Drug War Chronicle

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

Massachusetts activists used non-binding public policy questions to successfully build support for decriminalization. Now, they're doing the same thing with medical marijuana and legalization.

Drug prohibition costs Washington and the states $88 billion a year in law enforcement costs and lost tax revenues, Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron reports.

Two mayors were among the dead in Mexico's prohibition-related violence this past week. That makes five this year.

A massively crooked sheriff, a massively enraged DEA agent, a couple of greedy cops, and a woman police officer married to the wrong guy all made the news this week.

Yet another unarmed person shot in a drug raid, this one very, very pregnant. Reports say the injuries were not life-threatening. Let's hope they stay that way.

The latest Field poll has Prop 19 leading 49% to 42%. That's a dramatic reversal from July, when it trailed 44% to 48%. Is victory within grasp?

The Oregon Cannabis Tax Act initiative campaign is already gearing up for 2012, but if one legislator has his way, Oregon won't have to wait that long.

Add another voice to the growing anti-prohibitionist chorus: Spain's former drug czar has come out for drug legalization.

There's good, but not great, news on the polling front for Prop 19. It has a nine-point lead, but the lead is shrinking and it's still under 50%.