• Why the future of marijuana farming could be craft weed

    Big Marijuana is not inevitable
    The Verge (US)
    Wednesday, November 21, 2018

    There are plenty of predictions about how cannabis farming is poised to go corporate, but Big Marijuana is not inevitable, says Ryan Stoa, a professor of law at Concordia University. That doesn’t mean it won’t happen. But Stoa, the author of Craft Weed: Family Farming and the Future of the Marijuana Industry, argues that in a world where cannabis is legal, there is a route for cannabis agriculture to stay sustainable and local. The Verge spoke to Stoa about what’s fending off a corporate takeover, potential legal regulations that could help the industry remain small, and the environmental impact of farming. (See also: Can artisanal weed compete with ‘Big Marijuana’?)

  • Amidst ganja reform, concerns about growers

    The Caribbean Community (Caricom) Marijuana Commission has called on the Government to decriminalise marijuana for all uses
    Jamaica Observer (Jamaica)
    Tuesday, November 20, 2018

    Spirit CottleThe St Vincent and the Grenadines Parliament is expected to approve laws establishing a medical marijuana industry in the country. The bills are expected to become law amidst concerns among three groups involved in the review of the draft legislation — growers, the Christian Council, and the parliamentary opposition — that foreign interest could benefit the most from a medicinal marijuana industry here. “As we, as growers, get into this part of the industry, I must tell you that the playing field is not a level one, because foreigners, the investors, have the money [and] the growers, they don't have lands,” said Junior “Spirit” Cottle, a long-standing advocate of reform of the island's marijuana laws. (See also: Debate of SVG’s marijuana bills postponed)

  • Greece eyes pot of gold as medicinal cannabis licensed

    Thousands of patients in Greece are thought to use cannabis for a range of serious medical conditions
    Reuters (UK)
    Monday, November 19, 2018

    Greece issued the first licences to private companies for growing medicinal cannabis in the country, part of an attempt to tap a burgeoning market worth billions. Greece legalised cannabis for medical use last year and in March lifted a ban on growing and producing it. Two licences were granted on Monday, and another 12 will be issued by the end of this year, the Economy and Development Ministry said. "There is huge interest, mainly from Canada and Israel ... some of them (potential investors) are huge," Stergios Pitsiorlas, the deputy economy minister, told a news conference. Legalising cannabis for recreational purposes is not under consideration, Pitsiorlas said in response to a question.

  • Head of Caricom Commission calls for change in cannabis laws

    There has also been an marked increase in public support for a change in legislation around the region
    Jamaica Observer (Jamaica)
    Monday, November 19, 2018

    rose marie belle antoineChairperson of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Commission on Marijuana, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, has called for a change in the region's cannabis laws, as the majority of Caribbean governments continue to urge caution on the way forward. Belle Antoine said following the Commission's two-and-a-half-year public consultation she had now taken a firm position on the matter. "After reviewing all of the evidence, looking at all of the laws, listening to people in the region, I am personally committed and quite clear in my mind that the law needs to change,” she said, adding that this change could be through legalisation or decriminalisation. “I personally feel it should be legalisation,” she said, noting the health and economic benefits.

  • Here's what's behind Mexico's radical move toward legalizing marijuana during its war on drugs

    The new law would allow individuals to grow up to 20 marijuana plants and produce up to 17 ounces of the drug each year
    Los Angeles Times (US)
    Sunday, November 18, 2018

    Mexico may legalize marijuana, a radical shift for a country whose prohibition on narcotics has been at the heart of its long and violent war against drug traffickers. Legislation submitted to Congress by the party of President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador would regulate cannabis, allowing it to be grown, sold and consumed for recreational use. Proponents of legalization say it would reduce bloodshed in Mexico by weakening drug cartels and freeing up police officers and prosecutors to focus on more serious crimes. But the proposal has critics, including the Catholic Church, which holds significant sway in Mexican politics. A poll in Mexico last year showed a majority of respondents opposed legalizing marijuana. (See also: Drug law reform comes to Mexico)

  • Legalising cannabis cultivation — the dilemma remains

    Despite efforts to contain the illegal trade, some hash from the exotic valleys of Kullu-Manali finds its way into the international market
    The Tribune (India)
    Saturday, November 17, 2018

    india cannabis himachalFaced with a surge to remove medicinal marijuana from the list of banned drugs and permit cannabis cultivation has the Himachal Government in a catch-22 situation. Some of the world’s finest hash strains are grown in the state and the government is pushing back hard to contain the illegal trade. Spearheading the demand for a policy to permit cannabis cultivation is Maheshwar Singh, the scion of Kullu royal family. “Views about medicinal uses of marijuana are changing globally,” he says, adding: “It’s about time India, too, revisits the law.” Kullu MLA Sunder Singh Thakur went public on with the matter recently: “A policy change about legal cannabis cultivation for therapeutic purposes will boost tourism and turn the state into a wellness hub.” (See also: Govt goes back on cannabis cultivation decision)

  • Studie zu legalem Cannabis: Fiskus könnte 2,4 Milliarden Euro einnehmen

    Was würde eine Freigabe für deutsche Staatskassen bedeuten? Eine Studie des Hanfverbands verspricht ein Milliardenplus
    Der Spiegel (Germany)
    Friday, November 16, 2018

    2,39 Milliarden Euro - jährlich. So viel könnte der Fiskus durch die Legalisierung von Cannabis pro Jahr einnehmen und einsparen, unterm Strich. Zu diesem Ergebnis kommt eine Studie für den Deutschen Hanfverband (DHV), der gerne die Politik von den Vorteilen einer Legalisierung überzeugen möchte. Deshalb hat der Verband ein Autorenteam um Justus Haucap gebeten, die Folgen fürs Staatssäckel zu berechnen. Haucap ist Professor an der Universität Düsseldorf und war früher Vorsitzender der Monopolkommission. Knapp 2,39 Milliarden Euro - wie entsteht diese Summe? Sie setzt sich zusammen aus Steuereinnahmen und Kosteneinsparungen. (Mehr dazu: Nüchterne Bilanz: Cannabis-Verbot kostet jährlich 2,66 Milliarden Euro)

  • Des associations étrillent le projet d’amende pour usage de stupéfiants

    La mesure, promesse de campagne d’Emmanuel Macron, prévoit une sanction de 200 euros pour les consommateurs de drogues
    Le Monde (France)
    Mercredi, 14 novembre 2018

    Réforme « inutile et injuste », « combat d’arrière-garde », « échec annoncé »… Les représentants de huit organisations ont étrillé le projet de création d’une amende forfaitaire pour usage de stupéfiant, dont le cannabis. La mesure figure dans le projet de réforme de la justice qui doit être examiné à l’Assemblée nationale. Elle prévoit la possibilité pour les policiers et gendarmes d’infliger directement une amende de 200 euros à des consommateurs de drogue, sans toucher à la loi de 1970 qui fait de l’usage de stupéfiant un délit pénal, passible d’un an de prison et de 3 750 euros d’amende. Son objectif est de décharger forces de l’ordre et magistrats d’une procédure chronophage alors que près de 140 000 personnes ont été interpellées en 2016 pour usage de stupéfiant. (Voir aussi: Drogues: rencontre avec ces policiers qui réclament la dépénalisation)

  • Pot approved for research, medical use

    The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has to determine areas where marijuana can be used or possessed, as well as areas where it can be grown
    The Bangkok Post (Thailand)
    Wednesday, November 14, 2018

    The cabinet approved a draft amendment to the 1979 Narcotics Act to legalise cannabis for medical and research purposes in Thailand. However, all use of the drug will be kept under strict control. Government. Government spokesman Buddhipongse Punnakanta said the amended version of the act will "level up" marijuana to a Category 2 drug from its current Category 5 status. Mr Buddhipongse said this means the draft amendment to the law will allow the use, import and export, as well as possession of marijuana exclusively for medical purposes. (See also: Cabinet gives green signal for medical use of marijuana but seeks 5-year review)

  • Police drugs lead 'impressed' by cannabis clubs

    There are about 140 cannabis clubs in the UK - but it is thought only about 25 or so are active
    BBC News (UK)
    Tuesday, November 13, 2018

    uk cannabis clubHardyal Dhindsa, who is the lead on substance abuse for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, has said the war on drugs is not working. He said it was time to look at other ways of tackling drug addiction and use. Mr Dhindsa, who is also the police and crime commissioner (PCC) for Derbyshire, had previously met three people involved in cannabis clubs to discuss how they worked. He praised the clubs' self-regulation. "What impressed me was that they are offering support, it is regulated, they have got a membership," he said. "They are not allowing people to make profit out of this and allowing for personal use, which many people do in this country irrespective of what the law is."

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