News Brief

With the stroke of a presidential pen, Colombia joins the ranks of medical marijuana countries.

Two federal agencies make drug policy-related announcements, Syrians are fleeing the ISIS caliphate to work in the hash fields of Lebanon, and more.

DPA ups the pressure on Louisiana Gov. Jindal to free Bernard Noble, Maryland patients face further delays, Colombian patients won't, and more.

The omnibus budget bill approved by Congress today includes several drug policy provisions, the president commutes the sentences of 93 drug war prisoners, Iranian parliamentarians move to end the death penalty for non-violent drug smuggling offenses, and more.

Pittsburgh decriminalizes, Detroit restricts dispensaries, the U of Alabama is forcing all frat members to be drug tested, fatal drug overdoses hit a record high last year, and more.

The Obama administration weighs in Nebraska and Oklahoma's lawsuit against Colorado legalization, Delaware decrim goes into effect tomorrow, Hawaii released medical marijuana dispensary rules, drought is hurting Afghan poppy production, and more.

Dire predictions that relaxing the marijuana laws would lead to an increase in teen pot smoking have not been borne out.

The US Solicitor General urges the Supreme Court to brush off a lawusit by Nebraska and Colorado seeking to invalidate Colorado's marijuana legalization law.

The specter of state regulation is prompting California cities and counties to regulate or ban medical marijuana activities, including several more this week; Florida's already delayed medical marijuana program faces more delays, Chicago sees its first dispensary, and more.

A sticky-fingered Ohio cop heads for prison, so does a gun-smuggling Miami cop, an Indiana cop gets busted peddling dope, and more.