Executive Branch

The South Carolina Senate approves a medical marijuana bill, a new Rand study tracks opioid prescribing declines, and more.

Thailand removes cannabis from its schedule of controlled substances (but marijuana legalization is still down the road a bit), a Washington state drug decriminalization initiative is cleared to begin signature gathering, and more.

An Iowa Republican legislative leader shoots down Democrats' plan for a constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana, it's the time of year for presidential pardons and commutations, and more.

The nation's top spook announces an easing of rules around past marijuana use and national security clearances, the New Jersey legislature approves needle exchange expansion and syringe decriminalization bills, and more.

As always, there was a lot going on in the realm of domestic drug policy, and here are ten of the year's most important stories.

The Biden administration rolls out new sanctions aimed at international drug trafficking, a Washington state town endorses psychedelic reforms, and more.

SAMHSA announces historic harm reduction grants, South Dakota marijuana legalization campaigners say their signature-gathering campaign is going well, Michigan's governor signs a bill easing burdens on medical marijuana growers, and more.

The Canadian federal government has again filed a bill to end mandatory minimums for drug offenses, WHO declines to recommend a "critical review" of kratom, and more.

The Chacruna Institute releases a guide for psychedelic churches, DOJ Says the Bureau of Prisons short-changed up to 60,000 First Step Act prisoners on earned-time credits, and more.

How to eke out a loss in war, while losing to the opium poppy, too.