New York's city council speaker says legalize it, there are medical marijuana moves in Connecticut and Maryland, a Utah commission suggests defelonizing drug possession, a Peruvian petition seeks to end arrests for drug use, which is not a crime in Peru, and more.
More poppies are growing than ever in Afghanistan, and they helped fund the recent presidential election; the UNODC head tsk-tsks at US legalization votes, Nevada petitioners hand in 2X the signatures needed, federal bills get more sponsors, and more.
Busy, busy. A crooked FBI agent is wreaking havoc with drug cases in DC, rip-off cops get busted in Chicago and Philly, an Alabama cop gets nailed for making a woman cook meth for him, and more.
An Arkansas legalization initiative moves forward, Massachusetts' new GOP governor-elect will oppose legalization, Ethan Nadelmann gives a sizzling TED Talk, Colombia moves toward approving medical marijuana, the Dutch move resolutely backward, and more.
Chronicle
Sante Cannabis, Montreal's first doctor-on-site medical marijuana clinic, opened today.
The fallout from last week's legalization votes begins, California veterans are reporting medical marijuana problems with the VA, doctors are billing Medicare for largely needless senior drug testing, and more.
Chronicle
The election was only last week, but eyes are already turning to 2015 and 2016. (www.regulateri.org)
NYPD to Stop Arrests for Minor Marijuana Offenses. The NYPD and Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) announced today that the department will quit arresting people for low-level marijuana possession. NYPD has been arresting tens of thousands of people each year, but in the face of withering criticism, it will now begin issuing tickets instead. But people caught smoking pot in public will continue to face arrest.
Chronicle
One drug arrest out of 1.5 million last year. (www.justice.gov)
Marijuana arrests have begun to decline in the US, but drug war inertia remains strong, and more than 1.5 million people were arrested for drugs last year, according to new FBI statistics.
Chronicle
Gary Johnson eyes a 2016 presidential bid (ouramericainitiative.com)
Marijuana reform activists are already eyeing 2016, and so is former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, the FBI busts the latest incarnation of Silk Road, Tuesday's vote brings some joy in Canada and Jamaica, and more.
Marijuana wins in Alaska, DC, and Oregon; medical marijuana barely loses in Florida, California defelonizes drug possession offenses, New Jersey reforms the bail system, and more
California voters Tuesday approved an initiative to turn drug possession felonies into misdemeanors and rejected a trial lawyers' malpractice caps-raising initiative cloaked in the garb of drug testing doctors.
And then there were three (and don't forget DC). Oregon has now joined Colorado and Washington as a state that has legalized marijuana. Voters Tuesday approved Measure 91 with nearly 56% of the vote.
DC residents are voting overwhelmingly to legalize the possession and cultivation of small amounts of marijuana in the nation's capitol. Now, it will be up to the city council to move on to tax and regulate marijuana commerce.
The Florida medical marijuana initiative came achingly close to victory, winning a solid majority of the vote, but not quite the 60% it needed to pass.
We're waiting for election results--except for Guam, where medical marijuana has already won--Britain's governing coalition continues to implode on drug policy, Paraguay tries to crack down, and more.