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

In what could be the first sign of a course reversal by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, which has scoffed at medical marijuana in the past, the group announced this week it will fund a study.

Nigeria's booming marijuana trade is more than the nation's drug enforcement agency can handle, their commander for a region that's a hotspot for the trade told a major newspaper last week.

Citing Australian research showing that police presence during overdose calls increases the likelihood of overdose deaths by increasing drug users' fear of arrest, Vancouver police have formalized an already existing informal policy of leaving it to the paramedics.

West Hollywood became the first Southern California city to adopt a "lowest law enforcement priority" measure toward marijuana when the City Council approved a resolution (albeit nonbinding) similar to Oakland's "Measure Z" on Monday night. Similar measures will go to voters in Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz and Santa Monica in November.

For the fourth consecutive year, an effort is underway in Congress to stop the Justice Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration from arresting and prosecuting medical marijuana patients and providers in the 11 states where it is legal. Amendment sponsor Rep. Maurice Hinchey and others spoke with DRCNet about its prospects. Next week the US House of Representatives will vote again on the Hinchey-Rohrabacher medical marijuana amendment, which if passed will forbid the US Dept. of Justice from interfering with state medical marijuana laws. It's crucial that more members of Congress vote for medical marijuana this year than did last year.

Get your copy of the Law Enforcement Against Prohibition video that Walter Cronkite called a "must-see for any journalist or public official dealing with [the drug] issue."