emails. And very soon, we will be initiating a second, shorter newsletter about extrajudicial drug war killings like the Duterte drug war in the Philippines and the lethal US strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. (Don't worry, these new email products will be opt-in only – we won't start writing you daily unless you request it.)

I disclose that these changes are possible due to our adoption, at least for now, of AI tools to facilitate news tracking and early-stage drafting of of the daily digests specifically (not for our feature stories). We'd welcome your feedback as we work through the significant changes taking place in publishing in this new time.

Note that this is the first newsletter being sent through a new and less costly email list hosting system we've switched to (Mailchimp). We are also now using a new donation processing system (Donorbox), in which we already have the basic payment methods working, and where we'll soon be able to accept a wide range of payment methods. Let us know if you experience any problems with either. (Also if we inadvertently added you back after you'd unsubscribed, please accept my apology – if you want to unsubscribe for any reason, there's a link to do so below, or you can reply to this email and I'll assist you.) Note that if you currently are making automatically recurring donations, those are still running on the old system, but at some point that will stop – to continue after that, if you wish to, you'll need to initiate a recurring donation on our new system.

We are pretty excited about all of this, but also worried that it could be short-lived, or get paused again, if it doesn't lead to increased financial resources for the work. We would be deeply grateful if those of you who appreciate this newsletter, were to make tax-deductible grants or donations to our 501(c)(3) nonprofit, DRCNet Foundation; or non-deductible donations to our 501(c)(4) public welfare nonprofit, Drug Reform Coordination Network. Thank you if you are willing and able to help at this time. (But if all you can afford to send right now are good wishes for us in the effort, we appreciate those too!)

Thank you for reading, and for any financial or other support for this effort that you are willing to provide at this time. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

David Borden, Executive Director
StoptheDrugWar.org
P.O. Box 9853, Washington, DC 20016
https://stopthedrugwar.org

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Drug-Related Initiatives on State Ballots This Year [FEATURE]

The initiative and referendum process has long been a tool for advancing progressive drug policy reforms. This year is different.

Election Day is three weeks away, and as usual, several states have drug policy-related initiatives on the ballot. Unusually, unlike in past years when activists used the initiative process to advance progressive drug reform agendas, this year's drug policy-related initiatives seek to reverse or backtrack on that progress.

According to a Ballotpedia analysis, the shift from progressive to punitive criminal justice initiatives occurred during the 2022 elections. Between 2012 and 2020, progressive criminal justice initiatives outnumbered punitive ones 11 to five, but since 2022, all 16 criminal justice initiatives have moved in a more punitive direction. Twelve of those measures made it harder to get bail.

This year's initiatives run the gamut, from an effort to roll back marijuana legalization to an effort at increasing some drug sentences to one defining drug traffickers as terrorists to one that would take away from voters the right to determine a state's drug policies.

Here's what initiatives voters will decide on in three weeks:

Arizona – Label drug cartels terrorist organizations

Proposition 317 would officially declare that drug cartels are terrorist organizations and require the state Department of Homeland Security to do "everything within its authority to address the threat posed by drug cartels."

The initiative defines a drug cartel as an association of people whose members engage in drug trafficking, human smuggling, or any act of terrorism. And it defines threat as anything designed to violate, harm, or disturb individual rights or the public welfare.

This initiative is not the work of citizen activists but of the Republican-led state legislature, which passed a bill to the same effect in 2023, only for Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs to veto it. Republican lawmakers approved the initiative for this year's ballot last year.

"Labeling drug cartels as terrorist organizations to deploy state resources is not a real solution and is not a state function," Hobbs wrote in her veto message at the time.

But Arizona House Speaker Steve Montenegro said he supports Prop 317 because he believes it will help law enforcement agencies go after the drug cartels.

"Number one, it makes sure that our law enforcement agents across the state can use every tool, every resource possible to them to combat this terrorism coming across the border," he said. "We also want to send a message to these terrorists, these organized crime entities, that Arizona is not a place that is open for your visit."

There is no known polling on Proposition 317.

Colorado – Increase fentanyl penalties

Proposition 132 would create harsher penalties for possession and distribution of fentanyl, which has been linked to hundreds of deaths in the state annually in recent years.

Under current state law, possession of less than four grams of fentanyl is a misdemeanor; this initiative would make possession of more than one gram a felony punishable by prison time. Possession of less than one gram would also be charged as a felony, but that would be a Level 4 treatment-mandated felony, meaning the defendant would be eligible for court-ordered drug treatment.

The initiative would also enact a mandatory minimum sentence of eight years for certain fentanyl distribution offenses and allow for a maximum sentence of up to 32 years in prison. It would also remove sentencing discretion in cases where fentanyl is implicated in a death.

The initiative is sponsored by Advance Colorado, a conservative advocacy group that works to "push back on progressive policies." A relatively small number of Republican elected officials support it, arguing that the new penalties would reflect the seriousness of dealing fentanyl and that it would protect communities combating addiction and overdose deaths.

Opponents include advocacy groups such as the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition and the League of Women Voters, as well as the Colorado Education Association and the Colorado Nurses Association, along with Republican and Democratic elected officials across the state. They argue that it would divert law enforcement resources to low-level, less important cases and that it is a distraction from the lack of drug treatment funding in the state.

There is no known polling on Proposition 132.

Idaho – End the use of the initiative process as a means of changing drug policies

Uncertain that they can continue to maintain marijuana prohibition by leaving it up to the voters, the state's Republican lawmakers have passed a legislative initiative asking voters to give up their authority to change drug policy through the initiative process. That measure, Grant Legislature Exclusive Authority and Prohibit Citizen-Initiated Measures on Marijuana, Narcotics and Psychoactive Substances Amendment (HJR 4), is on the November ballot.

The measure passed the House 58-10 and the Senate 29-6 after proponents claimed it would protect the state from being influenced by "rich weed companies."

"The proposed constitutional amendment ensures that out-of-state weed barons are not able to hijack the Idaho ballot initiative process and legalize marijuana," argued Blaine Conzatti, president of the arch-conservative Focus on the Family-allied Idaho Family Policy Center. "The adoption of HJR 4 would reserve those decisions for the people of Idaho acting through their elected representatives."

But Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), begs to differ. In an op-ed published in Marijuana Moment, he qualified the effort as anti-democratic.

"House Joint Resolution 4 seeks to amend the state constitution so that voters no longer have any say in determining Idaho’s drug policies. That's not anti-marijuana, that's anti-democracy," Armentano wrote. "The message behind this resolution cannot be clearer. State officials don't trust voters to do their bidding on the marijuana issue."

The Republican-dominated state legislature has fended off marijuana reforms for more than a decade, with not even medical marijuana getting through. Likewise, no marijuana legalization initiative campaign in the state has ever qualified for the ballot. Still, lawmakers and supporters of HJR 4 are determined to keep voters from making a choice they disapprove of.

There is no known polling on the initiative.

Massachusetts – Roll back commercial marijuana legalization and home cultivation

The Question 8 ballot question would repeal key parts of the state's law legalizing recreational marijuana. It would eliminate licensed retail sales and commercial production of marijuana, while still allowing adults 21 and older to possess and transfer small amounts. It would also recriminalize the home cultivation of marijuana. The state’s medical marijuana program would remain in place.

Backed by the leading marijuana prohibitionist organization, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), the initiative campaign is running into strong headwinds in the Bay State. Gov. Maura Healey (D) said she will vote against it.

"We've got to keep recreational marijuana here in Massachusetts. It's an important industry, the cannabis industry, and I hope the voters keep cannabis," Healey said in a radio interview.

Healey is not the only Bay State political figure to embrace the state's existing legalization scheme.

"Cannabis legalization and regulation is positive for small businesses, local communities, and restorative justice. And keeping marijuana legal in Massachusetts is both economic justice and racial justice policy," said Rep. Ayana Pressley (D-MA) in a statement released by the No on 8 campaign.

Politicians are in step with public opinion, with recent polling showing the initiative is set to fail by a wide margin.

"There's no 'buyer's remorse' among Massachusetts' voters when it comes to legalizing cannabis, and this fact will become even clearer come November," NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said in a statement. "That's because these policies are largely working as intended and because Massachusetts voters prefer legalization and regulation over the failed policy of marijuana prohibition."

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Booker, Schumer, Wyden Reintroduce Legislation to End Federal Ban on Marijuana [FEATURE]

Democratic Sens. Cory Booker (NJ), Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY), Ron Wyden (OR), and more than a dozen Democratic cosponsors have reintroduced legislation to end federal marijuana prohibition. The senators filed the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), which would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, on Thursday July 16.

Under the legislation, while federal marijuana prohibition would end, states could still continue to ban it. So far, 24 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana, meaning adults without needing a medical recommendation can legally purchase marijuana that has been legally produced and sold.

While the bill is unlikely to be passed this year in the GOP-dominated Congress, its reintroduction provides an important opportunity to urge and build support for federal legalization in the Senate. And if the Democrats succeed in regaining control of the Senate in November, it is likely to be the primary Senate vehicle for legalization in the next Congress.

"For decades, generations have suffered unjustly under the failed war on drugs and broken cannabis laws – hurting primarily people of color. It is long overdue that we stand up for them," said Sen. Booker. "I am proud to reintroduce this commonsense legislation, which will dismantle the unjust and outdated federal marijuana prohibition, establish a federal regulatory framework to protect public health and safety, expunge past convictions for low-level cannabis offenses, and deliver restorative justice to the communities most harmed by decades of failed drug policy."

The bill would not only legalize marijuana; it would create a number of measures to offer redress to people and communities most impacted by drug prohibition. Those include creating an Opportunity Trust Fund to reinvest in those neighborhoods, creating a grant program to help people negatively affected by the drug war obtain licenses and jobs in the industry, and establishing a Cannabis Justice Office at the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs.

It also includes automatic expungement of federal marijuana convictions and the freeing of any remaining federal pot prisoners, and a grant program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development to address the housing, economic, and community development needs of people and communities affected by the drug war.

"The over-criminalization of cannabis has destroyed far too many lives, disproportionately harming communities of color," said Majority Leader Schumer. "Our Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act is necessary and would correct historical wrongs while investing in safety, research, workers' rights, and banking accessibility for industry. The movement is budding, and I won't stop until restorative justice is achieved. The American people overwhelmingly support the federal legalization of cannabis – it's long past time the government caught up."

The bill would also address public health and public safety concerns by establishing a Center for Cannabis Products to regulate production, labeling, distribution, sales, and other manufacturing and retail elements of the cannabis industry. And it would instruct the FDA to establish labeling standards for cannabis products, including potency, doses, servings, place of manufacture, and directions for use.

It would also create programs and funding mechanisms for preventing youth use and increase funding for comprehensive opioid, stimulant, and substance use disorder treatment.

But it would keep federal prohibitions on trafficking marijuana in violation of state law by establishing a grant program to help departments combat illicit market cannabis. It would also require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish standards for marijuana-impaired driving and direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to collect data on cannabis-impaired driving, develop educational materials on best practices, and conduct media campaigns.

When it comes to taxation and regulation, the bill would transfer federal jurisdiction over marijuana to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), eliminate the tax code's restriction on cannabis businesses claiming deductions for business expenses, and impose an excise tax on marijuana products.

It also aims to protect the rights of workers by removing unnecessary federal employee pre-employment and random drug testing for marijuana, ensuring worker protections for those employed in the cannabis industry, and establishing grants for community-based education, outreach, and enforcement of workers' rights in the cannabis industry.

"The only reefer madness I'm seeing is the continued federal prohibition of cannabis," said Senator Wyden. "Our legislation is the most comprehensive proposal on the books to end federal cannabis prohibition while keeping public health and safety front and center. The federal government needs to get with the times, and our bill is the way to do it."

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The Latest Corrupt Cops Stories

More prison and jail guards break bad, a former Pennsylvania police chief led a one-man crime wave, and more.

In San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico, an Arizona state prison guard was arrested on September 15 for trying to smuggle thousands of rounds of ammunition into the country for the Sinaloa cartel. Guard Yanet Dowden went down when Mexican security forces intercepted her vehicle just yards from the port of entry connecting San Luis, Arizona, with San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora, and found 5,445 live rounds of ammunition.

In Miami, a Miami-Dade jail guard was arrested on October 1 for his role in a drugs, gambling, and firearms ring. Renel Terrance Troutman, 24, conspired with an unnamed individual in a "criminal enterprise engaged in narcotics trafficking, gambling, fraud, money laundering and related criminal activity," according to charging documents. The ring smuggled contraband, including the synthetic cannabinoid K2, into the prison where Troutman worked. Federal investigators seized more than 2,000 doses of K2 stuffed inside a medical glove. He is charged with conspiracy to possess narcotics with intent to distribute, extortion and racketeering.

In Pensacola, Florida, a Pensacola police officer was arrested October 12 on felony drug charges. Officials from the Pensacola Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested Officer Matthew Baxter after an investigation. Further details have not been released yet.

In Brunswick, Georgia, a former prison guard was sentenced on September 21 to four years in prison for taking $80,000 in bribes to smuggle drugs and cellphones into Federal Correctional Institution Jesup. Ashley Brown, 37, pleaded guilty to 24 counts of a public official accepting a bribe and 16 counts of money laundering. During a period of months in 2022, Brown accepted payments through Cash App from inmates to smuggle in contraband including methamphetamine, K2, marijuana, and cellphones. Two inmates also got more prison time for their roles in the scheme.

In Kittanning, Pennsylvania, a former Arnold police chief pleaded guilty on October 7 to selling cocaine and stealing an AR-15 rifle from the Arnold Police Department evidence room. In a plea agreement, former chief Eric Doutt pleaded guilty to felony charges of possession of drugs with the intent to distribute, criminal use of a communications facility, and receiving stolen property. He also pleaded to a misdemeanor count of receiving stolen property related to the AR-15. In return, prosecutors dropped five more charges for possession with intent to distribute, three for theft, one for tampering with physical evidence, and another for use or possession of drug paraphernalia. Doutt went down after he was surveilled selling cocaine to an informant, and the AR-15 was found during a subsequent search of his home. So were cocaine, scales, a bag containing a cutting agent, lidocaine hydrochloride, leg shackles with "APD" engraved on them, a portable radio reported missing from the department, and an Arnold police jacket. He faces up to 42 years in state prison if the judge sentences him consecutively on the charges.

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Drug War Daily Digest – October 19, 2026

Magic mushrooms will be a lowest law enforcement priority in Portland beginning October 30, Los Angeles officials warn of a dangerous new synthetic opioid, and more. 

The deadly US campaign targeting ships in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific is drawing renewed scrutiny. (SouthCom)

Marijuana Policy

Sixty-Two Massachusetts Lawmakers Oppose Marijuana Repeal Initiative. Led by the state's top legislative leaders – House Speaker Ronald Mariano (D) and Senate President Karen Spilka (D) – 62 state legislators, including Republicans, came out Friday against Question 8, Marijuana Moment reported. That initiative would roll back the state's commercial legalization of marijuana by barring adult-use sales and ending home cultivation but would still allow for personal possession and would keep the state's medical marijuana program intact. Opponents cited jobs, tax revenue, racial disparities in enforcement, and the prospect of returning sales to the unregulated market. The endorsements add legislative leaders and dozens of state legislators to the campaign against repeal. Recent polls cited by Marijuana Moment show majorities opposing Question 8.

Medical Marijuana

South Dakota Medical Marijuana Advocates Challenge Oversight Committee’s Speaker Choices. South Dakota Searchlight reports that the state's Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee took flak from industry representatives over the committee's predilection for inviting out-of-state foes of the state's voter-approved medical marijuana program to make presentations before it. Ned Horsted, the operator of 605 Cannabis in the southeast part of the state, pointed to invites to a Harvard professor and a Colorado doctor who oppose marijuana rescheduling, as well as a presentation from the leading anti-marijuana advocate in the country, Kevin Sabet of Safe Approaches to Marijuana (SAM). "You’ve done quite the job once again in stacking the committee with anti-cannabis individuals from out of state," said Horsted. "The agendas produced by this committee show evidence of a two-year war on patients, industry and, at times, the Department of Health." 

Committee chair Rep. Josephine Garcia (R) defended the speakers, claiming they provided a way to learn from other states. The House passed an effort to abolish the committee, which includes legislators and representatives of healthcare professions, patients, and law enforcement, but the Senate killed it in the last session. 

Kentucky Has Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in Every Licensing Region. Marijuana Moment reports that Gov. Andy Beshear (D) announced last Friday that at least one dispensary now operates in each of the state's 11 licensing regions. A dispensary opening in Sunnyside, Floyd County, marked that milestone. The state's first dispensary opened in December 2025, nearly a year after the medical marijuana law took effect. Twenty-six dispensaries statewide now serve more than 28,000 patients. 

Nebraska Proposes Medical Marijuana Fees and New Patient Requirements. The Nebraska Examiner reports that the state's Medical Cannabis Commission is proposing a $5,000 application fee, annual licensing fees of $10,000 to $28,500, and a $13,000 seed-to-sale tracking fee for medical marijuana operators. Under the proposal, health practitioners would have to swear they did an in-person appointment before recommending medical marijuana, and they would have to notify the commission if they learn a patient is pregnant. The public comment period ended last week, but the commission's website has the official proposed regulations. They still require further review and executive branch approval.

Drug Policy

GI-TOC Report Examines Regional Differences in North America’s Synthetic Drug Supply. In its premier issue, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime’s North American Fentanyl and Synthetic Drugs Monitor argues that drug-policy responses need to account for sharply different local supplies. The findings caution against treating fentanyl as a uniform market because users face additional risks from unexpected ingredients, and the mixtures vary across places and over time. The report draws on drug-checking results, official data, and field research to describe regional differences in the prevalence of various substances detected. It also looks at decades of Mexican military anti-drug activity to provide context for the battle against synthetic drug production, and it warns that "The franchise model used by the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion severely limits the impact of seizing labs."

RAND Researcher Urges Clearer Definitions in Drug Decriminalization Debate. In a June analysis published by the Brookings Institution, RAND Drug Policy Research Center codirector Beau Kilmer argues that evaluating drug decriminalization requires distinguishing the removal of criminal penalties from reduced enforcement and legal production or sales. And he cautions against attributing outcomes of larger reform packages to decriminalization. He notes that in Portugal, decriminalization came with expanded services, and in Oregon, Measure 110 decriminalization was paired with changes in treatment funding, which lagged behind. Kilmer's analysis offers a way to assess competing claims about reform: specify which policies changed, when they changed, and which effects the evidence can actually isolate.

Psychedelics

Portland Approves Lower Enforcement Priority for Natural Psychedelics. On September 30, the city council approved an ordinance making noncommercial personal use of naturally occurring psychedelic plants and fungi a low law-enforcement priority, according to the city’s official record. The ordinance goes into effect on October 30. Supporters argued that reducing the risk of getting caught can support education and harm reduction. Law enforcement will continue to act against illegal sales, and sanctions will remain for impaired driving and other unsafe conduct. The ordinance cannot and does not repeal state or federal drug prohibitions. 

New Mexico Psilocybin Rules Draw Objections Over Patient Access. Jack Gorsline of Psychedelic State(s) of America reports that proposed rules for the state's medical psilocybin program came under fire from advocates, lawmakers, and health practitioners at a hearing earlier this month. Advocates, lawmakers, and health practitioners criticized in-person examination requirements, patient approval delays, staffing mandates, and provisions requiring landlord permission for treatment in rented homes, with state Sen. Jeff Steinborn (D), the law's principal sponsor, objecting to giving landlords a veto over the care of homebound patients. While some clinicians praised proposed training and supervision standards, they called for fewer administrative barriers. The proposed rules are still in draft form; no final decision on them has been made. 

Harm Reduction – Medication Assisted Treatment

Massachusetts Mobile Methadone Services Ease Travel Burdens, Patients Report. The Institute for Community Health issued a report on October 8 that found patients and staff alike reported shorter travel times and greater privacy using mobile methadone services. The state now has four mobile methadone units, including two in rural areas. The units were launched with funding from the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services and operate under their home opioid treatment programs’ licenses. They deliver methadone from established opioid treatment programs to pre-approved community locations, reducing the need for patients to travel to distant clinics. These initial findings come from interviews; researchers will also review medical records to better assess the services' scope and impact on treatment. 

New South Wales Prepares New Methadone and Buprenorphine Treatment Standards. NSW Health has released new standards for the state's Opioid Treatment Program, effective November 5. The department says the changes are designed to strengthen patient safeguards and simplify legal requirements for opioid prescribers. The new standards are mandatory for practitioners, pharmacists, and opioid-assisted treatment facilities. A webinar scheduled for October 20 will introduce the prescribing guide.

Nepal Opioid Treatment Assessment Finds Wide Gaps in Access. Harm Reduction International and local partners reported on October 2 that opioid agonist therapy is reaching only 13 percent of its target population in Nepal, far below the government goal of 40 percent. That therapy is available in only 10 of the country's 77 districts. Researchers identified problem areas, including a lack of take-home doses, hidden patient costs, limited funding, outdated policies, and restrictive service models. They recommended changes to make treatment more accessible, especially for women and young people, and to sustain domestic spending. This analysis is based on coverage estimates, not a new nationwide patient census. 

Ontario Approves New Restrictions on Safer Supply Prescribing. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, which regulates doctors in the province, announced new restrictions on safer supply prescriptions on October 13 "to reduce the risk of diversion and strengthen oversight of prescribing practices," according to a press release from the group. The new restrictions require that physicians only prescribe safer supply medication in conjunction with opioid agonist therapy (OAT), support supervised consumption of all safer supply medication by requiring physicians to clearly identify “safer supply” and specify "no carries" (no take-home doses) on prescriptions, and require a comprehensive in-person clinical assessment at least monthly for patients receiving safer supply medication. The college said it will enforce the new restrictions beginning November 16.

[Editor’s note: Vancouver’s DULF compassion club offered tested drugs at cost without prescriptions. Authorities shut it down and prosecuted its founders, who then won a constitutional challenge September 29. The court stayed their proceedings but delayed invalidating the prohibition for six months. - DB]

Harm Reduction - Drug Checking

Los Angeles County Warns of Cychlorphine After First Confirmed Fatal Overdose. After confirming the first fatal overdose in the county involving cychlorphine, a potent synthetic opioid, Los Angeles County health officials issued a warning last Thursday about the drug's presence in the illicit drug supply. Cychlorphine is an "orphine" opioid, distinct from fentanyl. UNODC reports breathing suppression in animal studies and detections in counterfeit medicines and drug mixtures; it is also sold by name, but it is unclear how often people knowingly use it. Although the warning about cychlorphine came last week, the death occurred in February, and it took until recently for the drug to be identified. Health officials warned that fentanyl test strips would not detect cychlorphine and suggested concerned residents take advantage of the county's free drug-checking services. 

Australian Festival Drug Checking Finds High-Dose Ecstasy Tablets. New South Wales health officials issued an October 9 warning after the government’s drug-checking service detected high-dose MDMA tablets at Sydney’s Knockout Outdoor festival on October 3. They warned that potency can vary within the same batch and that dangerous tablets could be circulating in the state. The warning shows the value of drug checking in identifying unexpectedly strong substances and spreading the word. 

UN Warns of PMMA in European Ecstasy Tablets. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime issued an October 6 alert about PMMA detected in tablets sold as ecstasy in seven European countries since July. Some contained more than 100 milligrams of PMMA. PMMA is an amphetamine-type stimulant more toxic than MDMA, with dangerous overheating among its risks, according to the BC Medical Journal. UNODC warned that because PMMA takes longer to take effect, people expecting MDMA might take additional doses before the effect of the initial dose is felt. The agency also cautioned that a tablet's color and markings cannot identify its contents, and recommended drug checking, lab testing, and international information-sharing to reduce risks. 

Extrajudicial Killings

ICC Rejects Duterte Bid to Reframe Charges, Orders One Incident Removed. The VERA Files reported on October 10 that International Criminal Court (ICC) judges rejected a defense effort to require prosecutors to refile charges against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte on charges of crimes against humanity for murder and attempted murder in his bloody, years-long campaign against drug users and sellers. The court upheld the previously filed charges and allowed prosecutors to use additional incidents illustrating the alleged offenses but ordered them to remove one incident from their trial brief. In a separate decision, judges found Duterte fit to stand trial; the ICC’s October 8 announcement confirms that proceedings are scheduled to open November 30.

Human Rights Watch Details Abuses in US Maritime Operations Near Ecuador. In an October 2 report, Human Rights Watch (HRW) examined US operations against eight Ecuadorian fishing vessels, describing allegations of abuse against crew members and reporting judicial findings that the arrest of 56 crew members was illegal. HRW reported that the attacks took place between August 28 and September 16 and resulted in the detention of 140 out of 160 crew members, with some crew reporting beatings and threats in an effort to obtain confessions. The US has claimed the boats supplied fuel to drug traffickers, but neither it nor the Ecuadorian government has produced compelling evidence tying individual crew members to any crimes. HRW called for an investigation into the alleged abuses and the disclosure of the legal rationale behind the raids. 

Amnesty International, Airwars and El CLIP have examined earlier incidents involving three fishing boats reportedly targeted through a covert CIA program. A June 11 congressional letter seeks answers about US involvement. Ecuadorian registration, if established, could provide a potential basis for ICC jurisdiction subject to other legal requirements. For related context on military abuses ashore, see Al Jazeera’s documentary Ecuador’s Disappeared.

Retired Coast Guard Officers Challenge Boat Strikes on Legal and Operational Grounds. In a September 2 analysis published in Just Security, three retired Coast Guard officers argue that the campaign of deadly strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific – there have been more than 70 attacks, with 238 people reported killed through October 4, including unrecovered survivors presumed dead, according to the WOLA data used in StoptheDrugWar.org’s charts – not only violates domestic and international law, but also undermines effective law enforcement. Stephen Chamberlin, Leanne Lusk, and Brian McNamara argue that killing suspects and destroying vessels eliminates opportunities to interview crews, collect evidence, and investigate the networks behind shipments. They note that maritime agreements and Coast Guard authorities permit boarding, arrest, and prosecution of suspected criminals. They also warn that lethal strikes jeopardize intelligence-sharing relationships and expose service members to legal and ethical risks.

For more on the legal and policy issues, see Just Security’s collection of analysis on US boat strikes and related operations.

International System

HRI Publishes Drug Policy Highlights from UN Human Rights Council Session. Harm Reduction International (HRI) published a written briefing on October 15 reviewing drug-policy debates and reports from the UN Human Rights Council’s September 7–October 7 session. It highlights a UN working group’s finding that about 45 percent of people charged with possession for personal use in Australia are prosecuted instead of diverted, as well as concerns about coercive drug courts and disproportionate imprisonment of Indigenous people.

The briefing also cites UN concerns about prolonged drug-related detention in Sri Lanka and how fear of arrest or losing child custody can keep women from seeking health services. Separately, HRI reports that Ambika Satkunanathan delivered a statement on its behalf during the session, urging reform of Sri Lanka’s punitive drug policies. The written briefing summarizes the session’s proceedings; it is not itself an oral presentation or a newly adopted global drug policy.

Additional items with an international focus appear in Drug Policy, Harm Reduction – Medication Assisted Treatment, Harm Reduction - Drug Checking, and Extrajudicial Killings.

(AI technology assisted in the news gathering and initial stage drafting of this Daily Digest.)

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Drug War Daily Digest – October 20, 2026

Bolivia Sterilization Bill Challenged, MA Polls Oppose Marijuana Repeal, Philippine Truth Commission, More...

Kratom and OH-7 products are sold in various forms. (US FDA)

Marijuana Policy

Two New Massachusetts Polls Find Strong Opposition to Marijuana Sales Repeal. The latest polls on the Question 8 initiative, which would end retail marijuana sales and home cultivation, continue the strong trend showing the measure losing decisively. According to Marijuana Moment, a UMass Amherst/WCVB poll released Monday had opposition to Question 8 at 61 percent, with only 31 percent in favor. A Suffolk University/Boston Globe survey on Tuesday reported even worse news for initiative backers: 71 percent opposed it and 21 percent supported it. Both polls interviewed voters earlier this month, and neither showed any demographic group with majority support for the initiative.

NORML Urges Appeals Court to Reconsider Cannabis-Contract Decision. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) filed an October 15 amicus brief asking the US 6th Circuit Court to reconsider a September ruling that bars the payment of breach-of-contract damages in federal court when that payment would enforce conduct prohibited by federal law (such as selling marijuana in states where it is legal even though federal prohibition remains). The brief, which NORML announced on Monday, argues that state-legal marijuana markets need to be able to enforce contractual remedies in order to maintain accountability, both benefiting market actors and protecting consumers. The case, Hello Farms Licensing MI v. GR Vending MI, concerns the contradiction between state legality and federal prohibition. NORML seeks reconsideration by the original panel or the full court.

Veterans' Organization Survey Finds Support for Marijuana Legalization. Marijuana Moment reports a survey of some 470 members of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) that found support for medical marijuana at 87 percent and support for recreational marijuana at 61 percent. The detailed tables in the IAVA report show even stronger support for medical marijuana research at 91 percent and for research by the Department of Veterans Affairs at 88 percent. The survey also asked about whether respondents interested in cannabis as a treatment option were comfortable discussing it with their doctor, with 70 percent saying they would and 29 percent saying they had already done so.

Morocco Withdraws Nearly 1,500 Cannabis Licenses. The Moroccan online media outlet Hespress reported on October 15 that Moroccan authorities have yanked 1,490 cannabis licenses because of regulatory noncompliance. The figure includes 1,300 licenses held by farmers and 190 held by other businesses.

Medical Marijuana

Bedrocan Bankruptcy Threatens Patients' Access to Cannabis Medicine. According to an October 12 report in Business of Cannabis, the bankruptcy of two Dutch Bedrocan companies on October 7 is leaving British children with severe epilepsy in limbo with their medicine trapped in storage, patient advocates told the publication. They have been using Bedrocan's Bedrolite, a standardized CBD-dominant variety of medical marijuana, but Bedrocan says it needs permission from the Dutch Office of Medical Cannabis to transfer that stock to patients.

Bedrocan has a Danish operation that entered restructuring on October 1 and continues to produce medicine, but Bedrolite is made only in the Netherlands. It would take at least six months to get a Bedrolite operation up and running in Denmark, leaving patients in the lurch unless Dutch regulators act.

South African Providers Report Stalled Medical Marijuana Approvals. According to an October 14 report in Cannabiz Africa, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has not approved any new medical marijuana applications since July (except for one under threat of legal action) nor explained its lack of action. The only path toward approval to use medical marijuana is known as Section 21, which permits access to unapproved medicines with approval from the authority.

The authority has not confirmed a formal suspension or responded to requests for comment, but AKOS BIO chief executive Anton Ofield-Kerr said no approvals have been granted since July 18, except for the one mentioned above. Cannabiz Africa notes that it is not entirely disinterested; its publisher, Brett Hilton-Barber, is a member of the Cannabis Crisis Committee urging changes.

France's Permanent Medical Marijuana Program Still Awaits Final Rules. French patients waiting for the government to approve a permanent medical marijuana program will have to wait a little longer, according to an October 16 report in Business of Cannabis. The report cited an October analysis by Augur Associates, which said unnamed sources involved in the process think the proposal text has reached the Conseil d'État, but cautioned that this has not been publicly confirmed.

This is the second of two regulatory packages aimed at replacing an extended pilot program with a permanent one. The first one, addressing cultivation and product specifications, has already advanced through the Conseil d'État and the European Union's technical notification procedure. Although hearings set for this week were postponed last month, Augur thinks the program could be up and running by early next year. That assessment is based on the regulatory path ahead rather than an announced launch date.

Extrajudicial Killings

Philippine Truth Commission Hears Mother's Account of Duterte Drug-War Killing. Rappler reported on October 15 on an October 9 session of the independent, civilian-led Philippine Truth Commission. It relayed the testimony of Lorna Pepaño, who described the killing on May 18, 2020, of her son Christian in Quezon City. She said she had sent him out to get her hypertension medicine when gunmen mistook him for someone else and shot him down.

The commission also heard from forensic pathologist and commissioner Raquel Fortun, who examined Christian's body and confirmed multiple gunshot wounds to the head and torso. She challenged details in his death certificate and noted a lack of police records and investigation into the killing. Such failures could encourage other killings, she said.

Established May 27, the commission will gather testimony, records, and forensic findings to seek accountability and institutional reform. It is separate from the Philippine government and the International Criminal Court. Its first conference, at which it plans to release a report, is scheduled for November 23.

ICC Prosecutors Outline First Witnesses as Duterte Trial Preparations Continue. In an October 19 article in Politico.ph, the Philippine News Agency reported that International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors plan to present five witnesses in this year's portion of the trial of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, with more witnesses possibly coming later. Duterte is charged with the crimes against humanity of murder and attempted murder for unleashing a bloody war on drug users and sellers that left thousands dead during his administration.

In its article on the same hearing, Rappler reported that Judge Joanna Korner has provisionally rejected a defense request to limit disclosure to 10,000 documents. Korner said that was an arbitrary ceiling that could block prosecutors from disclosing all documents the defense would need to prepare its case.

Trial is set to begin on November 30, but the court is still dealing with disclosure issues and arrangements for presenting evidence.

Harm Reduction – Medication Assisted Treatment

Norway Makes Heroin-Assisted Treatment Permanent. István Gábor Takács reported in an October 1 Drugreporter story that the country decided last month that pilot projects for heroin-assisted treatment that began in Oslo and Bergen will be made permanent. The programs provide a supervised setting where patients who have not responded to methadone, buprenorphine, or other opioid-assisted treatments will be provided pharmaceutical-grade heroin. The move follows a June evaluation in which participants reported better health and quality-of-life outcomes and less illegal heroin use. That evaluation also found the program has substantial costs and staffing needs. Now, other areas of the country can launch similar programs.

Kratom and 7-OH

Florida County Considers 7-OH Ban. Hillsborough County (Tampa) commissioners will vote Wednesday on whether to advance a ban on concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine products, Axios Tampa Bay reports. Such products are already restricted by a statewide temporary emergency order, but the county wants its own ordinance in place if that order expires. Under the proposal, selling such products would be a misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine and up to 60 days in jail. Kratom itself would not be banned, but retailers selling any form of kratom would have to post warning signs or face fines. If the measure advances on Wednesday, there will be a public hearing and final vote as early as November 10.

International

Bolivian and International Groups Oppose Forced-Sterilization Proposal Targeting Women Who Use Drugs. A bill filed in the Bolivian legislature in July that would authorize the forced sterilization of homeless women who use drugs has drawn opposition from a broad coalition including Bolivia's Programa Libertas, the Women and Harm Reduction International Network and the International Drug Policy Consortium.

In a joint statement on October 15, the groups said the measure would aggravate the harms of harsh drug laws and violate reproductive autonomy. Instead of resorting to ever harsher criminal justice measures, the groups are calling for the government instead to support voluntary drug treatment, community-based harm reduction, and the decriminalization of drug use and personal possession.

Pakistan Prison Report Links Drug Enforcement and Bail Restrictions to Growing Imprisonment. An October 8 Pakistan Prison Data Report from Justice Project Pakistan finds that the country's prison population has ballooned by 50 percent since 2019 and points to drug law enforcement as one of the primary drivers of the increase, along with bail restrictions and slow progress in establishing specialized courts.

In Sindh, more than 5,000 people were being held on drug charges, up 42.4 percent over 2024. In Punjab, drug arrestees made up about 27 percent of prisoners, with four out of five drug arrestees being held without bail ahead of trial. An August 2025 reform restored bail for some cases, but only those registered from August 18, 2025, onward. The report calls for broadening bail access to include older cases and finding alternatives to imprisonment for low-level drug offenses.

Spanish Researchers Question Forensic Thresholds Separating Personal Drug Use from Trafficking. In a September 29 article in the Revista Española de Drogodependencias, Pablo García Cortina and Francisco Azorín Ortega argue that there is little scientific justification for some drug quantity benchmarks used to turn possession cases into trafficking cases. Using transparency requests to draw on forensic guidance, they examined the benchmarks used for substances involved in chemsex. They found that GBL was treated as equivalent to GHB and that synthetic cathinones had the same benchmarks as methamphetamine, and they call for transparent, scientifically grounded standards that reflect differences among substances and how they are used instead of using poorly supported benchmarks to set thresholds for criminal prosecutions.

English Wastewater Study Finds 11 Percent Fall in Estimated Ketamine Consumption. A Home Office report on monitoring wastewater to monitor drug levels released October 14 estimates that ketamine consumption fell by 11 percent between early 2025 and early 2026. The program used seven-day samples taken between January and April of each year beginning in 2021. The program measures six illicit drugs, and cocaine had the highest estimated quantity consumed among those sampled. Such studies can help mark changes in drug markets, but they do not count individual users or establish prevalence across the entire United Kingdom.

Amnesty Contrasts Regional Death-Penalty Reforms with Singapore's Drug Executions. In an October 8 regional briefing, Amnesty International notes that Singapore has become a regional outlier with its continued embrace of the death penalty for drug offenses. The authoritarian city-state had executed 19 people through September 30 this year, all for drug crimes. It executed 17 more last year.

But Amnesty notes that other Southeast Asian countries, while still retaining the death penalty for some offenses, have tightened its use. Malaysia abolished mandatory death sentences in 2023 and has reduced its death row population from more than 1,200 then to only about 100 at the end of 2025. Thailand narrowed the circumstances allowing death sentences with its 2021 drug law, and Vietnam ended the death penalty for drug transportation in 2025, but still retains it for some other drug crimes.

Argentina to Host US Regional Counternarcotics Unit. The Buenos Aires Herald reported on October 6 that Argentina will host a regional unit of the US State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (colloquially known as "drugs and thugs"). The arrangement, which was announced by Argentine Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva, concerns civilian counter-narcotics cooperation, not a US military deployment. The State Department said it would commit $13.35 million, including $7.5 million for Argentina and the rest for regional work, but offered little detail on which countries would participate.

Additional items with an international focus appear in Marijuana Policy, Medical Marijuana, Extrajudicial Killings and Harm Reduction – Medication Assisted Treatment.

Events

DPA Roundtable to Examine Disability, Racism, Homelessness and Drug Use. The Drug Policy Alliance will host its Drug Researchers' Roundtable October 29 at 4:30pm Eastern. Dr. Ricky Bluthenthal and Dr. Kelly Knight will discuss findings from the San Francisco cohort of the POLY HOME study of fentanyl-stimulant polysubstance use among people experiencing homelessness. The session, "Examining the Intersectional Impacts of Disability, Structural Racism, and Homelessness on People Who Use Drugs," will not be recorded. Readers can register through the linked event page; access needs and questions can be sent to [email protected].

(AI technology assisted in the news gathering and initial stage drafting of this Daily Digest.)

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Drug War Daily Digest – October 21, 2026

A poll finds declining approval of Trump's cannabis policies among marijuana consumers, Nebraska's Democratic gubernatorial candidate promises action on medical marijuana, an Indiana forfeiture ruling requires prosecutors to explain the alleged crime, and more.

Marijuana Policy

Poll Finds Falling Approval of Trump's Cannabis Policies Among Marijuana Consumers. Marijuana Moment reported Tuesday that its quarterly poll with NuggMD found approval of the Trump administration's actions on cannabis had fallen to 29 percent among marijuana consumers in legal markets. It was 73 percent two quarters ago, then fell to 48 percent last quarter. The poll surveyed 654 consumers October 8–15; 20 percent disapproved of the administration's cannabis actions and 51 percent were neutral or had no opinion. Forty-seven percent said they would support the administration more if it moved to more fully legalize cannabis, while 52 percent said their support would not change. The poll comes as the broader federal rescheduling proceeding remains delayed, following April's reclassification of state-licensed medical cannabis and FDA-approved marijuana products. The poll did not establish why Trump's numbers were declining with this group.

Colorado Audit Questions Business-Selected Marijuana Test Samples and Delays in Consumer Warnings. A state audit presented to lawmakers Monday found regulatory gaps in the state's marijuana testing system, including a provision that lets businesses choose which samples will be tested. The auditors noted that 24 other legal marijuana states did not let businesses select their own samples. According to Colorado Newsline, the audit also found that products subject to health advisories between 2023 and 2025 remained on store shelves, on average, more than seven months before regulators issued those advisories, although response times improved in 2025. Auditors found no evidence of widespread health or safety problems. Auditors also reported inconsistent inspections and recommended that the Department of Revenue's Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) issue warnings faster and make safety-complaint channels clearer. MED agreed with all the recommendations.

Study Links Dispensary Openings to Increased Business Nearby. Businesses near new Illinois marijuana dispensaries gained customers and revenue, a working paper described Tuesday by Marijuana Moment found. The paper studied Illinois retail marijuana outlets and found that businesses near newly opened marijuana retailers saw boosts in customers, transactions, and revenues. Using credit and debit card data from 2021 through 2024, the researchers estimated that new pot shops generated a 7 percent increase in customers, an 8 percent increase in transactions, and a 7.5 percent increase in revenue. Food, beverage, and everyday goods chains benefited most from the presence of new pot shops. Researchers found no statistically significant gains for independent businesses. This paper is a preprint rather than a peer-reviewed finding, but it offers evidence relevant to local debates over allowing retail marijuana outlets.

Kansas City Committee Backs Shifting Marijuana Tax Revenue to Winter Shelters. The city council's Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee voted Tuesday unanimously to reallocate about $485,000 in marijuana tax revenue from neighborhood cleanup to winter shelters, KCTV reported. The full council still needs to approve the proposal. While the city usually divides marijuana tax revenue among cleanup, homeless services, and violence prevention, shelter funding is short. In a sign of competing needs behind the proposed reallocation, a neighborhood representative told councilmembers that cleanup jobs help residents pay their rent.

Vermont Considers Permits for Marijuana Sales at Community Events. WCAX-TV reported October 14 that the state's Cannabis Control Board was expected to give final approval October 23 for cannabis event permits, which would allow licensed retailers to sell marijuana within designated areas at events, but not allow on-site consumption. The proposal is for a pilot program. Pot farmers would not qualify for the permits, but they could benefit when participating retailers gain another sales outlet.

Medical Marijuana

Nebraska's Walz Promises First-Day Action on Medical Marijuana. Marijuana Moment reported Tuesday that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lynne Walz says she would issue an executive order on her first day in office to speed access to medical marijuana and would consider replacing commissioners she says are obstructing implementation. Walz made the pledge in an October 19 interview with WOWT. Her opponent, incumbent Gov. Jim Pillen (R), has been a staunch opponent of medical marijuana even though voters approved it at the polls in 2024. Walz's pledge is aimed at the slow rollout of medical marijuana after that vote. Her pledge is a promise, not an order already issued.

Spain Prepares First Deliveries Under Its Medical Cannabis Framework. Business of Cannabis reported Wednesday that some 50 Spanish hospitals were expected to receive their first registered cannabis preparations this week, with more hospitals covered by the end of the month. The move comes more than four years after lawmakers advanced proposals for a framework and more than a year after a key decree cleared the way. But the program is limited, with only specialists allowed to prescribe and hospitals allowed to dispense preparations for a specified list of diseases and conditions, including multiple-sclerosis spasticity, refractory epilepsy, chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting, and chronic refractory pain. Primary-care doctors and community pharmacies cannot participate. Cannabis researcher Manuel Guzmán said treatment was restricted to use after standard medicines had failed, and warned that the narrow distribution model could leave many patients unable to obtain treatment.

Hemp

New Jersey Committee Advances Hemp Deadline and Unlicensed-Sales Bills. Cannabis Business Times reported Monday that the state Senate Judiciary Committee had advanced two cannabis-related bills October 15 without opposing votes. One, S4635, would move the state's hemp-product deadline from November 13 to December 11 to match the revised federal timetable and keep state law aligned with future federal changes. The other, S4287, would make unlicensed commercial marijuana sales a third-degree crime, with fines of $10,000 to $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 to $250,000 for entities. Official records show S4635 advanced on a 10–0 vote with one abstention, while S4287 advanced 11–0 and was referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. Both measures require further legislative action.

According to the committee's explanation of S4287, the proposal would also bring specified unlicensed marijuana and vapor-product activities within the state's racketeering law, permit warrantless seizure of products declared contraband, and allow municipalities to restrict or close businesses with more than two violations of the new offenses within two years.

UPS Revises Hemp Shipping Requirements Ahead of Federal Changes. Cannabis Business Times reported Tuesday that on December 11, UPS will start requiring raw hemp shipments to contain no more than 0.3 percent total THC on a dry-weight basis, instead of the company's previous standard of 0.3 percent delta-9 THC. That means the new standard will count THCA as well as delta-9 THC, which could affect businesses shipping goods that meet the old standard but not the new one. UPS's shipping policy also requires approved shipper agreements and applicable documentation.

Analysis Examines Legal Challenge to Ireland's Low-THC Hemp Restrictions. Business of Cannabis reported Tuesday on a pending High Court challenge that argues that the country's classification of low-THC hemp as a controlled substance is a violation of European Union (EU) law. Hemp importer Brendan O'Mara is contesting the seizure of a 502-kilogram shipment in May 2025 as illegal cannabis, arguing that it was lawful agricultural hemp. The Business of Cannabis analysis, which cites earlier reporting by The Journal, noted that the legal challenge comes amidst a steep decline in Irish hemp cultivation. The October 20 report describes a pending dispute, not a judgment establishing that the seized material was lawful.

Asset Forfeiture

Indiana Ruling Requires Prosecutors to Explain the Crime Behind FedEx Cash Forfeitures. A federal court ruling reported Tuesday by the Institute for Justice, which represents the plaintiffs, requires Marion County prosecutors to identify the alleged criminal basis in forfeiture complaints rather than rely on a generic assertion that a criminal law was violated. The case centers on cash seized from packages passing through the Indianapolis FedEx hub, including one seizure of more than $42,000 sent as payment for jewelry already sold. Even though a drug dog alerted on the packages, no drugs were found. The decision was not a complete victory for the plaintiffs: while requiring more specific notice in forfeiture complaints, the court rejected the broader challenge to forfeiture of money merely passing through Indiana without a local criminal connection, according to the institute. The Institute for Justice said it will appeal that portion of the ruling.

Incarceration

Prison Policy Initiative Examines Women's Incarceration and Drug Enforcement. According to an October 14 report from the Prison Policy Initiative, "Women's Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie," 198,800 women and girls are behind bars in the United States, with drug and property offenses accounting for more than half of the offenses associated with women's incarceration. The report also found that females had a jail death rate from alcohol or drug intoxication twice that of men, and that 61 percent of women held under local jail jurisdiction had not been convicted. The analysis draws on multiple datasets and years, not a single 2026 count.

Extrajudicial Killings

Philippine Truth Commission Calls for Inquiry into Promotions After Drug-War Killings. The Philippine Truth Commission is questioning whether police officials were rewarded with promotions for their role in former President Rodrigo Duterte's bloody war on drug users and sellers that left thousands dead. Duterte is awaiting trial at The Hague on charges of crimes against humanity, including murder and attempted murder; the ICC says the trial is scheduled to open November 30. Drawing on public records, the commission on October 14 identified officers who won promotions after assignments associated with large numbers of killings. The commission called for an examination of performance evaluations, promotion records, and financial information, and asked whether institutional incentives helped drive the state violence. It noted that a promotion alone does not indicate an officer was rewarded for killing.

In its mission statement, the commission describes its commitment to "uncovering, documenting, and preserving the truth about human rights violations committed in connection with the anti-drug campaign and other related abuses." It describes an approach centered on survivors and informed by trauma, combining documentation, public testimony and research with psychosocial support, education and policy advocacy. Its stated aims include honoring victims, advancing accountability and institutional reform, and supporting national healing and peace.

International

Rappler Examines Political Connections in Laos-to-Manila Meth Shipment Investigation. In an October 17 story, Rappler reported on a 521-kilogram methamphetamine shipment that had been seized in Laos on its way to Manila. The investigation detailed the involvement of a former Bangsamoro Transition Authority member, Edrieza Hadji Nasser Rimbang, whom Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla identified as an alleged financier, as well as an aviation police officer and a pilot, both of whom were under investigation at the time of the report. It also examined the broader cross-border operation, the contradictory accounts of how the bust happened, and Rimbang's political background. In an October 21 report, OneNews quoted Remulla as saying the previous day that authorities had no evidence linking the Duterte family to the shipment despite Rimbang's political ties to the family. The officials' allegations have not established the suspects' guilt.

GI-TOC Report Traces Revival of Caribbean Cocaine Routes to Europe. A new report by Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) researchers Lina María Asprilla and Andrés Aponte finds that the cocaine traffic through Colombia's Caribbean coast is adapting to both European demand and European enforcement efforts. They report that the Gaitanist Army of Colombia is exercising stronger control in the western Caribbean but that it faces more rivals farther east. The report also notes the importance of overland routes to coastal departure points and maritime links involving Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and the Lesser Antilles. The October report draws on 30 interviews, including fieldwork conducted in May and June 2025, as well as later sources. The researchers recommend greater regional cooperation, stronger institutions, and economic alternatives, in addition to security measures, rather than assuming enforcement alone will do the job.

GI-TOC Report Examines Cross-Border Networks Behind German Drug Markets. In an October 19 report, Mahmoud Jaraba of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) examines the family networks that link drug activity in Germany to partners in the Middle East. In addition to discussing drug trafficking and local drug sales, Jaraba examines the movement of money through informal channels. He also stresses the need to distinguish specific criminal actors from the wider communities in which they operate, and writes that a separate study on drug market organization, routes, and money flows is forthcoming.

GI-TOC will also host a webinar on Myanmar-linked methamphetamine supply chains and risks for Australia and New Zealand on October 27 at 10 a.m. Bangkok time (October 26 at 11 p.m. Eastern), with registration available at the link.

International Drug Policy Research Conference Set for Medellín in June 2027. The International Society for the Study of Drug Policy (ISSDP) has announced that its 2027 conference will take place June 22–26 in Medellín, Colombia, hosted by Universidad EAFIT. The society says this will be the second time it has held its conference in Latin America, bringing researchers, policymakers, and practitioners together to discuss drug policy and share research.

Additional items with an international focus appear in Medical Marijuana, Hemp, and Extrajudicial Killings.

(AI technology assisted in the news gathering and initial stage drafting of this Daily Digest.)

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Drug War Daily Digest – October 22, 2026

A UN expert calls for drug legalization and an end to the "narco-terrorism" war, Virginia's Senate leader faces federal marijuana charges, and more.

Drug Policy

Nanette Castillo holds a portrait of her son Aldrin, who was killed in 2017. (Image: Philippine Truth Commission, via YouTube)

UN Expert Urges Rejection of "Narco-Terrorism" War, Calls for Drug Legalization. In a statement published by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights accompanying his new report, Ben Saul, the UN special rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights, urged governments Thursday to stop treating profit-driven drug trafficking as terrorism and to pursue public-health approaches, harm reduction and drug legalization. He warned that terrorism designations can expose migrants, humanitarian workers and others to sweeping sanctions and criminal penalties and argued that decades of militarized drug enforcement have failed to curb trafficking and have often aggravated violence.

Citing at least 239 people reportedly killed in 71 US military attacks on civilian vessels over the past year, Saul said the killings could amount to crimes against humanity and called for accountability. He also called for stronger financial investigations, anti-corruption measures, controls on military-grade firearms and investment in public services. His recommendations come from an independent expert appointed by the Human Rights Council, not an adopted position of the UN as a whole.

Watch Saul's October 22 press conference on UN Web TV (25 minutes), or read the transcript.

Marijuana Policy

DEA Judge Rejects Reopening Marijuana Rescheduling Hearing, Allows More Briefs. Marijuana Moment reported Thursday that DEA Administrative Law Judge Derek Julius rejected opponents' effort to add new testimony and document discovery to the marijuana rescheduling proceeding, but admitted a Government Accountability Office report identifying gaps in federal scheduling procedures and allowed additional briefs about it. In a Tuesday filing, the agency had argued that the report did not justify reopening the evidentiary hearing. Opponents argue that the missing procedures undermine the government's position.

In his October 22 order, Julius said the proposed testimony concerned issues outside the hearing's scope or matters the parties had already had an opportunity to explore. He invited briefs on the report's weight and effect on the case by October 29, with replies due November 5. The proceeding remains paused until that briefing period closes. The dispute concerns the ongoing marijuana rescheduling proposal, following April's separate reclassification of state-licensed medical marijuana and FDA-approved marijuana products as Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act.

Worcester Council Opposes Massachusetts Marijuana Repeal Measure. Marijuana Moment reported that the Worcester City Council voted 6-0 with five abstentions for a resolution opposing Question 8, the ballot proposal that would end adult-use retail sales and home cultivation while retaining the medical program and limited legal adult possession. Mayor Joseph Petty introduced the resolution, arguing that repealing legal sales would cost jobs and public revenue while pushing sales into the unregulated black market. Some of those who abstained said that while they personally opposed the ballot measure, they didn't think it was their place to tell voters how to vote.

Virginia Senate Leader Lucas Faces Federal Marijuana Charges. Federal prosecutors charged Virginia Senate President Pro Tempore L. Louise Lucas and six others Thursday in a marijuana-trafficking and money-laundering case, the Associated Press reported. Prosecutors allege she used her political influence to protect the operation. Lucas surrendered to authorities and was released on her own recognizance after appearing in court. She said she would not be intimidated.

Lucas is a long-time critic of President Trump. Prosecutors announced her indictment at a Norfolk, Virginia, press conference attended by US Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel. "We don't do political paybacks," Blanche told reporters with a straight face. Prior reporting has noted the investigation began during the Biden administration, though an anonymously sourced tip cited in the New York Post suggested it had been shut down.

The charges are allegations, not findings of guilt. The case arrives as Virginia prepares to implement legal adult-use retail sales – and with midterm elections less than two weeks away.

Medical Marijuana

Massachusetts House Passes Veterans' Medical Marijuana Access Provisions. The Massachusetts House voted 152-0 on October 21 to pass an amended supplemental budget bill, H.5700, to be engrossed. As Marijuana Moment reported during the bill's consideration, its medical marijuana provisions would allow veterans receiving care at a VA facility to qualify for medical marijuana without obtaining a medical marijuana recommendation if they have documentation of a debilitating condition from the Department of Veterans Affairs. This change would remove the obstacle posed by VA clinicians' inability to complete medical marijuana recommendation forms. The bill would also add post-traumatic stress disorder, opioid use disorder, and conditions producing chronic pain to the qualifying list. The provisions still require Senate action and enactment before taking effect.

Nebraska Growers Seek Testing Rules and Fee Relief as Sales Remain Delayed. The Nebraska Examiner reported that the state's four licensed medical marijuana cultivators sent a joint letter to the Medical Cannabis Commission asking for clarity on how their harvests can meet state testing requirements and to reconsider burdening them with recurring fees before they can take their products to market. Under the commission's proposed regulations, annual licensing and tracking fees would total $36,500, plus additional compliance costs. The letter also raised questions about laboratory authorization, sample transportation, and use of out-of-state laboratories. The growers are also calling for legislative protections for physicians who recommend medical marijuana.

Commission Chair Lorelle Mueting, who was originally appointed to the commission by medical marijuana foe Gov. Jim Pillen (R), said growers had been warned that the rest of the supply chain might not be ready when they harvested, and that they had assured the commission they could store their product. The commission meets again on November 16 to consider public comments on its proposed regulatory scheme.

Harm Reduction

Utah Proposes Changes to Syringe-Exchange Supply Rules. Utah health officials have proposed revising the state's syringe-exchange rule to remove cookers and tourniquets from its list of prevention materials and establish procedures for obtaining government permission before conducting exchanges on property owned, operated or controlled by a government entity, implementing existing statutory requirements. The proposal appears in the October 15 Utah State Bulletin as rule R384-900, on printed pages 24–28. Public comments are due November 16, with November 23 listed as the anticipated effective date. The notice proposes changes to the rules governing programs serving people who inject drugs; it does not establish that the changes have already taken effect.

Psychedelics

Licensed Colorado Psilocybin Center Opens in Manitou Springs. KRDO-TV reported that the Pikes Peak region (around Colorado Springs) now has its first state-licensed psychedelic-assisted therapy center with the opening of the Elevated Healing Center in Manitou Springs. The center is not located in Colorado Springs, the area's primary city, because its zoning ordinance requires a one-mile separation from schools, residential daycares, substance-use treatment facilities, and other healing centers, effectively barring such facilities from the city. Elevated Healing founder Scott DeWalt said that psilocybin is secured on site and that prospective patients undergo mental health and medication screening before participating.

Kratom and 7-OH

Hillsborough Advances 7-OH Restrictions to November Hearing. FOX 13 Tampa Bay reported that Hillsborough County (Tampa) commissioners voted Wednesday unanimously to advance a proposed ordinance targeting concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, and related synthetic kratom products. The proposal does not include herbal kratom, but that could be included as the measure advances. County officials said they want to act now in case statewide emergency restrictions expire. The county still needs to take a final vote, and a public hearing is set for November 10.

Extrajudicial Killings

Philippine Truth Commission to Hear Mother's Account of Her Son's Killing. The Philippine Truth Commission heard testimony on Friday 10/23 from Nanette Castillo about her son Aldrin, a 32-year-old welder who was killed by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Tondo in what his mother believes was a case of mistaken identity. The session took place at Adamson University, and is streamed on the commission's YouTube channel and Facebook page.

ICC Prosecutors Remove Incident Outside Duterte Charge's Time Frame. Philstar.com reported Wednesday that International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors have removed an alleged killing identified as Incident 57 from their trial brief against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte. The move came after an October 9 ruling that found the killing had occurred outside the period covered by the relevant confirmed charge. He is charged with the crimes against humanity of murder and attempted murder in connection with alleged killings during both his time as Davao mayor and his presidency. Prosecutors left their witness and evidence lists unchanged, arguing that the material remained relevant; the report does not establish that the court has accepted that position. That October 9 ruling also allowed seven additional incidents to be included, bringing the total to 56. Trial is set to begin on November 30.

Watch Nanette Castillo's testimony to the Philippine Truth Commission:

See also UN Special Rapporteur Ben Saul's call for a new approach to drug policy in Drug Policy, and related international coverage in Extrajudicial Killings.

International

INCB Consults Governments on Medical Cannabis Regulation. The International Narcotics Control Board held an informal consultation October 21 on the expanding cultivation and use of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes. In its account dated October 21, the board said more than 180 regulators discussed legislative changes, reporting requirements and suspected diversion. More than 20 countries reported significant exports of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes in 2026. The consultation did not adopt new binding rules or change the drug-control conventions.

WHO Drug-Dependence Committee Reviews Emerging Substances. The World Health Organization's Expert Committee on Drug Dependence is meeting October 19–22 to review substances for possible international control. Its published documents include critical reviews of cychlorphine, desalkylgidazepam, ethylbromazolam, etomethazene and spirochlorphine, alongside preliminary reviews of etomidate and medetomidine. The committee's scientific assessments inform the international scheduling process. Final recommendations were not available on the meeting's documents page when checked Thursday; the reviews are not themselves decisions to place these substances under international control.

Mexico Charges Former Chihuahua Prosecutor Over Unauthorized US Drug-Raid Role. Reuters reported Wednesday that Mexican federal prosecutors have charged former Chihuahua attorney general César Jáuregui with treason, alleging that he allowed US CIA agents to participate in an April drug raid without federal approval. The incident came to light after the two CIA agents died in a crash coming back from the raid. Jáuregui, who has denied authorizing the agents' participation, according to El País, was ordered jailed by the judge, who is considering whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed. The next hearing is scheduled for Saturday, October 24, Reuters reported.

Gabon Seeks to Protect Iboga. The Guardian examines conservation and benefit-sharing as pharmaceutical interest grows. Gabon's official September 18 cabinet statement records approval of a draft decree prohibiting exports of iboga and its derivatives in any form. The government says the measure is intended to protect the plant, associated cultural heritage and traditional knowledge, and provides for penalties under criminal, forestry and customs law. That cabinet action predates this week's reporting; the statement does not by itself establish when the export restrictions entered into force.

See also UN Special Rapporteur Ben Saul's call for a new approach to drug policy in Drug Policy, and related international coverage in Extrajudicial Killings.

Research

State-Legal Cannabis, Treatment Funding, Overdoses, Opioid Prescribing, Pain Treatment, Pregnancy Prosecutions, Polling

A new poll of marijuana consumers by NuggMD for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) finds that candidates' positions on marijuana policy would influence their decisions either strongly or somewhat at the ballot box in November. Among Democrats, 83 percent said so; among Republicans, 73 percent said so. Overall, the figure was 78 percent. The poll surveyed 654 marijuana consumers in legal marijuana states.

Missouri's regulated cannabis market accounts for an estimated 93 percent of reported cannabis spending, according to an October state-commissioned market study highlighted by NORML Thursday. The estimate indicates that the legal market dominates reported spending, but does not by itself measure displacement of unregulated sales over time. It draws on a March survey of 1,033 past-month cannabis consumers whose responses passed the study's screening, rather than a complete accounting of purchases. The figure measures reported spending, not the percentage of transactions or consumers using legal stores. The authors acknowledge that some respondents may have confused licensed dispensaries with unregulated cannabinoid stores.

Pregnancy Justice has documented at least 902 criminal cases related to pregnancy, pregnancy loss or birth in the three years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Its October 20 interim report identifies substance-use allegations in 871 cases, including 550 in which those allegations were the sole basis for prosecution. The study covers June 2022 through June 2025, and data collection remains ongoing. Most cases involved a live birth. The findings describe charges brought against pregnant people, not proof that drug use harmed a pregnancy, and highlight the central role of drug enforcement in pregnancy criminalization.

Acute kidney injury was documented in more than a third of the overdose hospitalizations examined, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study included in the October 22 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The study reviewed nearly 1.3 million hospitalizations involving opioid, cocaine, or psychostimulant overdoses and found documented acute kidney injury in 34.5 percent of them. Among overdose hospitalizations involving acute kidney injury, 60.9 percent involved dialysis, respiratory complications, shock or hypotension, or death in the hospital. The proportion of overdose hospitalizations with acute kidney injury rose during 2016-2022, then fell during 2022-2025. The authors recommend broader overdose prevention, naloxone and treatment access, early detection of kidney injury, and follow-up care after discharge. The study counted hospitalizations – not unique patients – and does not identify which substances caused the injuries.

A review posted by RAND October 12 finds that adult-use marijuana legalization has sharply reduced adult cannabis arrests, with little substantial change in violent crime or other drug offenses, although some property offenses may increase modestly. The authors find a net reduction in crime, but no clear corresponding improvement in criminal-justice efficiency or meaningful reductions in racial disparities. A second RAND-listed study compares federal grants directed to treatment organizations with grants directed to states: organization-focused financing better sustained the Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (A-CRA) treatment model in the short term, but the difference was no longer statistically significant 37-60 months after funding ended. This measures continued use of the treatment model, not patients' recovery.

Two October 21 JAMA research letters examine opioid trends. An analysis of emergency medical services records found that nonfatal overdoses and naloxone administrations declined after May 2023, without an increase in naloxone use relative to recorded overdoses. The authors suggest fewer overdoses may help explain falling deaths; the findings do not establish that naloxone is ineffective, and reversals without EMS involvement are outside those records. A separate national and county-level study examines national and county-level trends in opioid dispensing.

Meanwhile, New York's Office of Cannabis Management announced October 2 a trial of a cannabis-based treatment for chronic pain for chronic painful lumbosacral radiculopathy, or sciatica, in patients inadequately helped by non-opioid medicines. The placebo-controlled trial will test the oral THC-containing preparation VER-01. The trial announcement describes research to be conducted, not a finding that the treatment works.

Events

Psychedelics Today's Vital Conference takes place in Breckenridge, Colorado, November 7–8, with a welcome gathering November 6 and an optional workshop November 9–10.

The National Harm Reduction Coalition will hold its 30th-anniversary celebration and fundraiser November 6 at House of Yes in Brooklyn; its invitation lists October 23 as the early-bird ticket deadline and November 2 as the general ticket deadline.

On November 17, Ohio State University's Drug Enforcement and Policy Center hosts Designing Second Chances: Comparing Clemency in Ohio, Minnesota, and the Federal System, an online discussion from noon to 1:15 p.m. Eastern examining the three clemency systems.

The Philippine Truth Commission's upcoming public session is covered in Extrajudicial Killings.

(AI technology assisted in the news gathering and initial stage drafting of this Daily Digest.)

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Drug War Daily Digest, October 23, 2026

Booker challenges DEA cannabis employment restrictions, the Philippines offers a reward for Duterte's police chief / top killer / Philippine senator in hiding, and US counterdrug policy draws scrutiny. Plus international developments, psychedelic access, research and events.

Drug Policy

Ben Saul (right) speaks at a UN press conference on October 22, 2026. Screenshot: UN Web TV.

US Mission Attacks Ben Saul Over Counterdrug Operations. In an October 22 statement responding to UN Special Rapporteur Ben Saul's report on counterterrorism and drug enforcement, which directly criticized recent US policies, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz attacked the rapporteur. He accused Saul of bias, called him "terrorist-sympathizing," and defended the Trump administration's aggressive drug enforcement policies in the Americas, which have included repeated military attacks on alleged drug-trafficking vessels. Saul's October 22 statement put the toll at at least 239 people in 71 attacks on civilian vessels and called for accountability for what he characterized as unlawful killings. Waltz also attempted to smear Saul because China provided part of the funding for his position and criticized Saul for his earlier criticism of counterterrorism operations. The statement was a response to Saul's call for accountability over those strikes.

TalkingDrugs has posted a highlights compilation of Saul's press conference on Instagram.

Extrajudicial Killings

Philippines Gives Dela Rosa One Week to Surrender, Offers P50 Million Reward. Rappler reported today that Philippine Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has given Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa one week to surrender and announced a P50 million reward for information leading to his capture. Dela Rosa was the first national police chief in the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte and faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his alleged role in drug war killings under Duterte. The court issued the warrant under seal in November 2025 and made it public on May 11. Dela Rosa has been in hiding since May. A police task force led by Lieutenant General Wilson Joseph Lopez has been assigned to find and arrest him.

Also on October 23, GMA News reported that Dela Rosa's attorneys have challenged the legal basis for the reward. They argued that the reward rules require a Philippine court warrant and questioned the proposed use of intelligence funds.

Watch Dino Singson de Leon's presentation on the Philippine ICC case at our June 4 online event, "Murder on the Land and the Sea II".

Marijuana Policy

Booker Challenges DEA Restrictions on Cannabis Workers with Past Drug Convictions. In an interview with Marijuana Moment published today, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) criticized the Drug Enforcement Administration for jeopardizing medical marijuana businesses' registration applications because they employ people with past drug convictions. Booker was responding to earlier Marijuana Moment reporting about a Mississippi dispensary, Wildflower, whose owner, Nicole Huff, was told in correspondence from a DEA official that existing DEA registration rules restrict access to controlled substances for employees with drug-related felony convictions. She had two affected workers and was told she could fire them, withdraw her application, seek a waiver and lose expedited processing, or contest the matter before an agency judge. Huff said DEA later told her the workers could move temporarily to jobs without access to marijuana while a waiver is being considered, but gave no timetable. She said creating administrative jobs would be financially impractical for many businesses. Booker called that policy "ridiculous" and "really problematic", arguing that people harmed by drug prohibition should be able to work in the legal industry.

Illinois Explains New Hemp Product Requirements Ahead of November 12 Change. The Illinois News Joint reported October 21 that state agricultural officials have released guidance on the state's new hemp law. Under that law, as of November 12, products containing more than 0.4 mg per container of total THC, including THCA and other cannabinoids with THC-like effects covered by the law, must be sold through the state's cannabis regulatory system and comply with its licensing and sales requirements. Products at or below the limit that meet the other hemp requirements may continue to be sold outside the cannabis dispensary system. The hemp category excludes synthesized cannabinoids, products containing alcohol, tobacco or nicotine, and products intended for smoking or vaping. The state requirements take effect November 12, separately from the federal deadline discussed below.

Limited Participation Leaves Federal CBD Patient Program in Doubt. Citing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), MJBizDaily reported October 21 that participation in the initiative allowing care organizations in Medicare's ACO REACH model to offer hemp-derived CBD products remains low. So far, only six of 74 organizations have been approved. CMS did not say how many are actually distributing products. Under the initiative, participating organizations can pay up to $500 per eligible patient per year for products. The initiative doesn't establish general Medicare coverage of CBD. Some suppliers told MJBizDaily that restrictions on hemp cannabinoid products now set to take effect December 11, after a congressional delay, have discouraged groups from participating.

International

Thai Prime Minister Seeks Tighter Cannabis Enforcement and Penalties. Citing a government statement after a narcotics control board meeting, the Malaysian National News Agency, Bernama, reported that Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul called for stronger cannabis controls and tougher penalties on Thursday. He ordered agencies to inspect licensed businesses, crack down on licensing violations, and intensify customs checks to block unauthorized exports. The meeting discussed proposed amendments to the Narcotics Act concerning cannabis and changes to possession offenses, including small quantities, alongside treatment and rehabilitation. Bernama also noted that the cabinet approved a draft Cannabis and Hemp Act on September 22 to restrict cannabis to medical use. These were proposals and enforcement directions, not an announcement that new penalties had taken effect.

Ontario Proposes New Cannabis Enforcement Powers for Provincial Regulator. The Ontario provincial government announced October 19 that it intends to give regulators the power to inspect unauthorized marijuana retailers, impose administrative financial penalties, and seize products and equipment. The plan would give those powers to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and would cover both unlicensed shops and online sellers. Estimating that unlicensed sellers account for about 30 percent of the market, officials said the measures were designed to protect consumers and the province's 1,800 legal marijuana sellers. The plan requires approval by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

UN Organized Crime Conference Adopts Resolution Targeting Drug Trafficking Facilitators. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime reported today that governments that are parties to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime adopted a resolution calling for more international cooperation against drug trafficking and entities that facilitate the trade, including recruiters, money launderers, corrupt officials, and suppliers of logistical or technical support. They met for the treaty's thirteenth conference of parties and negotiated for five days on a series of resolutions, including this one. Other resolutions addressed environmental crime, firearms, and cultural property. UNODC said some resolutions required votes rather than reaching consensus, but did not say if that was the case with the drug trafficking resolution.

International Society for the Study of Drug Policy to Meet in Medellín in June 2027. The International Society for the Study of Drug Policy (ISSDP) will hold its 2027 conference in Medellín, Colombia, June 22-26, hosted by Universidad EAFIT. The gathering will bring together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to discuss drug policy research. According to ISSDP, this will be the second time the conference has been held in Latin America.

Latin America Strikes

InSight Crime Examines Limits of Ecuador's Militarized Crackdown. In an October 15 analysis, Sean Doherty of InSight Crime finds that Ecuador's military-led crackdown on organized crime has failed to produce a sustained improvement in security. Killings have declined in 2026 after a record year, but Ecuador remains on course for one of its deadliest years. Doherty points to corruption, prison insecurity and gang fragmentation, with arrests of leaders intensifying internal competition. The government's newest strategy acknowledges the social conditions fostering criminality but nonetheless continues to emphasize repression and cooperating with the Trump administration's aggressive anti-drug policies in the hemisphere.

DoD Contractor Posts Then Deletes Announcement About Ecuador Counterdrug Center

Culmen International, a US contractor based in Alexandria, VA, posted an announcement on LinkedIn and Instagram about a SOUTHCOM counterdrug project to design and construct a naval military training center and a 24-hour operations center in Ecuador. An October 16 post by SA Defensa described the operations center as being in Guayaquil.

We saw the LinkedIn post on a Signal group, but when we clicked on it, LinkedIn said the post was removed. A Google search turned up listings for the company's two social media posts, as well as the SA Defensa post. The Instagram link on Google also shows the post as unavailable. A look at both social media feeds failed to turn up any copies of the post.

Why the announcements became unavailable, we can only speculate. One possible reason is the government preferred the project to remain off the public's radar, due to political sensitivities regarding US activities in Ecuador. Another is that company management, taking note of the murderous US boat strikes, some of which seem related to Ecuador, and of a strike on a purported drug trafficking headquarters in Ecuador that turned out to be a dairy farm, want to minimize the chances that their involvement with the Trump administration's radical counterdrug programs in Latin America will get scrutinized in future criminal investigations.

Preserved screenshots, captured October 23. Select an image to view it at full size.

Psychedelics

VA Selects Ten Sites to Prepare for Possible Psychedelic Treatment Rollout. Psychedelic Alpha reported on Thursday that senior adviser Andrew Gradison said at an October 15 healthcare forum that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has selected ten initial sites to prepare to provide psychedelic therapies if the medicines become commercially available. Gradison did not name the sites. He warned that treating even 1,000 patients in the first year could be problematic because those therapies require substantial staffing and resources. The VA plans to study the initial rollout to guide further implementation. The planned rollout remains contingent on FDA approval and commercial availability of the treatments.

European Clinicians Describe Access and Funding Barriers for Psychedelic Therapies. A report today by Ryan Khan in Psychedelic Alpha examines how European health systems are preparing treatment access before conventional drug approvals. The article focuses on the October 8-9 TAIP conference in Estonia, where clinicians described Norway's publicly funded ketamine treatment model, Germany's limited psilocybin compassionate-use program, and Switzerland's case-by-case permissions. The report also describes preliminary findings from a British ketamine-assisted therapy pilot designed to fit existing NHS services; they should not be treated as randomized trial results. Clinicians cited obstacles including payment for lengthy supervised sessions, staff training, and equitable access. The report says Norway's expansion of ketamine treatment to include acute suicidal crises was approved in August, with implementation protocols still being developed.

Research

Medical Cannabis and Autism, Public Views of Legalization

A new Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management report examines 1,645 people with autism spectrum disorder who bought medical cannabis after entering the program between August 2018 and July 2024. Among participants reporting at least moderate anxiety initially, 34.3% reported a reduction of at least 30% within four months that persisted for another four months. Twenty percent reported an adverse effect, most commonly dry mouth; the report cautions that its questionnaire may miss severe effects. The observational study had no control group and did not account for other treatments, so it cannot establish that cannabis caused the improvements. Behavioral questionnaire results came from only 46 participants, a small and potentially unrepresentative subset. The report was released October 1 and highlighted in the agency's October 19 newsletter.

A University of Massachusetts Amherst/WCVB poll released October 21 found that Massachusetts voters generally view marijuana legalization favorably. Positive assessments reached 70% for tax revenue, 65% for the economy, 56% for local communities and 52% for the criminal justice system. Views of its effects on young people were more divided: 39% positive, 31% negative and 30% neutral. The survey measured voters' perceptions, rather than independently measuring legalization's effects. It was conducted October 5-12.

(AI technology assisted in the news gathering and initial stage drafting of this Daily Digest.)

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Drug War Daily Digest - October 26, 2026

ICC prosecutors seek additional witness evidence in the Duterte case, Dahas examines Cebu (Philippines) drug-war deaths, New Jersey advances hemp legislation, and new research explores THC dosing, hemp beverages and psilocybin.

Marijuana Policy

Intoxicating hemp beverages face a day of reckoning, both in New Jersey and at the federal level. (Creative Commons)

Texas U.S. Senate Candidate Talarico Says He Would Work With Trump on Marijuana Legalization. Marijuana Moment's Tom Angell reports that Texas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico sees an opportunity to work with President Trump on federal marijuana legalization and expunging past marijuana convictions. Talarico characterized Trump as supporting legalization. Trump endorsed Florida's state legalization initiative in 2024, but his administration is pursuing federal rescheduling and is not pushing broad federal legalization, the outlet notes.

New Hampshire Governor and Challenger Clash Over Marijuana Legalization. Marijuana Moment's Tom Angell reports that an October 22 gubernatorial debate between Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte and Democratic challenger Cinde Warmington saw the two contenders clash over their positions on marijuana legalization in the only New England state that has yet to legalize adult recreational use. Citing concerns about road safety and youth mental health, Ayotte defended prohibition. Warmington cited tax revenue and said a regulated market would provide protections unavailable in the black market.

New Jersey Senate Advances Extension of Hemp-Beverage Sales Deadline. The state Senate voted 37-0 on October 22 to approve S4635, which would align state restrictions on hemp products and intoxicating hemp-derived drinks with federal law, Dan Ulloa of Heady NJ reports. The Assembly Appropriations Committee approved companion bill A5604 the same day; it remains at second reading in the Assembly. The Senate committee's analysis explains that Congress partially delayed the federal changes until December 11: products containing cannabinoids the cannabis plant cannot naturally produce still face the November 13 restriction, while other covered products have the later deadline. The state bill would let authorized alcohol and cannabis licensees continue sales until the relevant federal changes take effect, including any further federal delay. New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association executive director Todd Johnson criticized lawmakers for moving quickly to provide relief to hemp and alcohol businesses while licensed marijuana businesses continued to face costly regulatory burdens.

Extrajudicial Killings

ICC Prosecutors Seek Admission of Seven More Witnesses' Recorded Evidence in Duterte Case. In three separate filings on October 21 and 23, International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors asked judges in the case against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte to admit previously recorded evidence from seven witnesses, VERA Files' Janna Millenas reported October 24. Six of the witnesses have evidence related to alleged police killings during barangay (neighborhood administrative unit) clearance operations, while the seventh is an expert whose report prosecutors want admitted. Under the requests, the witnesses would still appear for live questioning by the defense, judges and victims' legal representatives. The expert is one of five witnesses prosecutors said they intend to present this year. The trial is set to begin on November 30, with the first phase going through December 18.

Dahas Finds Cebu Drug-War Deaths Extend Beyond Police Operations Count. An analysis from the Dahas Project of the Third World Studies Center of the University of the Philippines Diliman published by VERA Files identifies 31 drug-related killings in Cebu in the southern Philippines from January 1 through October 15, including 17 attributed to non-state actors. Fourteen of the 31 deaths took place in Cebu City. Researcher Arrianne Louisse B. Fajardo contrasts the Cebu Provincial Police Office's report of one death in its anti-drug operations with six police killings counted by Dahas. The latter includes incidents involving Cebu City police and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, as well as firearms-related encounters and people with reported drug connections. The figures therefore cover different operational and police-unit scopes; the comparison alone does not establish that the provincial police omitted five deaths from their own anti-drug operations tally. The killings described in the analysis are not all necessarily extrajudicial executions.

Dahas, Filipino for "violence," is a University of the Philippines Diliman research project that tracks reported drug-related killings using news reports and, occasionally, official social-media posts. It grew out of a joint research initiative with Ghent University in Belgium. The program provides a rare voice focusing on the continuing problem of extrajudicial drug war killings during the Marcos administration, now in its 5th year.

Harm Reduction

New Jersey Harm Reduction Workers Demand Oversight of Opioid Settlement Spending. New Jersey Monitor's Dana DiFilippo reports that harm reduction advocates at an October 22 legislative hearing criticized spending opioid settlement money on concerts and police surveillance, saying that naloxone, housing, and other services remain underfunded. They demanded stronger oversight of the settlement funds, which will bring about $1.1 billion to New Jersey and its local governments through 2038. They said pending bill A5588 would not do enough to ensure the money went where it should. The committee heard testimony but did not vote on the bill.

Under the introduced text, recipients would generally have 18 months from receipt to spend the funds, with approved timelines for multiyear projects and an option to seek extensions before returning unspent money for redistribution. Funds determined to have been misused would have to be repaid within 60 days of notification, also subject to extensions. The bill would require training and public reporting links as well. The New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition separately filed a rulemaking petition asking the Department of Human Services for clearer spending standards and accountability.

Maryland Citizen Workgroup Urges Paraphernalia Reform and Overdose Prevention Centers. WYPR's Scott Maucione reported October 22 that the Citizen Advisory Workgroup of the Maryland Overdose Response Advisory Council recommended decriminalizing drug paraphernalia and authorizing overdose prevention centers in a September report. Its 14 members include people with lived experience of substance use, family members and care providers. The workgroup unanimously approved the recommendations, which would allow wider access to safer-use supplies and supervised settings where staff can respond to overdoses. The report explicitly says its recommendations do not necessarily represent the positions of the full advisory council or the Maryland Office of Overdose Response. They are proposals, not adopted state policy.

Research

THC Dosing, Hemp-Beverage Restrictions, Psilocybin and Parkinson's Disease

THC dose and intoxication. A meta-analysis of 41 studies involving 1,020 people who used cannabis less than weekly found that subjective intoxication increased with THC dose, but not proportionately. Writing in The Conversation, researchers Isabella Goodwin and Amir Englund explain that the modeled increase in feeling "high" on a 100-point scale rose from 34 points above placebo at 5mg inhaled THC to 39 points at 10mg. The analysis pooled studies with different participants, products, dosing methods, and settings; it does not establish that higher doses are harmless or that frequent users respond the same way. The authors call for direct controlled comparisons of commonly used doses.

Hemp-beverage restrictions. A study in the Journal of Wine Economics by Aaron Staples, Valerie Kilders and Vincenzina Caputo estimates that removing hemp-derived THC beverages would reduce consumers' welfare by about $3.32 per person per choice occasion in its choice-experiment model. The authors' annual scenarios put the aggregate loss at $112 million to $146 million. These are modeled valuations of lost consumer choice, not observed sales losses, tax-revenue estimates, or a complete social cost-benefit assessment. The estimates do not incorporate all possible health and other effects of regulation.

Psilocybin and Parkinson's disease. An exploratory analysis of 12 participants found reductions in inflammatory blood markers after two psilocybin sessions, with the changes persisting a month after the final dose, NPR's Will Stone reports. The October 21 research letter in JAMA Psychiatry also examined a mitochondrial-stress marker, whose initial improvement did not persist at later follow-up. The study had no control group, and participants knew they received psilocybin. The findings are a preliminary biological signal, not evidence that psilocybin slows Parkinson's disease or an established treatment recommendation.

Events

Americans for Safe Access will hold "Cannabis Safety: Fears & Facts", an online discussion of product safety, young people, and impaired driving, on October 29 from 1pm to 2pm Eastern. The event page provides registration information.

(This article was prepared by StoptheDrugWar.org's 501(c)(4) lobbying nonprofit, the Drug Reform Coordination Network, which also pays the cost of maintaining this website. DRCNet Foundation takes no positions on candidates for public office, in compliance with section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and does not pay for reporting that could be interpreted or misinterpreted as doing so.)

(AI technology assisted in the news gathering and initial stage drafting of this Daily Digest.)

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Drug War Daily Digest – October 28, 2026

Michigan and Nevada weigh marijuana tax changes; new boat strikes and Philippine accountability cases draw scrutiny, and recent drug-policy journals, videos, and events offer more to explore.

Marijuana Policy

California Court Allows Discretionary Misdemeanor Treatment of Certain Cultivation Offenses. In an opinion filed on September 28, certified for publication on October 22, and reported by Ganjapreneur on October 26, the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Two ruled that marijuana cultivation offenses involving certain specified environmental violations can be "wobblers," meaning they can be charged as either misdemeanors or felonies. The appeals court did not order an automatic reduction; instead, it reversed a lower court decision denying relief and sent People v. Baxter back to the trial court for reconsideration.

Michigan Lieutenant Governor Candidate Proposes One-Year Pause in Marijuana Wholesale Tax. In an October 22 announcement, state Rep. Jay DeBoyer, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, said he planned to "soon" file a bill that would suspend the state's 24 percent marijuana wholesale tax for one year. DeBoyer argued that the tax is hurting licensed businesses in their struggle to compete with the black market. Meanwhile, Cannabis Business Times' Tony Lange reports that a separate repeal bill, Senate Bill 810, has been in committee since February and has not received a hearing.

Nevada Lawmakers Consider Replacing Marijuana Wholesale Tax With Higher Retail Rate. Nevada Current's April Corbin Girnus reports that lawmakers are considering a marijuana tax overhaul that would eliminate the 15 percent wholesale excise tax and raise the existing retail excise tax from 10 percent to between 12 and 15 percent. A state-commissioned study modeled the change as revenue-neutral. Neither the study committee nor the legislative revenue committee recommended or approved the change. Recreational buyers would face a higher tax rate, while any offset from the wholesale tax cut would depend on whether businesses lowered their prices.

Medical Marijuana

British Epilepsy Patients Get Six-Month Bedrolite Supply Assurance, but Long-Term Access Remains Uncertain. Cannabis Health's Sarah Sinclair reports that Target Healthcare, which makes Bedrolite oil at its Glasgow facility, told families it had enough stock for the next six months. The assurance offers temporary relief to patients with severe epilepsy following the bankruptcy of Dutch producers Bedrocan Nederland B.V. and Bedrocan International B.V. Target said it was discussing longer-term arrangements with Bedrocan and other organizations, but supply after those stocks run out remains uncertain.

Cannabis Cultivar Labels Raise Questions About Consistent Medical Supply. Ben Stevens of the Business of Cannabis delved into the question of whether common cultivar names reliably identify the plants and chemical profiles used by medical marijuana patients. University of British Columbia researcher Davis Allen and Northern Leaf chief executive Steven Tan described inconsistent naming and the absence of a shared genetic reference system, with Allen calling for a publicly funded Canadian gene bank and DNA fingerprinting to bolster authentication. The interviews raise concerns about treatment consistency and product authentication; they do not measure how often products are mislabeled or establish clinical outcomes.

Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Director Steps Down; Enforcement Deputy Named Interim Successor. In a move reported by Ganjapreneur on October 26, Gov. Kevin Stitt announced on October 21 that Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority executive director Adria Berry will leave her position and be replaced by the authority's deputy chief of compliance and enforcement, Jason Yingling, as interim director for the remainder of Stitt's term. Berry has led the agency since 2021 and will remain secretary of licensing and regulation through the end of Stitt's term.

Hemp

Hemp Regulation Backer Looks to Reconciliation as Federal Restrictions Approach. Roll Call's Aris Folley reports that hemp-friendly Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) is looking into whether the regulation of intoxicating hemp products could be paired with tax legislation and rolled into a possible budget reconciliation package. With federal restrictions on such products set to take effect before year's end, the move could offer one route for his proposal to regulate – not ban – those products. The deadlines differ by product: the partial congressional delay left the November 13 restriction on cannabinoids the plant cannot naturally produce in place while moving other covered restrictions to December 11.

Extrajudicial Killings

SOUTHCOM Reports Five Killed in New Boat Strike as Regional Military Officials Meet. The US Southern Command said an October 27 strike on a boat in the Eastern Pacific killed five people it described as drug traffickers. Its announcement attributed the targeting to intelligence but did not disclose the underlying evidence. The strike coincided with an October 26-27 meeting in the Dominican Republic involving representatives of 19 nations to review a counter-cartel military campaign plan and a governance charter. Separately, Pentagon deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver posted an image October 23 declaring, "WE'RE JUST GONNA KILL NARCOS." See also our boat-strike charts.

Massie Plans to Renew Hegseth Impeachment Effort After Midterms. The Hill reports that Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) said he would reintroduce impeachment articles against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after the midterm elections if Hegseth remains in office. Article V addresses extrajudicial killings, referring to the US military's lethal strikes on boats in Caribbean and Eastern Pacific international waters. Click here to read Article V in full on our site, or click here to read Rep. Massie's full impeachment articles.

Retired Coast Guard Officers Warn That Punishing Dissent Discourages Sound Legal Advice. Threats to military careers can suppress honest legal advice about military strikes on suspected drug boats, four retired Coast Guard officers argue in an article in Just Security. William D. Baumgartner, Stephen Chamberlin, Leanne Lusk and Brian McNamara distinguish complying with lawful civilian decisions from suppressing professional objections. They cite the removal of senior legal officers and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's rhetoric as reasons for concern, while acknowledging they do not know what advice officials gave privately. Their analysis emphasizes the need to protect officers who raise legal and operational objections as US drug law enforcement shifts from maritime interdiction to lethal targeting of suspected drug boats.

Duterte Defense Opposes Two Witnesses' Recorded Testimony Without Cross-Examination. VERA Files reports that former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte's lawyers oppose admitting two witnesses' recorded testimony without an opportunity to question them. Duterte faces crimes-against-humanity charges over his alleged role in killings during the anti-drug campaigns in Davao City and nationwide. The defense response, originally filed October 19 and publicly released in redacted form October 26, concerns P-1393 and P-1416; the defense does not oppose P-1370's recorded evidence. Victims' lawyers support admission.

The dispute concerns admission under Rule 68(2)(b), without the witnesses appearing in court. The defense says questioning is needed because the accounts concern disputed events and allegations against Duterte. It seeks live testimony, or admission under Rule 68(3) with questioning. This differs from the seven-witness application covered October 26, which provided for questioning. The cited document is a defense request, not a ruling excluding evidence.

Dela Rosa Again Urges Philippine Supreme Court to Block ICC Arrest. Rappler reports that lawyers for Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa have again asked the Philippine Supreme Court to reverse its refusal to provide interim protection against an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest. Dela Rosa's lawyer Israelito Torreon asked the court to act on the pending request on October 27, citing the government's designation of Dela Rosa as armed and dangerous and the P50 million reward offered for information leading to his arrest.

Philippine Truth Commission Video Examines the Church's Support for Drug-War Survivors. In an October 25 Philippine Truth Commission podcast, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David and Fr. Daniel Franklin Pilario discuss the Church's role in providing sanctuary, rehabilitation, and continuing support for people affected by the drug war. The 44-minute video offers another entry point into the Commission's public work following its testimony coverage.

Truth Commission Announces Press Conference on Drug-War Death Certificates. The Philippine Truth Commission will hold a press conference Friday, October 30, at 9am in Manila, with forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun speaking as a member of the commission, seeking an investigation of doctors over what the commission describes as questionable death certificates in drug-war cases. The event will take place at Friendship Hall, Pope Pius Catholic Center, in Paco, Manila. The announcement invites media coverage and says journalists may also ask questions through livestreams on the commission's Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Rappler Debunks Claim That China Confirmed Political Collusion Behind Duterte's ICC Arrest. An October 26 fact-check by Rappler's Jade Florido examines social-media claims that the Chinese embassy confirmed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sent Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague at Senator Kiko Pangilinan's request and finds them lacking. The embassy had criticized Pangilinan's language in a dispute over China's ambassador; it did not confirm the alleged arrangement. Rappler also cites the ICC's statements that its judges act independently of the Philippine government. The social media posts circulated on October 21. See also Rappler's Duterte Fact Checks page for ICC-related misinformation.

(Misinformation, disinformation, and social media manipulation are worldwide democracy issues affecting the drug-war and human-rights situations we follow. Our Rule of Law resources include research on organized online disinformation and examples targeting Philippine opposition leaders. Rappler-affiliated The Nerve regularly investigates disinformation and social media manipulation, including narratives surrounding Duterte and the ICC.)

International

New Reporting Identifies Pentagon Funding for Ecuador Naval Center After Contractor Removes Announcement. The Hill's Filip Timotija reports that two unnamed US officials said the Pentagon is funding a naval training center in Guayaquil, Ecuador, which Ecuadorian forces would operate. One of the officials identified the funding as coming through the Title 10 capacity-building program. The article adds detail to our October 23 coverage of Culmen International's announcement and its disappearance from social media. The Hill reports that it contacted Culmen on October 16 and that the company removed its Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn posts days later. The company did not answer the outlet's renewed inquiry. The reason for the removals remains unexplained.

Mexican Judge Orders Former Chihuahua Prosecutor to Face Treason Trial Over CIA-Linked Drug Raid. The Associated Press reports that a Mexican federal judge ruled October 25 that former Chihuahua state prosecutor Cesar Jauregui must face trial on a treason charge arising from an alleged unauthorized joint operation with the CIA against a drug laboratory. The operation and cooperation came to light after two CIA officers and two Mexican officials died in a car wreck after the raid. Defense attorney Luis Villegas confirmed the decision.

U.S. and Colombia Announce Counterdrug Training Exercise at Tolemaida. El País' Juan Miguel Hernández Bonilla reports that more than 300 US troops were set to arrive in Colombia on October 27 for a joint training exercise at the Tolemaida military base in Cundinamarca department (the Colombian equivalent of a state or province). Known as Southern Vanguard, the exercise will run through November 11 and will include training in maritime interdiction, ground operations, cyber defense, and medical evacuation. Colombian critics of the move say the Colombian Congress must approve the presence of foreign troops, but President Abelardo de la Espriella's Trump-friendly government says training missions do not require such approval.

InSight Crime Examines Drug-Trafficking Groups and Financial Regulation After Brazil Election. In an analysis following Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's reelection on October 25, InSight Crime's Steven Dudley and Marina Cavalari argue that drug-trafficking organizations' expansion into financial markets and other illicit businesses poses a challenge for Brazil's next government. They cite money laundering through financial tech companies and other financial instruments and argue that effective enforcement will require stronger financial-sector oversight and international cooperation. They also note that an opposition-controlled Congress could hobble federal initiatives. And they connect drug trafficking groups such as the PCC and the Red Command to the wider economy.

Harm Reduction

Drugreporter Releases Video of Helen Clark's Visit to Melbourne Supervised Injecting Facility. Drugreporter has posted a video of former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark visiting the medically supervised injecting room in North Richmond, Melbourne. Uploaded October 24, the video was filmed during the 2023 international harm reduction conference. It shows an established service, rather than a newly opened facility or a visit this month.

Research

Global Drug Control, Treatment, Regulation and Harm Reduction

A special section of Health and Human Rights Journal, "Health, Rights, and the Future of Global Drug Control," brings together work on the human-rights basis for harm reduction, the World Health Organization's coca-leaf review, evidence and human rights in international drug-policy institutions, and the livelihoods of people growing prohibited crops. The section includes Daniel Wolfe on harm reduction, Martin Jelsma on the coca review, Ann Fordham's interview with Laura Gil, and Eric Gutierrez and Pedro Arenas on prohibited crops and the 2029 drug-policy review.

The November issue of the International Journal of Drug Policy includes papers on opioid treatment, drug checking, policing and overdose, cannabis taxation and markets, alcohol regulation, stigma and post-release health. Its December issue, still in progress, lists work on overdose prevention centers, solitary opioid use, drug testing in child protection, safer supply, housing barriers and treatment access. These topics appear in the journal's table of contents, rather than in a review of the individual papers' findings.

Events

Drug Checking and Overdose Prevention Webinar Takes Place October 29. The Network for Public Health Law will hold "Overdose Prevention: Utilizing Drug Checking Programs to Save Lives" on October 29 from 1-2:15pm Eastern. The webinar will address drug-checking evidence, the changing drug supply and the legal framework for programs. The event page provides registration information.

NYU Seminar Examines Population Health Effects of Incarceration and Decarceration. NYU Langone's Center for Opioid Epidemiology and Policy will host Yale researcher Yiran Liu for "From Mass Incarceration to Decarceration: Measuring the Population Health Effects of Criminal Legal Policies" on November 4 from 3-4pm Eastern. The seminar is offered in person at 180 Madison Avenue in New York and online; the official listing includes registration details.

Harm Reduction International Conference Set for Belfast in May 2027. Harm Reduction International will hold its 2027 conference at ICC Belfast from May 9 to 12. The conference website provides program and participation information, with early-bird registration available through January 15, 2027.

No on 8 Campaign Offers Virtual Phone-Banking Opportunities. The Massachusetts No on 8 campaign is recruiting volunteers for virtual phone banks from October 30 through November 3, opposing the marijuana rollback ballot measure. The campaign's sign-up page lists available sessions and participation information.

(This article was prepared by StoptheDrugWar.org's 501(c)(4) lobbying nonprofit, the Drug Reform Coordination Network, which also pays the cost of maintaining this website. DRCNet Foundation takes no positions on candidates for public office, in compliance with section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and does not pay for reporting that could be interpreted or misinterpreted as doing so.)

(AI technology assisted in the news gathering and initial stage drafting of this Daily Digest.)

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