Almost two years after passing legislation to legalize the growth and sale of marijuana, Uruguay’s government says the country is almost ready to begin commercialization. The process has been slowed by political and regulatory challenges, but may yet serve as a model for other Latin American countries seeking drug policy reform.

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who chaired California’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy, endorsed a just-filed weed legalization measure called the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, which, as The Chronicle reported Sunday, will be funded by billionaire tech industry investor Sean Parker and other wealthy cannabis supporters.

UN employees apparently like to live right on the edge.

The United Nations—that revered body founded to encourage cooperation among all nations—has employee issues just like any other large organization. But perhaps due to the UN's worldwide reach, their problems are nothing like your usual HR issues; UN employees keep it very real and according to the UN's own report, crazy as hell. Almost 400 lbs. of weed, child porn downloading, chainsaw-wielding crazy.

I received the following message from the Florida medical marijuana campaign:

Our opponents have decided NOT to contest United for Care’s 2016 petition at the Florida Supreme Court.  As you may recall, United for Care won approval of the 2014 petition despite strong opposition by Attorney General Bondi’s office, as well as the Florida Medical Association, Chamber of Commerce, Florida Sheriffs Association and others.

NONE of these groups filed opposition this time!

While this could mean a speedier approval by the Supreme Court, it is at least a tacit acknowledgment by Attorney General Bondi that this petition is likely to satisfy the Court.

Is it time to toke in Ohio?

This Election Day, residents of the Buckeye State will be voting on two conflicting ballot initiatives relating to marijuana.

One — Issue 3 — would legalize marijuana, but only as a monopoly by certain investors. The other — Issue 2 — would illegalize such monopolies.

It’s not clear what will happen if they both pass.

"I only wanted to help people who needed their medicine," compassion club owner Mark Hauk said Monday. (Devin Heroux/CBC News)

The Saskatchewan Compassion Club has reopened its doors after being raided by Saskatoon police last week — but you won't find any marijuana inside. 

Police took the unlicensed dispensary's stock when they arrested owner Mark Hauk and three others on Thursday. All of them are facing drug-related charges including trafficking and possession. Saskatoon Police say the charges relate to selling marijuana to recreational users and people with marijuana prescriptions. Because the facility is not licensed with Health Canada, any sale of drugs is considered illegal.

Marijuana law reform efforts have had their share of ups and downs over the decades as so many concerned citizens have put their blood, sweat, tears, time and money to help end failed Drug War policies across the nation. After winning some important decriminalization victories in the 1970s to suffering through the “Just Say No” Reagan years, advocates starting winning important victories in the early 1990s as local medical marijuana measures starting winning in progressive California communities. A monumental turning point was the 1996 victory of Proposition 215 in California.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Hollie Sanford's decision to use a marijuana-based tea to lessen her labor pains had a devastating result she didn't expect.
A Juvenile Court magistrate ordered the healthy baby girl whisked away from Sanford more than two weeks ago, contrary to the advice of county workers who said it would be harmful to take the newborn from her parents
A court hearing where the baby was ordered to be taken was scheduled with less than 24 hours notice, Sanford said.
It blindsided her and her husband who had cooperated fully with a county worker who visited their Cleveland home after she and the baby tested positive for a bi-product of marijuana after the birth at Fairview Hospital on Sept. 26.

On Friday, Alejandro Acosta, Jr, 26, Aaron Quintero, 23, Jesus Israelas Carrion Corrales, 51, Gonzalo Ruiz Quezara, 28, Victor Sandoval, 41, and Jose Burgueno Sanchez, 39, entered pleas of no contest to illegally importing 2800 pounds of marijuana into the United States on June 12.

All six men were immediately sentenced and received prison sentences of 2 years.

These charges stem from a multi-agency response to a Panga boat landing near Mill Creek in Big Sur in the early morning of June 12.

The United States Coast Guard first tracked the boat at sea by radar and started a ground response when the boat entered United States waters just after midnight and began a high speed run toward the Big Sur Coast.

The extraordinary move is aimed at reducing the stigma around addiction and bringing about a "radical cultural shift" in the treatment of addicts

Ireland could decriminalise the possession of cocaine and cannabis for personal use while offering heroin users supervised injection rooms. 

Irish drugs minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said the radical move is aimed at reducing the stigma around addiction and bringing about a "radical cultural shift" in the treatment of addicts.

The first supervised injection rooms are set to be introduced in Dublin next year, before being rolled out in other parts of the country.