Drug War Chronicle

New England is poised to be a marijuana reform hotbed this year, and it looks like Maine will have a chance to legalize it.

Pot policy is popping! A legalization bill advances in Vermont, a Maine initiative looks set to qualify for the ballot next week, a Virginia poll has a strong majority for legalization (somebody tell the legislature), and more.

Vermont takes a step toward becoming the first state to legalize marijuana through the legislative process.

New York's long-delayed medical marijuana program finally rolled out this month -- not with a bang, but with a whimper.

A Minnesota deputy steals dope and Christmas toys, an Indiana deputy coroner peddles pills, and a Texas narcotics officer gets nailed trying to rip off drug cartels.

Members of Congress urge the VA to get out of the way on medical marijuana, the Marijuana Policy Project eyes an Ohio initiative this year, the California legislature is trying to fix a mess of its own making, and more.

Busy, busy. State legislatures are in full swing, and the bills just keep coming. Meanwhile, Florida's medical marijuana initiative has qualified for the ballot, Vermont's governor endorses legalization, and more.

State legislators are getting busy, the DC city council resorts to sneakery to try to kill pot clubs, federal legislators ask the VA to let doctors recommend medical marijuana for veterans, and more.

Alaska's commercial marijuana regulations advance, so does a Kansas bill lowering pot penalties and a pair of Florida asset forfeiture reform bills, the Irish government ponders pill testing for nightclubs and festivals, a medical marijuana bill is filed in Mexico, and more.

New Hampshire's governor signs a package of heroin and prescription opiate bills, a similar package goes to the desk of the Wisconsin governor, Illinois patients seek to add more qualifying conditions, South Dakota's GOP governor rejects a welfare drug testing bill, a key Mexican politician endorses pot legalization, and more.