• Philippine president-elect promises 'a medal' to anyone who shoots a drug dealer

    Rodrigo Duterte advised members of the public to 'do it yourself, if you have the gun'
    The Independent (UK)
    Monday, June 6, 2016

    rodrigo_duterteRodrigo Duterte, the new and controversial leader of the Philippines, has called for vigilante justice to deal with the country’s rampant drug trade. In a nationally televised address, Mr Duterte invited any member of the public who encounters a drug dealer to “call us, the police, or do it yourself if you have the gun – you have my support.” If the suspect resists, he went on, “You can kill him. Shoot him and I’ll give you a medal.” (See also: The Death Penalty for Drug Offences: Global Overview 2015)

  • Long-term marijuana use is not associated with a raft of physical health problems, says study

    Researchers in the US say that marijuana use has no negative effect on health, aside from a link with gum disease
    The Independent (UK)
    Monday, June 6, 2016

    smoking_potLong-term marijuana use is not associated with a raft of physical health problems, according to a new study. Researchers tracked the marijuana habits of 1,037 New Zealanders from birth to middle age to see what effect those habits have on physical health, including lung function, systemic inflammation, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, body weight, blood sugar and dental health. After controlling for other factors known to affect health, especially tobacco use and socioeconomic status, marijuana use had no negative effect on any measure of health, except for dental health. (See also: Study questions role for marijuana in teen users’ IQ decline)

  • Court tears up cannabis cafe conviction; says supplies essential to do business

    Judges are questioning the policy of licencing coffee shops but refusing to legalise the supply side
    Dutch News (Netherlands)
    Friday, June 3, 2016

    Appeal court judges in The Hague have torn up a community service sentence handed down to a cannabis cafe owner, saying officials should have been aware he had marijuana stored in a nearby building. The appeal court judges said the men were right to assume that officials not only turned a blind eye to the coffee shop but to the fact they needed a supply of the drug in order to do business. The ruling is the latest in a string of rulings in which judges have questioned the current policy of licencing coffee shops but refusing to legalise the supply side.

  • Decriminalise dagga, says Central Drug Authority in 'bold step'

    We're saying let's move away from a 'war on drugs' thinking
    Cape Talk (South Africa)
    Thursday, June 2, 2016

    south-africa-law-crimeThe Central Drug Authority has taken a definitive position on the use of dagga, and has called for it to be decriminalised. CDA Head researcher Professor Dan Stein says their opinion is based on evidence studied over time in different countries. Stein explains that the CDA's stance falls between commercialisation and staunch criminalisation. Meanwhile, pro-dagga activist Myrtle Clarke has welcomed the announcement, and what she calls a rational statement and "bold step". (See also: Comment on the Central Drug Authority’s position statement on cannabis | Dopeheads get high on dagga policy shift)

  • New hire is a signal Ottawa is taking a strict line on recreational marijuana

    Ms. McLellan has a lot of experience dealing with marijuana issues in Ottawa
    The Globe & Mail (Canada)
    Thursday, June 2, 2016

    canada-cannabis-ottawaThe Liberal government is sending further signals it plans a strict regime for recreational marijuana by hiring former public safety minister Anne McLellan to develop plans to legalize the drug. Sources confirmed that Ms. McLellan will head a federal-provincial task force that will report to Bill Blair, the Liberal MP and parliamentary secretary for justice who is in charge of the file. Mr. Blair, a former Toronto police chief, has denounced the growing number of unregulated pot dispensaries across the country of which 45 were raided by police last month.

  • Israel mulls decriminalizing cannabis

    In March, a similar legislation was rejected by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation
    The Times of Israel (Israel)
    Wednesday, June 1, 2016

    israel-cannabisThe Justice Ministry is exploring the possibility of Israel decriminalizing the use of soft drugs such as cannabis, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said. Under the potential guidelines, those caught using soft drugs would have to pay a fine, but it would no longer be considered a criminal act. The rationale behind the potential policy, Shaked said, is that the use of soft drugs is too widespread to be considered criminal, but by issuing fines, it remains as an act that is not permitted by the government. (See also: Marijuana decriminalization would penalize users under 21 | Israel must leave marijuana smokers alone)

  • Legal cannabis cultivation would cut violent crime: report

    Municipalities are advocating for regulated cannabis cultivation
    NL Times (Netherlands)
    Monday, May 30, 2016

    Legalizing cannabis cultivation and trade could reduce violent crime related to illegal cultivation and could therefore protect human rights, according to a study on behalf of Dutch municipalities. Human rights outweigh the UN drug conventions prohibiting cannabis cultivation and trade. A justified argument can be made that regulating cannabis cultivation could be a "positive obligation to protect human rights". Human rights that can be protected include the right to health, the right to life and the right against inhuman treatment. A government can decide to regulate cannabis based on these rights, as long as other countries do not suffer from it. (See also: 'Legal cannabis cultivation would boost human rights' – study)

  • Jamaica targets billions in taxes from weed

    Ganja $$$... Know before you grow!
    The Gleaner (Jamaica)
    Sunday, May 29, 2016

    The Government is targeting annual revenue of US$2 billion from the ganja industry when regulations to govern the sector are finally in place. Minister of Science, Energy and Technology Dr Andrew Wheatley told The Sunday Gleaner of the revenue target, indicating that plans are on in earnest to establish the legal ganja industry, with regulations to govern the trade having been sent to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel by the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA).

  • Weed sellers worry - Ganja vendors not sure how to interpret new rules

    People who are trading must have the particular licences
    The Gleaner (Jamaica)
    Sunday, May 29, 2016

    For years, one of the most open secrets was that the section of the Coronation Market ‘Grass Yard’ was the place to get ‘high-grade’ ganja in whatever quantity one desired. For the sellers, it seemed that an unspoken deal had been entered into with the police, who would hardly venture into the area despite persons walking around with large quantities. But this changed recently as the cops raided the area, seizing more than 140 pounds of ganja. Superintendent Howard Chambers said the operation was part of efforts to regulate the use and sale of ganja in downtown Kingston, where persons openly flout the law.

  • A deadly crisis: mapping the spread of America's drug overdose epidemic

    Overdoses kill more Americans than car crashes or guns – and experts say the crisis hasn’t yet peaked
    The Guardian (UK)
    Wednesday, May 25, 2016

    us-ovedose-2014America is in the midst of an unprecedented drug overdose epidemic. Nationally, overdose deaths have more than doubled over the past decade and a half, driven largely by opioids – initially prescription painkillers, but increasingly heroin. Today, more Americans die from drug overdoses than car crashes or gun fatalities. In all, drug overdoses killed 47,000 people in the US in 2014. That’s 130 deaths per day, on average. The majority of those deaths – 29,000, or 80 per day – involved an opioid. (See also: Americans are increasingly addicted to opioids. People in poor countries die in agony without them)

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