News Brief

Human rights are being violated in the name of drug treatment, according to a report from the UN's special rapporteur on torture.

While a marijuana legalization bill is pending in Maine, Green activists in Portland aren't counting on the legislature; they're about to roll out a local legalization initiative.

The Norwegian government wants to decriminalize heroin smoking as a harm reduction measure in a bid to reduce overdoses.

The Tulsa police corruption scandal is the gift that keeps on giving, Jackson, MS, cops head to prison, and more cops want pills too badly for their own good.

Legislatures are in session across the land, and that's reflected in our update this week. Bills are moving, generally, but not, always in the right direction. Meanwhile, Arkansas looks ahead to 2014, and Oakland wants back in the Harborside case.

The Hawaii House earlier this session rejected marijuana legalization; now, it will have a chance to vote on decriminalization after a bill passed the state Senate.

An Oklahoma City man was killed by undercover police after bumping an officer with his car as he attempted to flee a drug bust. That's the sixth death this year in US domestic drug law enforcement operations.

Marijuana legalization bills have been filed in two more states. That makes five this year, with a couple more expected to follow.

Oregon becomes the latest state to see a marijuana legalization bill this year.

Support for marijuana legalization is at the highest levels ever recorded by the venerable Field poll, but not high enough to make potential initiative campaigners or contributors relaxed.