Drug War Chronicle

Tuesday is going to be historic. Tomorrow, the Uruguayan Senate will vote on a bill that would make their country the first in the world to legally regulate the production, distribution and sale of marijuana for adults. The bill was approved in the House of Representatives in July with 50 out of 96 votes.

The Drug Policy Alliance has filed a marijuana legalization initiative with authorities in California, but the group says it hasn't decided whether it will actually move forward for 2014. Two other initiatives have also been filed, but others are counseling patience.

A new marijuana legalization has been filed in California, the Florida medical marijuana initiative faces a pair of challenges, the British Columbia decriminalization initiative is struggling, and more.

Missouri activists have filed a series of marijuana legalizaiton initiatives with state officials, laying the groundwork for taking the issue to the voters next November.

Busy, busy on the marijuana policy front today, and there is also medical marijuana news, a new report on coerced federal plea bargains, a call for call-ins to the Senate on mandatory minimums next week, and more.

Good, and, frankly, somewhat surprising news for Denver tokers. The city council last night reversed itself and undid the ban on pot smoking in public view even if on one's own property. There will be one more vote on the ordinance next week.

British publications have gotten their hands on a leaked UN document that reveals fundamental splits among nations as the international organization prepares for the UN General Assembly Special Session on drugs in 2016. Much, but not all, criticism of the status quo is coming from Latin America.

Anabel Hernandez makes bold--and well-documented -- claims about Mexican government complicity with the Sinaloa Cartel in Narcoland. It would be a real shocker if it weren't all too believable.

Arkansas Baptists reject medical marijuana, and so do some California communities. New Jersey's governor mouths off, and Illinois and Massachusetts communities move to regulate soon-to-arrive medical marijuana businesses.

Some Denver city council members don't know when to give it a rest, some California US reps want stiffer penalties for pot grows on public lands, the Big Dog speaks on drug policy, Ecstasy may be on the rise, Morocco holds a historic hearing on cannabis, and more.