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The Top Ten International Drug Policy Stories of 2011 [FEATURE]
We go around the world to find the most important international drug policy stories of 2011.
Crime & Violence
Free the weed, say Vancouver mayors (image courtesy the author).
Vancouver Mayors Say Legalize Marijuana
Four of Vancouver's last five former mayors are calling for marijuana legalization, and they have been joined by the city's current mayor.
(image courtesy wikimedia.org)
Mexico Drug War Deaths Leveling Off, Study Says
The good news is that prohibition-related killing in Mexico may be leveling off. The bad news is that it's leveling off at horrendous levels.
Juan Manuel Santos (wikimedia.org)
Colombia President Calls for Global Marijuana Legalization
Colombia's president says the world should legalize marijuana, but don't look for his country to lead the way.
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Mexico Drug War Update
Along with the usual carnage and corruption, suspected Zetas killed 52 casino goers in a gasoline/fire attack, teachers skipped school following extortion threats, authorities bust a Sinaloa Cartel "cell" in Utah, and one cartel has put up "wanted" posters targeting leaders of another cartel and offered rewards for them.
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The Drug War Created the Cartels. Only Ending it Can Destroy Them.
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In a New York Times editorial, Sylvia Longmire attempts to generate interest in her upcoming book on drug cartels by arguing that marijuana legalization wouldn't actually do much to damage their profits:
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Criminal Injustice -- Inside America's National Disgrace
[inline:reason-criminal-injustice.jpg align=right]The libertarian Reason Magazine ("free minds and free markets") has devoted its July
Richard Branson blogs about being invited onto the global commission, on virgin.com.
Big Name Panel Calls Global Drug War a "Failure" [FEATURE]
The Global Commission on Drug Policy, made up of former heads of state and other international dignitaries, is calling for fundamental reform of the international drug control system.
Ciudad Juarez
Mexico Drug War Update
Honduras's first cocaine lab is discovered, a New Mexico town's mayor and police chief are arrested for alleged gun running, a former Juarez Cartel boss will stand trial, and Ciudad Juarez suffers from the continued nightmare of drug trade violence (as do many other places).
Ex-World Leaders Form Global Drug Policy Commission
Some global heavyweights have taken on the international drug control system and how to come up with a better one.