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War on Drugs

Chronicling changes to US drug policy, from marijuana legalization efforts to the fight against the opioid crisis.

Politics
Is the US about to attack Venezuela?Is the US about to attack Venezuela?
Politics

Airstrikes, bounties, a military build-up: This could be about drugs — or it could be the start of regime change.

By Joshua Keating
The Logoff
Trump’s “war” with drug cartels, briefly explainedTrump’s “war” with drug cartels, briefly explained
The Logoff

Why Trump is claiming drug cartels are attacking the US.

By Cameron Peters
World Politics
What happens when Trump combines the war on drugs with the war on terrorWhat happens when Trump combines the war on drugs with the war on terror
World Politics

What will come next in the Trump administration’s war on “narcoterrorism”?

By Joshua Keating
Good News
How the US turned the tide on drug overdose deathsHow the US turned the tide on drug overdose deaths
Good News

The record drop in drug overdose deaths, briefly explained.

By Bryan Walsh
Politics
Are China, Canada, and Mexico really to blame for fentanyl?Are China, Canada, and Mexico really to blame for fentanyl?
Politics

How America’s opioid crisis became a foreign policy issue.

By Joshua Keating
Today, Explained podcast
Why Trump pardoned the creator of “the Amazon of drugs”Why Trump pardoned the creator of “the Amazon of drugs”
Podcast
Today, Explained podcast

Journalist and author Nick Bilton explains the rise and fall of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road marketplace.

By Amanda Lewellyn and Peter Balonon-Rosen
Health
Drug overdose deaths have declined. No one knows why.Drug overdose deaths have declined. No one knows why.
Health

Here are three possible explanations.

By Haleema Shah
The Highlight
How marijuana legalization played itselfHow marijuana legalization played itself
The Highlight

Pricey, legal weed is great news — for the black market.

By Lavanya Ramanathan
The Highlight
Weed is now America’s daily drug of choice. No one’s sure what that means.Weed is now America’s daily drug of choice. No one’s sure what that means.
The Highlight

Land of the free, home of the blazed.

By Marin Cogan
Welcome to the Drug Issue of The Highlight
The Highlight
By Vox Staff
Future Perfect
MDMA therapy didn’t get FDA approval. Now what?MDMA therapy didn’t get FDA approval. Now what?
Future Perfect

The end of psychedelic prohibition will have to wait a little while longer.

By Oshan Jarow
Future Perfect
How should we sell psychedelics?How should we sell psychedelics?
Future Perfect

A new report outlines policy options for who gets to sell psychedelics, and who gets to buy them.

By Oshan Jarow
World Politics
Why Latin American leaders are obsessed with mega prisonsWhy Latin American leaders are obsessed with mega prisons
World Politics

El Salvador has touted its tough-on-crime policies (and kept quiet on human rights issues). Now everyone wants to try.

By Ellen Ioanes
Politics
Marijuana could be classified as a lower-risk drug. Here’s what that means.Marijuana could be classified as a lower-risk drug. Here’s what that means.
Politics

A potential policy change could have big benefits for marijuana businesses.

By Li Zhou
Future Perfect
Psychedelics are about to become a casualty of Oregon’s opioid crisisPsychedelics are about to become a casualty of Oregon’s opioid crisis
Future Perfect

Four years ago, the state decriminalized all drugs. Now it’s trying to course-correct — and might make a mistake in the process.

By Oshan Jarow
World Politics
Cocaine, cartels, and corruption: The crisis in Ecuador, explainedCocaine, cartels, and corruption: The crisis in Ecuador, explained
World Politics

Ecuador was known for peace, but it has become one of the most violent countries in South America.

By CD Goette-Luciak
Future Perfect
Psychedelics can have enormous benefits, but the risks shouldn’t be ignoredPsychedelics can have enormous benefits, but the risks shouldn’t be ignored
Future Perfect

As access grows, we need better research and education on bad trips.

By Oshan Jarow
Future Perfect
What a striking new study of death in America missesWhat a striking new study of death in America misses
Future Perfect

The big divide on premature death isn’t between college grads and non-grads. It’s between high school dropouts and everyone else.

By Dylan Matthews
Is weed safe in pregnancy?
Podcast
Science

Harsh state policies imply it’s not — but what do the studies say?

By Keren Landman, MD
The psychedelic renaissance is at risk of missing the bigger picture
Future Perfect

What we lose when psychedelics are medicalized.

By Oshan Jarow
Podcasts
Mexico’s top cop is on trial along with the war on drugsMexico’s top cop is on trial along with the war on drugs
Podcast
Podcasts

Did El Chapo have a double agent in the Mexican government?

By Haleema Shah
Future Perfect
22 things we think will happen in 202222 things we think will happen in 2022
Future Perfect

Forecasting what’s shaping up to be another bumpy year.

By Dylan Matthews, Kelsey Piper and 1 more
Explainers
A better way to legalize marijuanaA better way to legalize marijuana
Explainers

States are generally following the same model for marijuana legalization. They don’t have to.

By German Lopez
Explainers
The opioid epidemic isn’t unsolvableThe opioid epidemic isn’t unsolvable
Explainers

There are real, evidence-based solutions to the drug overdose crisis.

By German Lopez
The Gray Area
Why we love drugsWhy we love drugs
Podcast
The Gray Area

Michael Pollan on America’s broken — but improving — relationship with drugs.

By Sean Illing
Explainers
The Olympics are stuck in the 1980s on marijuanaThe Olympics are stuck in the 1980s on marijuana
Explainers

Sha’Carri Richardson’s suspension over marijuana is a callback to an era Americans are moving away from.

By German Lopez
Politics
Marijuana legalization has wonMarijuana legalization has won
Politics

Marijuana legalization is sweeping states from Connecticut to New Mexico. The writing is on the wall.

By German Lopez
Politics
Biden’s blunt opposition to marijuana legalizationBiden’s blunt opposition to marijuana legalization
Politics

As his own party moves ahead on the issue, the president remains opposed to legalization.

By German Lopez
Politics
New Mexico just legalized marijuanaNew Mexico just legalized marijuana
Politics

It’s the 17th state to legalize marijuana.

By German Lopez
Politics
Virginia just legalized marijuanaVirginia just legalized marijuana
Politics

It’s now the first state in the South to legalize cannabis.

By German Lopez
Politics
New York just legalized marijuanaNew York just legalized marijuana
Politics

New York is the 15th state to legalize marijuana.

By German Lopez
Politics
A Columbia professor argues against our drug puritanismA Columbia professor argues against our drug puritanism
Politics

Exploring the promise — and blind spots — of Carl Hart’s “Drug Use for Grown-Ups.”

By Sean Illing
Explainers
Going back to the pre-Covid “normal” isn’t enoughGoing back to the pre-Covid “normal” isn’t enough
Explainers

American policymakers should look beyond defeating the coronavirus.

By German Lopez
Study: Smoking bans saved countless lives — could they have increased drunk driving?
Politics

New research finds potential unintended consequences from “one of the greatest public health successes of the past 25 years.”

By Jerusalem Demsas
Politics
The House of Representatives voted to legalize marijuanaThe House of Representatives voted to legalize marijuana
Politics

It’s the first time either body of Congress has backed marijuana legalization.

By German Lopez
Future Perfect
America’s war on drugs has failed. Oregon is showing a way out.America’s war on drugs has failed. Oregon is showing a way out.
Future Perfect

Oregon’s voters have forced significant reforms to end the war on drugs.

By German Lopez
2020 Presidential Election
Election Day was a major rejection of the war on drugsElection Day was a major rejection of the war on drugs
2020 Presidential Election

In every state where marijuana legalization or another drug policy reform was on the ballot, it won.

By German Lopez
Politics
Voters approve legal marijuana in South DakotaVoters approve legal marijuana in South Dakota
Politics

South Dakota voters just said yes to legalizing marijuana for recreational and medical purposes.

By German Lopez
Politics
Montana just voted to legalize marijuanaMontana just voted to legalize marijuana
Politics

Montana voters just approved two marijuana legalization measures.

By German Lopez
Politics
Oregon just voted to decriminalize all drugsOregon just voted to decriminalize all drugs
Politics

Oregon voters have taken a big step toward ending the war on drugs.

By German Lopez