Crime & Violence

The Cartagena summit saw an historic discussion of drug legalization this weekend, with President Obama conceding that the topic is a legitimate one even as he reiterated US opposition to legalization.

Voters in Colorado and Michigan approve marijuana measures (and so do voters in Portland, Maine--see our news brief), another New Mexico anal drug search victim emerges and the Mexican military moves into Lazaro Cardenas.

The UN General Assembly this week got an earful from Latin American leaders tired of the deadly same old same old when it comes to drug policy.

Mexico's drug wars continue to take a thousand lives a month, the army is still deeply involved, and the high-profile busts of cartel capos continue apace. What's new about Mexico's drug wars under Pena Nieto?

Two new books on Mexico's drug war shine much needed light on the human costs of the prohibition-related violence, as well as the struggle for Juarez.

Citing the failure of the US and Mexican governments to respond to requests to elaborate a strategic vision for Mexican drug war assistance, Sen. Patrick Leahy has put a hold on $95 million in Plan Merida spending.

The UN anti-drug bureaucracies, charged with upholding the global drug prohibition regime, are eying Uruguay nervously after its lower house voted to approve legal, state-run marijuana markets.

A bill to legalize and regulate marijuana markets and consumption has passed the lower House of the Uruguayan parliament. It now heads for the Senate later this year.

If you have an interest in American history and how we got to where we are with the war on drugs, you need to read Smuggler Nation. You'll be glad you did.

Marijuana reform is accelerated in the United States. What lessons can we learn from the Dutch experience? A new report has some ideas.