News Brief

A California appeals court Wednesday held that federal law did not preempt California laws allowing medical marijuana dispensaries, but did not decide the bottom line issue: Can cities or counties ban dispensaries?

Hey, cops: Don't give crack to hookers' boyfriends, don't rip people off and traffic dope, don't seize dope without turning it in, and don't get wasted on meth you stole and crash your cruiser. If only this week's crew had followed those simple instructions.

The death toll in Ciudad Juarez this year is over 1,800 so far, meaning 2010 is on pace to be another record year for murder there. And that's just Juarez.

When you gun down an old lady on a bogus warrant, then plant pot at the scene to cover your misdeeds, you're a bad cop indeed. Now, Atlanta is paying for some of its bad cops.

A respected Swiss politician who rose to international prominence for unraveling Europe's role in the CIA's secret prison program is now calling for an end to global drug prohibition.

Will Detroiters be able to vote in November on legalizing marijuana? Petitioners gathered the required number of signatures to put the question onto the ballot, but an unexpected roadblock thrown up by a city commission has sent them to the courts.

The latest California poll shows Prop 19 with a ten point lead and 50%. If the proposition can keep its current supporters and win even a small fraction of the undecided, marijuana could be legal in California next year.

A Nevada pot legalization initiative aimed at 2012 is in serious trouble after its main backer pulled its funding.

Yet another poll suggests that California is on the cusp of accepting marijuana. Whether that will translate to a win at the ballot this November remains to be seen.

Detroit was supposed to vote on legalizing marijuana in November, but the city's election commission has blocked the vote.