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How three drug users took on the might of the Russian state
Substitution therapy for addicts is banned in Russia
The Guardian (UK)
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
The Russian government has a notoriously punitive attitude towards drugs. Substitution treatments are banned and the only option for recovering addicts is to go cold turkey. But three drug users who have struggled for years with their addiction and have become life-threateningly ill as a result, claim that this policy is an abuse of their human rights, and are taking the Russian state to court. (See also: Russia scorns methadone for heroin addiction) -
Cannabis industry expected to be worth $50 billion by 2026
Legal market will gain new consumers, former illicit users
Bloomberg (US)
Monday, September 12, 2016
The legal cannabis industry in the U.S. may grow to $50 billion in the next decade, expanding to more than eight times its current size, as lawful pot purveyors gain new customers and win over users from the illicit market, according to a new report. Legalizing recreational use in California, where the drug is already medically permitted, is on the ballot in November, and approval of that measure alone would triple the size of the nation’s current $6 billion legal industry, according to a report from 10 Cowen & Co. analysts. Legal weed would be a major opportunity for Big Tobacco, Cowen said. -
In Israel, booming medical marijuana looks to conquer new highs
Israeli scientists are plowing ahead with new clinical trials in order to approve cannabis use for a wider variety of diseases
The Times of Israel (Israel)
Monday, September 12, 2016
Israel is a well-known as a pioneer in medical cannabis. This summer, the government approved a plan initiated by Health Minister Yaakov Litzman to relax some of the medical cannabis requirements. The plan will expand the number of doctors who can issue prescriptions, remove limits on the number of growers, make cannabis available at approved pharmacies, and possibly eliminate the requirement for a permit from the Health Ministry so that just a doctor’s prescription will be sufficient. There are approximately 23,000 patients who have medical marijuana prescriptions in Israel, up from 10,000 in 2012. (See also: Israel to begin exporting marijuana soon) -
Cannabis trade moving into other Copenhagen neighbourhoods
Just days after the demolition of Pusher Street, dealers are moving into Nørrebro and Christianshavn
The Copenhagen Post (Denmark)
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Since residents of the freetown Christiania took matters into their own hands and ripped down the cannabis stands on Pusher Street, it appears that dealers are plying their trade in other parts of Copenhagen, like nearby Christianshavn and Nørrebro. "The market has moved into the area around Christiania," Tommy Laursen from social action group SSP Copenhagen said. Nørrebro residents have also observed that marijuana sales in their neighbourhood have increased. (See also: Will Christiania become a mass surveillance zone? | Police cameras in Pusher Street promptly torn down) -
Lausanne dit oui à l'expérience du joint légal
Lors du Conseil communal, les élus lausannois ont donné leur feu vert à la Ville
Tribune de Génève (Suisse)
Mardi, 6 septembre 2016
Sans surprise, les élus lausannois ont donné leur feu vert à la Ville. Celle-ci pourra rejoindre le groupe formé par les grandes villes de Suisse qui souhaitent tester la consommation légale cannabis au travers de différents projets. Une fois finalisés, ils devront encore trouver grâce aux yeux de la législation fédérale. Le débat a opposé gauche et droite, à l'avantage de la première, favorable au test. Le constat général est l'échec de la répression. (Lire aussi: Comment «couper l’herbe sous le pied des dealers) -
“Buy your hash somewhere else”
Christiania has closed its cannabis market and hopes to keep out the criminal gangs that profit from the billion-kroner trade
The Murmur (Denmark)
Sunday, September 4, 2016
Christiania has transformed from an alternative ‘hippie’ commune to a hub for hardened criminals. The Pusher Street was covered with military netting and the dealers sold cannabis while wearing masks and carrying weapons. But they have now been banished from the street; residents started tearing down the pusher booths, following a shooting outside Christiania. In a press release, they expressed their sympathies for the families of the injured policemen, but said they were not powerful enough to prevent the criminal community from returning. “Christiania cannot take responsibility for housing all of Denmark’s hash trade,” they wrote. “We can remove but we cannot be sure that they won’t return. If you want to support Christiania, don’t buy your hash there.” -
Ketamine should be kept off worldwide illegal drugs list, doctors say
Ketamine is used as the sole available safe anaesthetic in many parts of the world
The Telegraph (UK)
Saturday, September 3, 2016
The powerful tranquiliser ketamine should be kept off a worldwide illegal drugs list despite it being abused by clubbers, doctors are arguing. They say it should always be treated as a medicine and not be placed under United Nations illicit drug restrictions. The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists is calling for global support for its initiative to protect ketamine's status as an essential medicine for anaesthesia and pain relief. China and other countries which have a problem with ketamine abuse want the drug included on the UN schedule for controlled drugs. -
An unprecedented number of states will vote on marijuana this fall
As campaigning shifts into high gear in the fall, here's a rundown of where marijuana will be on the ballot in November
Washington Post (US)
Friday, September 2, 2016
More states than ever will consider easing restrictions on marijuana use this November: Voters in five states will decide whether to fully legalize recreational use, while voters in four more will weigh in on whether to allow medical marijuana. The outcome of these initiatives could set the tone for the national marijuana legalization discussion going forward. Big state victories for the pro-marijuana contingent -- recreational weed in California, medical marijuana in Florida -- could widen the gap between state and federal marijuana policies, ratcheting up pressure on Congress and the next presidential administration to provide a fix. -
Christiania residents shut down Pusher Street
Many point to a massive police raid in 2004 as a turning point for Christiania
The Local (Denmark)
Friday, September 2, 2016
After a meeting that stretched across several hours, residents of the largely self-governing commune of Christiania said they would try to shut down the enclave’s infamous open-air cannabis market, Pusher Street. The decision comes after two police officers and a civilian were shot in a drug bust gone awry. The suspected gunman was later shot by police while being arrested and died from his wounds. (See also: Christiania standing tall as residents tear down Pusher Street | Cannabis booths torn down in Danish free town Christiania) -
Safe injection clinic says 90% of clients' heroin had dangerous drug additive
The Guardian (UK)
Friday, September 2, 2016
North America’s only supervised injection site has found that 90% of its clients’ heroin contained the powerful synthetic fentanyl. Vancouver’s Insite, which offers health services including supervised injection, said that of the 173 drug checks it did for fentanyl in a month, 90% tested positive for the potent synthetic drug. Fentanyl, which is about 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin, has caught the attention of medical and law enforcement authorities across North America as it becomes connected to more and more deadly overdoses in the opioid epidemic.
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