Confronted with new synthetic drugs, Congress is poised to do what it always does: ban them. But there is a better way, say advocates.

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

You know things are messed up when the federal police are shooting at the head of the Ciudad Juarez police. Oh, and 216 more people were killed there in the drug wars last month.

A trio of academic experts have come up with a drug policy book you're going to want to read, even if only to argue with it. Especially to argue with it.

Massachusetts activists have taken the first formal step toward putting a medical marijuana initiative before the voters next year.

Cops cutting corners to make arrests, a cop caught providing protection for a load of cocaine, and a police force fired for its misbehavior make this week's rogues' gallery.

Stymied by drug laws that make the government actually prove something is harmful before banning it, New Zealand is instituting an emergency ban on synthetic cannabinoids while it figures out what to do.

The Cook County Board president wants police to quit wasting time jailing small-time marijuana offenders, and the police may just take a half-step in that direction.

The Bolivian government is laying plans to buy some legally produced coca -- up to a certain point -- if there is not sufficient licit use for it.