John OtisJune 17, 2013 09:37

BOGOTA — Scopolamine is known to many as medicine for motion sickness or tremors. In Colombia, it's a scary drug called "devil’s breath." Colombian criminals use it to put victims in zombie-like states: they lose their memory and free will and can be convinced to empty their bank accounts or hand over the keys to their apartments and cars.

The world's largest crack market is in the world's largest Catholic country (VIDEO)

Douglas EngleMay 20, 2013 06:01

RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil is now the world’s largest crack market, with over a million users, according to studies. It’s so bad, the health minister called it an “epidemic” and the federal government announced a $2 billion program to combat it last December. Yet Evangelical church groups are making some headway in cleaning up the city's "crakolandias."

Katrine DermodyFebruary 28, 2013 10:13

Outrage of the Day: #InConservativePakistan

If the goal of the World Wide Weed project was to spark a discussion about the state of marijuana around the world, then our mission has been in a success — but perhaps not in the way that we anticipated.

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A nationwide legalization of marijuana would keep some minor offenders out of jail and give the US government a huge source of revenue. (David McNew/Getty Images)

If the goal of GlobalPost's World Wide Weed series was to start a discussion on the state of marijuana around the world, then we consider the mission accomplished.

Erin Conway-SmithSeptember 13, 2012 10:29

Robert Mugabe makes Jamaica angry by calling Jamaican men potheads and drunks

Jamaicans are upset by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's comments that Jamaican men smoke marijuana freely and "are always drunk."

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Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe speaks during a rally marking his 88th birthday in Mutare on February 25, 2012 with a trademark attack on gays and foreigners at a rally of his supporters. (Jekesai Njikizana /AFP/Getty Images)

Mugabe's comments received widespread media coverage in Jamaica, where they were criticized by Jamaican politicians and musicians.

Cocaine production in Colombia 'down by 25 percent' in past year

News DeskJuly 30, 2012 13:44

According to the US survey, Colombia now ranks third in production of pure cocaine.

Faine GreenwoodJuly 9, 2012 09:43

Singapore to relax mandatory death penalty for drug offenders

Mentally disabled or cooperative drug couriers may receive life sentences instead of death penalty under new rules

Singapore execution death drugs 7 9 2011

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A view of the Marina Bay Sands (L) and financial district highrises (R) in Singapore on June 14, 2012. (Roslan Rahman/AFP/Getty Images)

Singapore's infamously harsh sentencing for drug couriers may be coming to an end, the Associated Press reported today. In a Monday announcement, deputy prime minister Teo Chee Hean said the government will now give judges the ability to consider life sentencing for couriers who are mentally disabled, as well as those who cooperate when caught.

Speed and ecstasy drug use linked to teen depression

Alexander BesantApril 23, 2012 16:04

Researchers say they have found a link between teenage depression and the use of recreational drugs such ecstasy and speed.

Erin Conway-SmithApril 12, 2012 11:56

'Drug mules' caught transporting marijuana by donkey from Lesotho to South Africa

Police discovered a donkey train laden with bags of marijuana traveling from Lesotho to South Africa.

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Drug mules?: South African police have arrested eight men accused of transporting marijuana by donkey from Lesotho, through the Drakensberg mountains and into South Africa. (GEORGES GOBET/AFP/Getty Images)

South African police say they have uncovered a 'drug mule' syndicate operating high in the Drakensberg mountains, along the border with Lesotho.

Swimsuit model accused of running drug ring captured in Australia

Alexander BesantMarch 19, 2012 18:22

Former swimsuit model, Simone Farrow, was arrested last week after being accused of running a global drug ring and fleeing after a $150 thousand bail.

Canada uneasy about OxyContin phase-out

Bilbo PoynterMarch 6, 2012 07:30

HAMILTON — As many as eight out of 10 people are addicted in Ontario's Cat Lake First Nation.