• Duterte ready to answer UN queries on drug killings

    Two UN experts earlier urged the Philippine government to put an end to the wave of extrajudicial executions
    The Inquirer (Philippines)
    Monday, August 22, 2016

    President Duterte dared United Nations (UN) experts to come to the Philippines and face him in a public meeting where he would answer all their questions on drug-related extrajudicial killings. Two UN human rights experts urged the Philippine government to stop the unlawful killings of people suspected of drug-related crimes, as the number of suspects killed during police operations climbed to over 850 between May 10 and August 11, this year, 650 of them killed in the last six weeks alone. (See also: Duterte threatens to pull Philippines out of UN | Philippine senators investigate hundreds of drugs killings)

  • Ex-top undercover drugs cop forfeits anonymity to fight against the War on Drugs

    'I only caused harm'
    Huffington Post (UK)
    Saturday, August 20, 2016

    A police surveillance photo of Neil Woods while undercover in Derby, around 1996Neil Woods insists nothing good came of his 14 years as one of the UK’s most successful undercover cops, fighting the war on drugs. His painstaking, months-long investigations put people guilty of sickening violence in prison for a combined total of more than a 1,000 years, so, surely, there must be something he is proud of? "No. No. I did not good at all, absolutely no good at all," he says with disdain. "I did nothing of any benefit whatsoever, I only caused harm." Woods' new memoir Good Cop, Bad War argues that the way we fight the drugs war is worse than fruitless, it escalates the violence it is meant to prevent.

  • California voters will most likely legalize recreational marijuana this November

    The latest polls show that more than 60% of likely voters favor legalization
    Los Angeles Times (US)
    Friday, August 19, 2016

    California's Proposition 64 would legalize marijuana for adult recreational use. No disrespect to Colorado or Washington or Alaska, but California’s pot business would totally dwarf those already legal markets. Colorado, for instance, collected more than $135 million in pot-related revenues last year. California could collect up to $1 billion annually within a few years of legalization. And if California votes to legalize, other states will follow. (See also: Despite liberal pot laws, California has seen nearly a half-million weed arrests | Why marijuana legalization campaigns could fail in 2016)

  • Legalise soft drugs like marijuana, opium to wean away addicts: Punjab MP

    The NDPS act has failed and the only solution to the problem is for the government to start regulated supply of soft drugs to addicts
    The Hindustan Times (India)
    Wednesday, August 17, 2016

    dharamvira-ghandiSuspended Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP from Patiala Dr Dharamvira Gandhi wants the Centre to legalise the use of drugs like opium and marijuana to discourage the use of stronger, synthetic narcotics and end drug mafia in Punjab which is currently in the grip of what is perceived to be a widespread drug abuse problem. “Punjab is in severe crisis. Many young people have died,” Gandhi said. He believes the problem started with the Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985 which prescribes harsh punishment for possession and distribution of all categories of drugs.

  • These are the States that might legalize pot next

    The November elections are shaping up to be a big test for marijuana
    Mother Jones (US)
    Wednesday, August 17, 2016

    us-cannabisThis November, voters in five states will decide whether to authorize recreational use: Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada. Another four states, Arkansas, Florida, Montana, and North Dakota, will vote on legalizing medical marijuana. Michigan, Missouri, and Oklahoma may also vote on medical marijuana. With the presidential election likely to boost voter turnout and polls showing as many as 54 percent of Americans in favor of legalization, pot supporters are feeling confident. (It's Official: These 5 States Will Vote on Marijuana Legalization in November)

  • It is time for a new CARICOM policy on marijuana

    It is time for a regional policy that accepts limited possession and a regional medical marijuana industry
    The Nassau Guardian (Bahamas)
    August 17, 2016

    In April 2016 the UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs ended without any significant change to the the UN Drug Control Conventions, despite strong representations for reform from Latin American and Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries seeking a less prohibitionist global regime. Jamaica’s minister of foreign affairs, Kamina Johnson-Smith, argued against a one size fits all approach, observing that all countries should be allowed the flexibility to craft appropriate laws and policies while continuing to undertake their international obligations. “We contend that the classification of cannabis under the Single Convention is an anomaly and that the medical value of a substance must be determined by science and evidence-based analysis, above other considerations,” Johnson-Smith said.

  • Duterte may face international court for drug deaths, senator says

    The “Kill List” showed that a total of 601 drug suspects were killed since Duterte was installed last June
    Asian Correspondent
    Monday, August 15, 2016

    rodrigo-duterte2Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte could face charges for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the spate of killings that followed his declared war on drugs, Senator Leila de Lima said. According to the Inquirer, De Lima told a media interview that her claim was not meant to threaten the president but was based on fact. Hundreds have been killed since the Duterte administration took over, and this can trigger greater international concern. Should charges be brought against Duterte at the ICC, the president would not be protected by immunity.

  • Dutch lead the west in online drugs sales: report

    Websites based in the Netherlands specialize in ecstasy-related drugs, while cannabis accounts for just 9% of online sales
    Dutch News (Netherlands)
    Monday, August 15, 2016

    ecstasy4The online sale of illegal drugs is higher per head of the Dutch population than in any other major western country, according to a new report commissioned by the justice ministry. An analysis by independent research group Rand looked at 50 encrypted webshops to estimate the size of the online markets. The online market is still relatively small, the researchers say. Dark web sites in the Netherlands account for $13m a year. By contrast Dutch cannabis cafes, where small amounts of marijuana are sold under licence, are estimated to sell drugs worth €1bn a year. (See also: UK is biggest online drug dealing country in Europe)

  • Wide support for decriminalisation of cannabis for personal use, poll suggests

    The results of the new poll come just months before the Government embarks on a review of the offence and penalty regime for personal possession
    New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
    Monday, August 15, 2016

    A new poll by the New Zealand Drug Foundation shows almost 65 per cent of New Zealanders want personal possession of cannabis decriminalised or made legal. There is even stronger support to let people use cannabis for pain relief. Prime Minister John Key, however, says decriminalising cannabis would send the wrong message - and he isn't keen on holding a referendum on the issue. Ross Bell, the foundation's executive director, said the results should embolden politicians. "Support for reform is now a majority position. In past polling we have seen it has been in the minority or evenly split. Now it has tipped over." (See also: Path to drug reform not an easy one)

  • Législatives : Le PAM ressort la carte de la grâce des cultivateurs de kif

    La formation s’est d’abord attaquée au volet législatif en présentant en 2014 une proposition de loi demandant la grâce des petits agriculteurs
    Yabiladi (Maroc)
    Lundi, 15 août 2016

    morocco-parliament-cannabisComme lors de la campagne électorale du scrutin du 4 septembre 2015, le PAM rejoue la carte de la culture du kif dans les régions concernées. Le Tracteur promet une grâce générale au profit de 40 000 personnes condamnées pour une telle activité, si la formation remportait le scrutin du 7 octobre. Faire miroiter la grâce générale ne constitue pas une nouveauté. Cela fait déjà quatre ans que le parti joue à fond cette carte. Le Tracteur multiplie en effet les actions réclamant la légalisation du cannabis et la levée des mandats d’arrêts contre les cultivateurs de kif en fuite.

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