Sources: CNN
A United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report says the worldwide recreational use and production of cocaine hit an all-time high in 2023, saying the current surge in cocaine use is primarily due to increased illicit coca bush cultivation in Colombia and updated yield data. 2025-06-26
Slovenian voters approve the use of cannabis for medicinal and recreational use in adults. 2024-06-9
The Australian Capital Territory decriminalizes the possession of illicit drugs in small quantities, including cocaine, amphetamines and heroin beginning in October 2023. Those caught with illicit drugs for personal use will be fined or referred to drug rehabilitation programs. 2022-10-20
U.S. President Joe Biden announces that he will pardon anyone who was convicted on prior federal charges, or who was convicted in the District of Columbia, for marijuana possession. 2022-10-6
The Supreme Court of Mexico decriminalizes the recreational use of cannabis for adults. 2021-06-28
Following a campaign led by Georgian politician Zurab Japaridze, the Constitutional Court of Georgia legalizes cannabis for recreational use. Georgia is the first former Soviet Republic to fully legalize the drug, with it also being decriminalized in Russia, Ukraine and Estonia. 2018-07-30
The Mexican Supreme Court, in a 4–1 decision, rules that people have the right to grow and distribute marijuana for their personal use. The decision challenges the country’s current substance abuse laws. "Fox News Latino" and "The New York Times" point out the ruling only covers the plaintiffs in one case, a group that wants to form a "Pot Club." A precedent will be established if the court approves five similar petitions. 2015-11-4
In Kentucky, Republican Matt Bevin defeats Democrat Jack Conway and independent Drew Curtis with 52 percent of the vote to succeed term-limited Democrat Steve Beshear. [http:--www.foxnews.com-politics-2015-11-03-republican-matt-bevin-elected-governor-kentucky-2nd-republican-governor-in-4- (Fox News)] [http:--bigstory.ap.org-article-41cc5dfd7f7d4e7ea0cb7f3a3dc9cd18-republican-matt-bevin-elected-governor-kentucky-0 (AP)] In Mississippi, incumbent Republican Phil Bryant easily wins re-election over Democratic, truck driver Robert Gray. according to the "Associated Press". [http:--www.huffingtonpost.com-entry-phil-bryant-wins-reelection-mississippi_5637e18be4b027f9b969c3bf (AP via Huffington Post)]State, cityFormer five-term Bridgeport mayor Joe Ganim wins election to a sixth term as mayor of Connecticut's largest city, topping the six other candidates in the poll. Ganim is, in American parlance, an "ex-con;" i.e., a convicted felon. In 2003, he was convicted by a federal jury on 16 felony counts for racketeering, bribery, conspiracy, mail fraud, and tax evasion in an operation that also led to convictions of 10 of his associates. Ganim served seven years in federal prison; he was released from a Hartford halfway house in 2010. [http:--www.courant.com-community-bridgeport-hc-bridgeport-ct-joe-ganim-mary-jane-foster-1104-20151103-story.html (Hartford Courant)] [http:--newyork.cbslocal.com-2015-11-03-bridgeport-mayor-race-election-day- (AP via CBSLocal.com)]Newcomer, businesswoman, and clinical psychologist Karen Weaver tops incumbent Dayne Walling in the non-partisan, Flint, Michigan, Mayor's election. Flint, which is dealing with lead in drinking water, has been under State financial management for close to four full years, and is in the final stage where control will be returned to city officials. [http:--bigstory.ap.org-article-9e4d7ad8d8884799a69fb07c815672a9-voters-oust-flint-mayor-amid-citys-water-problems (AP)] [http:--www.detroitnews.com-story-news-local-michigan-2015-11-03-flint-mayor-water-problems-75126158- (Detroit News)] [http:--www.mlive.com-news-flint-index.ssf-2015-09-flint_mayoral_challenger_calls.html (MLive Media)]Ballot initiatives, referendums In Ohio, a ballot initiative that would have established a legal oligopoly for the sale of recreational and medicinal marijuana is resoundingly defeated by voters, according to AP. [http:--www.latimes.com-nation-la-na-ohio-marijuana-results-20151103-story.html ("Los Angeles Times")]In Texas, the Equal Rights Ordinance that would have established nondiscrimination protections for gay and transgender people in Houston fails to win approval from voters. [https:--www.washingtonpost.com-national-religion-latest-voters-reject-houston-lgbt-nondiscrimination-measure-2015-11-03-b62bcdfe-82a1-11e5-8bd2-680fff868306_story.html (AP via Washington Post)] [https:--www.texastribune.org-2015-11-03-houston-anti-discrimination-ordinance-early-voting- (Texas Tribune)]Voters in Denver's suburban Jefferson County recall, by 64 to 36 percent, three conservative school board members who worked to weaken the local teachers union while boosting funding for charter schools and pushing through other market-driven policy changes. In Fall 2014, the conservative-led majority drew national attention when they wanted the AP U.S. history course to focus on citizenship and patriotism, while condemning civil disobedience and strike actions. [https:--www.washingtonpost.com-local-education-conservative-school-board-members-ousted-in-bitter-colorado-battle-2015-11-04-a0b640ca-82a2-11e5-8ba6-cec48b74b2a7_story.html (Washington Post)] [http:--www.huffingtonpost.com-entry-jefferson-county-recall_5637869be4b063179912fb82 (AP via Huffington Post)] Ballot initiatives, referendums2015-11-3
Osvaldo Rivera is the suspect jailed in Camden County, New Jersey for the stabbing to death of a 6-year-old boy and the attempted murder of the boy's 12-year-old sister. Authorities say he was high on PCP-laced marijuana. 2012-09-4
Hungarian-born multibillionaire George Soros donates $1 million to the Drug Policy Alliance to fund California's Proposition 19 in the upcoming November 2, 2010 elections that would legalize marijuana in the state if passed. 2010-10-26