Whew, what a year! Two more states legalize it -- and DC, too -- decriminalization spreads, and more. But it wasn't all good news. Here's our domestic Top 10 drug policy stories.
With the holiday party season approaching, it's time to look twice at those pills. But harm reduction also extends to changing public policies that make things worse.
Passage of the omnibus spending bill was good news and bad news for marijuana reform advocates. A big win for medical marijuana, but a nasty move to block voter-approved legalization in DC, too.
Congressional Republicans are moving ahead with efforts to block the District of Columbia from implementing marijuana law reforms, but as of now, the situation is fluid. Activists are putting the pressure on Democrats to stand firm.
The California Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform is laying the groundwork for 2016. (CCPR)
Four states and DC have now legalized marijuana. More are lining up to join the club in 2016, while in others, the plans are more long-term. Here's an overview.
One drug arrest out of 1.5 million last year. (www.justice.gov)
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.
Federal drug sentencing reforms adopted by the US Sentencing Commission went into effect today. Not only will new offenders face less time, but people already serving time will be able to seek sentence reductions.
Halloween-themed mobile billboard in Maine. (mpp.org)
Election Day is less than a week away, and it's not just statewide marijuana, medical marijuana, sentencing reform, and drug testing initiatives that we're watching. In five states, voters in some cities or counties will have opportunities to cast ballots for local marijuana reform measures. Here's the rundown.
It's much easier to do bad things to -- or fail to do good things for -- people we have stigmatized as somehow lesser than the rest of us. The Denver-based Harm Reduction Action Center is taking on the stigmatization of drug users. That's a good thing.
It's now less than two weeks to Election Day, things are looking pretty good for those statewide marijuana legalization and medical marijuana initiatives, but they could still use your help. Find out what you can do.