Drug War Chronicle

The California Supreme Court has agreed to hear four medical marijuana dispensary cases. It's eventual decisions could bring some clarity to the murky realm of what is and is not legal in the state.

Although it was a relatively quiet week in Mexico's drug wars, it's probably now safe to say that 50,000 people have been killed in prohibition-related violence there since President Calderon sent in the army in December 2006.

Here's our weekly look at medical marijuana news from around the country. There's plenty going on--and late breaking news from California Wednesday afternoon.

Jailers smuggling drugs in burritos, cops planting drugs, cops doing security for drug deals, and evidence walking out of the evidence room. It's just another week of police misconduct in the drug war.

Bills targeting welfare recipients or people on unemployment insurance for drug testing are all the rage again this year.

Events and quotes of note from this week's drug policy events of years past.

Two-thirds of Canadians want marijuana legalized or decriminalized, according to a new Forum Research poll.

We're only halfway through January, and we already have four dead in drug war incidents so far this year. This week, two allegedly armed men were shot and killed by police in separate incidents in Arkansas and California.

Another small-time drug offender gets intimidated into being a snitch and pays with his life. Another family sues for damages. And another set of taxpayers gets ready to pay for letting their police do such things.

The Canadian Liberal Party has passed a non-binding resolution calling for marijuana legalization, regulation, and taxation.