Drug War Chronicle

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A medical marijuana initiative won in Guam, but the one in Florida lost despite winning a majority of the votes. There's other news, too.

Trouble is brewing in Detroit and DC, a Texas narc gets in trouble, so does a Miami cop, so does a Camden cop and a suburban St. Louis one.

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

It's a trifecta for marijuana legalization initiatives this year, as Alaska joins Oregon and Washington, DC, in freeing the weed.