Drug policy news covering legalization efforts, DEA enforcement, opioid crisis, marijuana laws, and substance regulation developments.
The NSW government will introduce a legal THC driving limit of 50 ng/mL for medicinal cannabis patients, exempting them from drug driving charges if below that threshold. Patients must register their prescription with Transport for NSW and complete a driver training course. Drivers testing positive on a roadside swab still face a 24-hour ban while lab results are processed.
This commentary argues that Canada's approval of generic semaglutide highlights how US drug patent laws delay access to affordable medications. It contends that while Canada and other countries benefit from lower prices, Americans face high costs due to extended monopolies, suggesting the US system prioritizes pharmaceutical profits over patient access.
The commentary argues that the Trump administration's strategy of merging the war on terrorism with the war on drugs is ineffective. It contends that military strikes and designating cartels as terrorist organizations have not reduced drug trafficking, and that the approach amounts to a futile long-term engagement.
The commentary argues that US efforts to reshore pharmaceutical production will not lower drug costs unless pricing reforms accompany them. It contends that high drug prices burden patients, businesses, and taxpayers, and that the current system undermines public trust in healthcare.
This commentary argues that the UK is facing a health scandal due to a surge in ultra-high-purity cocaine, which has driven record drug-related deaths. It contends that increased production in South America and diverse supply routes have created a buyer's market, and calls for urgent government action including drug checking programs and increased treatment funding.