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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

Zambia legalizes the production and export of cannabis for economic and medicinal purposes, but recreational use of the drug remains illegal.
2019-12-16

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

Ten people are killed by the Philippine National Police within a week after Rodrigo Duterte took office as president and made statements encouraging the murder of illegal drug addicts.
2016-07-3

The same day the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announces it is easing restrictions on medical research involving cannabidiol (CBD), a key component in marijuana, NYU Langone Medical Center researchers report a clinical trial suggests a pill containing CBD may reduce seizures for children and young adults with epilepsy.
2015-12-24

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, referendums
2015-11-3

Multiple law-enforcement agencies seize a hoard of cannabis thought to be worth up to US$1.7 billion in the Sierra Nevada in southern California, United States.
2010-07-30

Police find 48 kilograms of illegal cannabis in Launceston and charge two men, after a week-long operation in one of the largest seizures of the drug in Tasmanian history.
2010-07-14

Australian police bust a $A18 million cannabis crop. The cannabis crop has been found growing on leased land in a national park in northern New South Wales.
2010-01-16