• Ottawa vows strict regulation of recreational marijuana

    There will be no amnesty for current pot users, and the government promised to continue to support the crackdown on illegal dispensaries in cities
    The Globe and Mail (Canada)
    Thursday, June 30, 2016

    canada-marijuana-thumbThe federal government is moving toward a restrictive market for recreational marijuana, vowing to impose potency limits, controls on advertising, and strict rules over the production and sale of the drug. Ottawa has unveiled a nine-member panel to draw up Canada’s new marijuana framework, sending out the clearest signal to date that it is not bowing to the demands of members of the illegal pot industry that has boomed in recent months. (See also: Prohibit marijuana for Canadians under 25? How about a hit of reality | 7 in 10 Canadians support marijuana legalization)

  • Plans for UK's first drug injecting centre in Glasgow

    Current estimates suggest some 500 people are injecting drugs in public places in the city centre
    The Herald (UK)
    Thursday, June 30, 2016

    Plans are being drawn up for the UK's first drug injecting facility in Glasgow city centre to tackle rising HIV cases and risk to the public from discarded needles. The Glasgow City Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) is setting up a working group to explore the potential of piloting a facility and heroin-assisted treatment. Public health chiefs said Scotland was "decades behind" other European countries in tackling problem drug use. Research has shown that such facilities do not increase drug use, frequency of injecting or higher rates of local drug-related crime. (Herald View: a progressive Scotland should welcome heroin consumption rooms)

  • Cannabis-Streit schwelt weiter

    Die FDP bemüht sich nun um einen Kompromiss, der für die Christdemokraten tragbar ist
    Frankfurter Rundschau (Germany)
    Mittwoch, 29. Juni 2016

    Im Streit über die mögliche Freigabe von Cannabis sucht der hessische Landtag über die Sommerpause nach einer Einigung. Die CDU lehnt eine Legalisierung von Cannabis ab, da die Gefahren dadurch verharmlost würden. Die Grünen als Koalitionspartner fordern dagegen einen neuen Umgang mit der weichen Droge. Ihr Ziel: Konsumenten sollen nicht mehr bei illegalen Händlern kaufen müssen, wo sie womöglich verunreinigte und damit besonders gefährliche Ware erhalten. Auch die Opposition aus SPD, Linken und FDP zeigt sich überzeugt, dass eine neue Drogenpolitik notwendig ist.

  • Drug experts plan Australia's first ice smoking room despite Government opposition

    Former Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Palmer supports an "ice room", and said many police would privately share his view
    ABC News (Australia)
    Wednesday, June 29, 2016

    noffs-wodakDrug law reformers Matt Noffs and Dr Alex Wodak are pushing ahead with Australia's first supervised ice smoking room, in a move which directly contradicts the NSW Government's stance on such a centre. The centre in Sydney would provide clean pipes and smoking equipment and encourage contact with addiction health services, but not provide any substances to users. "My understanding is we don't face any legal obstacles to having an inhalation room. The obstacles are all politics and crisis management," said Wodak. (See also: Rooms with a view to giving ice addicts a future | Methamphetamine use among troubled teens doubles in five years)

  • Initiative to legalize recreational use of pot in California qualifies for November ballot

    The initiative would allow adults ages 21 and older to possess, transport and use up to an ounce of cannabis
    Los Angeles Times (US)
    Tuesday, June 28, 2016

    aumaAn initiative that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana in California officially took its place on the Nov. 8 ballot as its campaign took a commanding lead in fundraising to battle the measure’s opponents. The Secretary of State’s Office certified that a random sample showed sufficient signatures among the 600,000 turned in to qualify the California’s Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA). The initiative is backed by a coalition that includes former Facebook President Sean Parker and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom.

  • Iran under pressure to abolish death penalty for drug trafficking

    Several European countries cut off financial contributions to republic’s counter-narcotics campaign
    The Guardian (UK)
    Tuesday, June 28, 2016

    Iran is under pressure to end its use of death penalty against drug traffickers after facing a serious shortfall in the international funding of the country’s counter-narcotics campaign. An increasing number of European countries have decided to cut off contributions even though the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) last year approved a five-year country partnership programme for Iran that was aimed at providing about $20m (then £14.4m).

  • Danes want legal cannabis, but govt vows crackdown

    Health Minister Sophie Løhde said the government has no plans to follow the wishes of a majority of Danes
    The Local (Denmark)
    Monday, June 27, 2016

    Amidst a new debate on cannabis, spurred by a massive police action at Christiania, a majority of Danes are in favour of legalization. Berlingske newspaper published a Gallup poll showing that 45 percent think it should be legal to use cannabis, while 41 percent think it should continue to be forbidden. A full 88 percent supported legalizing cannabis for medical use and of those who support legalization, 72 percent said the state should control the sales. The government not only continues its strict prohibition approach but is also suggesting new measures to further the crackdown. (See also: Most Danes want to legalise weed)

  • Pot legalization added to Democratic Party platform

    The new plank goes to a full Committee and the Democratic Convention in July
    SFGate (US)
    Monday, June 27, 2016

    marijuana-palm-trees-usDemocratic Party leaders agreed to a new party plank calling for cannabis law reform in the U.S. The plank calls for states to be labs of democracy, with those decriminalizing pot shielded from federal prohibition, and also calls for more weed research, marijuana business law reform, and recognition that “our current marijuana laws have had an unacceptable disparate impact, with arrest rates for marijuana possession among African-Americans far outstripping arrest rates among whites despite similar usage rates.”

  • Marijuana use rises in Iran, with little interference

    Marijuana is mentioned only vaguely in the Islamic penal code, and the police pay it little heed
    The New York Times (US)
    Saturday, June 25, 2016

    iran-cannabisIran is notorious for its harsh code of conduct enforced by an extensive intelligence apparatus, and it has waged a long and painful war on heroin and opium trafficking, with security forces dying by the thousands over the past two decades in fights with Afghan cartels. But the same government that executes hundreds of drug dealers every year — and cracks down periodically on alcohol, which is also illegal — seems curiously oblivious to the growing popularity of marijuana. (See also: Could Iran be the next country to legalise cannabis and opium?)

  • The journey to decriminalization

    Why it is Important for Ghana
    All Africa
    Friday, June 24, 2016

    There is a significant academic debate about decriminalization of marijuana in Ghana, and this has received some degree of political and public support. Some have argued that decriminalization will open a floodgate for drug use in the country, while others do not agree and see it instead as the best way to reduce drug use in the country. In practice, repressive drug laws have neither succeeded in reducing drug consumption nor put traffickers out of their lucrative business. Instead, these laws have only driven and expanded the trade underground. Ghana’s current drug law also lacks proportionality in the sentencing of drug offenses.

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