State & Local Legislatures

New state medical marijuana bills are starting to roll out as the legislative season gets underway, progress comes in Arizona, and San Diego's mayor steps up for medical marijuana.

The New Jersey legislature has taken a step toward passing a bill that would expand access to the anti-overdose drug naloxone. The bill now heads for a Senate floor vote, but awaits action in the House.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has reiterated his call for marijuana reforms, telling the legislature it needs to pass a bill that decriminalizes public as well as private possession of small amounts of marijuana.

Montana caregivers continue to get sentenced in federal court, an Arizona lawmaker wants a redo on medical marijuana, an Illinois bill is delayed, and the back and forth continues in California.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott's drug testing crusade has just cost state taxpayers $190,000 after a federal judge ordered the state to pay attorneys' fees in an employee drug testing lawsuit bought by state employee unions. His other drug testing schemes aren't faring well, either.

It's been fairly quiet over the holidays, but medical marijuana is legal in Massachusetts now!

In some ways, 2012 has been a year of dramatic, exciting change in drug policy, as the edifice of global drug prohibition appears to crumble before our eyes. In other ways it's still business as usual in the drug war. Here, we look at the biggest drug policy stories of the year.

Dispensary wars continue in California, a package of restrictive bills passes in Michigan, and DC's long-awaited dispensaries are a step closer to opening.

Lots of action -- good, bad, and ugly -- in California this week, plus a Washington appeals court ruling that appears to clear the way for dispensaries.

Yes, it's true: Medical marijuana dispensaries really are coming in Arizona and New Jersey, and clinics to Massachusetts. Meanwhile, Harborside wins in state court, and Mendocino County ponders a federal subpoena. There's more news, too.