• Huge majority thinks 'war on drugs' has failed, new poll finds

    Observer survey shows an increasing number of Britons want illegal drugs decriminalised
    The Observer (UK)
    Sunday, October 5, 2014

    An increasing proportion of Britons favours a more liberal approach to drugs and would support decriminalisation strategies, according to a comprehensive survey commissioned by the Observer. An overwhelming majority believes that the so-called "war on drugs" is futile, with 84% saying that the decades-long campaign by law enforcement agencies against the global narcotics trade can never be won. The proportion of Britons who believe certain drugs should be decriminalised has risen from 27% to 39% since 2008. (See also: Britain divided: how we really feel about drugs)

  • Cabinet approves changes to ganja law

    The Gleaner (Jamaica)
    Wednesday, October 1st, 2014

    JamaicaJusticeMinAccepting that aspects of the Dangerous Drugs Act prohibit Jamaica from enjoying the economic benefits of medical marijuana and industrial hemp, the Government has made a number of changes to the act. Justice Minister Mark Golding announced that among the amendments to the act that Cabinet has approved are provisions for permits to cultivate, possess, import, export, transport, manufacture, sell, and distribute ganja for medical and scientific purposes under licence.

  • Law to be amended to facilitate medical ganja industry

    Jamaica Observer (Jamaica)
    Tuesday, September 30, 2014

    Mark-Golding_JamaicaThe Government of Jamaica has drafted legislation to amend the Dangerous Drugs Act as it moves to establish medical ganja and industrial hemp industries, where the cultivation and other activities involved in the production and supply of the plants will be legal under a controlled regime. Minister of Justice Senator Mark Golding emphasized that the objective is to lay the foundations for the establishment of regulatory regimes to govern the cultivation and use of ganja for medical and scientific purposes, as well as non-medical industrial hemp.

  • Cannabis – a conflict of generations

    “Cannabis Bündnis Luxembourg”
    Luxemburger Wort (Luxembourg)
    Friday, September 26, 2014

    The legalisation of cannabis in Luxembourg is turning into a conflict of generations, as the youth branches of several parties opposed to such a move, have joined forces to promote decriminalisation. The Young Greens, the Young Democrats, as well as the youth branches of the Pirate Party, the Left Party and the Communist Party have formed the "Cannabis Bündnis Luxembourg". The aim is to introduce legal over-the-counter sales of cannabis for users aged 18 or over, in regulated quantities and with a fixed THC rate. (Justice Minister: "We need to rethink our drugs policy")

  • Cannabis-Klubs als Lösung?

    Gastkommentar zur Drogenpolitik
    Neue Zürcher Zeitung (Switzerland)
    Donnerstag, 25 September 2014

    Derzeit werden im Kanton Genf konkrete Projekte für Cannabis-Klubs erörtert. Es stellt sich die Frage, wie solche Konzepte unter dem geltenden Betäubungsmittel gesetz (BetmG) realisiert werden können. Heute gibt es in der Schweiz einen mehr oder weniger breiten politischen Konsens, dass die Verfolgung nicht zu viele Ressourcen kosten darf, die anderweitig sinnvoller eingesetzt werden könnten. Das Parlament hat darum das Bussensystem beim Cannabis-Konsum eingeführt: eine halbherzige Lösung, die nicht wirklich befriedigt und wiederum zu einer ungleichen Verfolgung in den Kantonen führen kann.

  • Drug policy reform getting closer in Chile

    Asuntos del Sur (Chile)
    Wednesday, September 24, 2014

    SkunkCannabisLatin American countries continue to demonstrate courage and vision regarding drug policy. The latest improvements are taking place at the National House of Representatives, where two bills (See the two bills here: 9471-11 & 9496) are being debated at the Health and Public Security committees... These bills aim to legalize the growth of cannabis when its intended to be used for medicinal purposes together with the depenalization of its use, not only for medicinal purposes but also for recreational ones.

  • Major pot legalization group turns sights on California for 2016

    In 2010, legalization advocates took their first attempt at legalization in California
    The Seattle Times (US)
    Wednesday, September 24, 2014

    states_legalizing_marijuana_nextMarijuana legalization proponents are turning their attention to California and gearing up for a legalization campaign in 2016. The Marijuana Policy Project is creating a new committee in the state and hopes to put a measure on the 2016 ballot. This November, both Alaska and Oregon have marijuana legalization measures on their respective ballots. An early poll showed legalization was leading in Oregon. An August poll showed legalization was trailing in Alaska. (See also: Which states are working to legalize marijuana next?)

  • State-licensed marijuana market expected to bring in about $636 million in taxes

    Associated Press (US)
    Friday, September 19, 2014

    licensed-marijuana-stores-waThe Washington state’s legal recreational marijuana market is expected to bring in about $636 million in taxes to state coffers through the middle of 2019, according to an economic forecast. The forecast by the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council showed that just over $25 million from a variety of marijuana-related taxes — including excise, sales, and business taxes — is expected to be collected through the middle of next year.

  • A crucial election season for legalizing marijuana and ending the drug war

    The Huffington Post (US)
    Thursday, September 18, 2014

    Florida_Medical_marijuanaIt may be an off-year election, but it's a big one for drug policy reform... voters across the country will have a chance to accelerate the unprecedented momentum to legalize marijuana and end the wider drug war. In fact, there are more drug policy reform questions on the ballot this November than ever in American history. Here is an overview, starting with the highest-profile measures.

  • Tony Abbott backs legalisation of medical cannabis

    The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
    Wednesday, September 17, 2014

    medical-usePrime Minister Tony Abbott has thrown his support behind the legalisation of cannabis for medical purposes. Mr Abbott went even further than NSW Premier Mike Baird – who has approved a clinical trial of the use of medical cannabis – by saying that no further testing should be needed on the drug if it is legal in similar jurisdictions. "I have no problem with the medical use of cannabis, just as I have no problem with the medical use of opiates," Abbott wrote in a letter. (Australian National Council on Drugs takes a deep breath on cannabis)

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