Drug Policy News & Analysis

In this paper, WOLA Senior Associate John Walsh responds to questions regarding the implementation of new laws to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana— and the key challenges in creating regulatory regimes even as the federal ban remains in place. The paper forms part of a joint WOLA/Brookings series.

In this paper, Youngers identifies where drug policy reform is advancing in Latin America--and where obstacles remain.

Last November, two states, Colorado and Washington, voted to legalize and regulate marijuana—a direct challenge to federal policy under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Other states may follow suit. Can confrontation be avoided, or at least minimized? If not, what are the implications?

In this paper, Brookings Institution Guest Scholar Jonathan Rauch explores the implications of marijuana legalization in Washington and Oregon. The paper forms part of a joint WOLA/Brookings series.

Drug crimes are punished disproportionately higher than much more violent crimes, a new study from our colleagues at DeJusticia shows.

On February 10, Bolivia officially rejoined the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs with a reservation allowing for the traditional use of the coca leaf. This long overdue move is a significant step toward correcting a historic wrong.

On January 8, WOLA partnered with the Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution to host an expert panel discussion on the implications of recent ballot initiatives in Washington and Colorado legalizing marijuana. The forum forms part of WOLA’s ongoing efforts to promote reasoned, fact-based dialogue on drug policy.

Bolivia has rejoined the leading international drug convention with an explicit exception allowing for the traditional use of the coca leaf. This marks a major step in bringing the UN drug conventions in line with cultural and political realities.

Drawing from on-the-ground research and years of experience, WOLA Senior Fellow Coletta Youngers and Kathryn Ledebur of the Andean Information Network analyze Bolivian efforts to combat drug trafficking while still respecting and protecting traditional uses of the coca leaf.