The global war on drugs has "failed" according to a new report by group of politicians and former world leaders.

The Global Commission on Drug Policy report calls for the legalisation of some drugs and an end to the criminalisation of drug users.

Instead of punishing users who the report says "do no harm to others", the commission argues that governments should end criminalisation of drug use, experiment with legal models that would undermine organised crime syndicates and offer health and treatment services for drug-users in need.

Americans make up just 5 percent of the world's population but account for 25 percent of the population behind bars. Why? Because prisons are a big business and the WAR on Drugs, CNN reporter Fareed Zakaria says. The total number of Americans under correctional supervision (prison, parole, etc.) is 7.1 million, more than the entire state of Massachusetts. Prisons are a big business. Most are privately run, have powerful lobbyists and have bought most state politicians.

Tennessee police reportedly found marijuana in plain view when they entered the home of Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC) Director Danielle Elks to check for intruders.

The commission is in charge of eradicating marijuana in the state in addition to regulating alcohol

UK to consider bill to set minimum price for alcohol. The Guardian article doesn't even mention the possible unintended consequence of partiers opting for other drugs which may do more harm. They talk about it not being a way for grocery stores to increase profits -- pub owners and clubs however should benefit by the decreased cost difference.

Dana Walker of Olympia was reportedly led away in handcuffs after telling the judge, "As to the matter now before us I have no intention of making any more payments and I am requesting as long a jail sentence as the law allows for my refusal."

Researchers say they have located the world's oldest stash of marijuana, in a tomb in a remote part of China. The cache of cannabis is about 2,700 years old and was clearly ``cultivated for psychoactive purposes," rather than as fibre for clothing or as food, says a research paper in the Journal of Experimental Botany.

Libertarians are often marginalized, typically by the right, for wanting to legalize drugs. ”Whaddya wanna have HEROIN in vending machines!?!”, as some have ridiculously asked.
And while it’s true that Libertarians don’t support government action for dealing with a drug problem, it isn’t usually true that we think that people should use HARD drugs.

A proposed state law, advocated by Gov. John Kasich, would make it a fourth-degree felony to own a vehicle equipped with secret compartments.

Not content with driving cigarette sales out-of-state with high taxes, New York Michael Bloomberg has begun a "partnership" aimed at “reducing alcohol retail outlet density" and "reduc[ing] the exposure to alcohol products and bar advertising and promotion in retail." Hey, it worked in the 1920s, right?