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Legalising recreational ganja still off the table in SVG
Possession of small quantities will not become a ticketable offence, as some persons had suggested
iWitness News (St Vincent)
July 26, 2018
The Ralph Gonsalves government will amend the laws of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to decriminalise marijuana use for medicinal and religious purposes. However, recreational users of the plant will have to depend on “police tolerance”, if they are caught with smaller quantities. Gonsalves restated the position of his government during an interview, notwithstanding the suggestion of the CARICOM Marijuana Commission that the plant be legalised. Commenting on the commission’s report, which was presented to CARICOM leaders at their summit in Jamaica earlier this year, Gonsalves said that the report “is an exhaustive one” on which commissioner did a lot of work, for which he commended them. (See also: Most Vincentians oppose legalising ganja — PM) -
Luxembourg debates legalising cannabis for recreational use
Petition prompts parliamentary discussion after garnering almost 7,500 signatures
Luxembourg Times (Luxembourg)
July 26, 2018
Luxembourg politicians contemplated legalising cannabis, after a public petition garnered enough signatures to prompt a parliamentary debate. The petition, which called for the drug to be legalised for recreational use and distributed through coffee shops in Luxembourg, had garnered almost 7,500 signatures – surpassing the 4,500 threshold that triggers a debate in the Chamber of Deputies. "We have been on the wrong track for more than 40 years on cannabis – the repressive approach is a failure," said Joé Schmit, author of the petition, during the debate, according to a parliamentary release. -
Weeks: we need to talk about cannabis
A Green Paper looking at drug use in Bermuda and the public’s views is in draft form
The Royal Gazette (Bermuda)
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
More changes to the law on cannabis could be in the works, the Minister of Social Development and Sport in Bermuda has signalled. Michael Weeks said that more discussions on the island’s attitude to the drug would take place — with further liberalisation of the law not ruled out. Mr Weeks said: “Legalisation is something that’s going to have to be talked about and may have to be sooner rather than later. There’s an almost worldwide trend. Right now, here, it’s medical use, but some countries have legalised for recreational purposes.” Two licences have been issued to local doctors to prescribe the drug for medical reasons. Parliament approved the decriminalisation of 7g or less of cannabis last December. -
National cannabis bill would not allow any smoking
All loose-leaf and edible cannabis products would remain illegal but pills and liquids would be allowed
Stuff (New Zealand)
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
National's medicinal cannabis bill would allow doctors to prescribe anyone medicinal cannabis – but not to smoke. It goes further than the Government bill in setting up a regulatory regime but is more harsh on the method of consumption that most people envision – smoking. It would make medicinal cannabis products a pharmacist-only medicine which could be prescribed by doctors, who would authorise a photo ID medicinal cannabis card. This would contrast with the Government bill, which provides a legal defence for cannabis possession and consumption for those with terminal conditions, but does not provide a legal path to selling or obtaining it. (See also: National’s medicinal cannabis bill is far better than Labour’s) -
For US pot companies, Canada is the land of opportunity
While more states approve legal marijuana, the federal government - and especially U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions - remain opposed, creating uncertainty for banks and investors
Associated Press (US)
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Green Thumb Industries had a business plan, expertise and plenty of ambition to grow its marijuana business. What the Chicago-based company didn't have was access to enough capital to make it all happen. So last month, the company with $20 million in revenue from pot shops in seven states turned its gaze north and went public in Canada, where marijuana soon will be broadly legalized nationwide. The Canadian Securities Exchange is quickly becoming the go-to place for U.S. cannabis companies orphaned by their own stock exchanges because the U.S. government still considers marijuana an illegal drug. Green Thumb took over a publicly traded Canadian company, added an "Inc." to its name and went public. -
Medical cannabis users could still be criminalised in UK despite government accepting its benefits
Current UK law, and recent recommendations err on the side of caution
The Conversation (UK)
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Cannabis is high on the agenda at the moment. Not only have California and Canada passed new laws to legalise marijuana, but in the UK, two recent high profile medical cases have forced the issue of medical cannabis right up to government level. The outcry over Billy Caldwell and Alfie Dingley – two epileptic boys who rely on cannabis oil to control their seizures – has led the UK government to accept that cannabis extracts may have medical benefits. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has since recommended that some forms of cannabis should be allowed for medical uses. But the devil, as always, is in the detail, and in practice, people who use cannabis therapeutically will still be treated as criminals. -
New poll shows big jump in support for cannabis reform, especially for medicinal use
Two thirds of New Zealand voters support changing the country’s outdated cannabis law, with outright legalisation being the most popular option
New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Public support for cannabis law reform has soared in the past year especially for medicinal use of cannabis, a poll commissioned by the New Zealand Drug Foundation has found. Support for personal possession and growing has increased too but there is no great appetite to commercialise cannabis by selling it from stores. Advocates of cannabis reform say the results show the laws are now out of touch with public opinion. The poll should give MPs heart as they consider a bill before the health committee to allow medicinal cannabis for pain relief in terminal conditions. The Government is planning a referendum on personal use before or at the next election. (See also: Explore New Zealanders' attitudes to cannabis | Drug Foundation head 'Current cannabis laws don't work') -
Public consultations on decriminalising marijuana
The Caribbean Collective For Justice (CCFJ) says there were 3,000 males arrested last year for possession of cannabis
Newsday (Trinidad & Tobago)
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Government and the Caribbean Collective For Justice (CCFJ) have agreed there should be public consultations about the decriminalising of marijuana. As a result of this, a note will be taken to Cabinet to propose the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee that will organise town hall meetings to discuss the issue. This was disclosed by CCFJ leader Nazma Muller after a near two-hour long meeting between Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Fitzgerald Hinds and CCFJ representatives at the ministry in Port of Spain. (See also: PM gets marijuana petition) -
Duterte vows more bloodshed in Philippine ‘drug war’
In State of the Nation address, President attacks rights defenders
Human Rights Watch (US)
Monday, July 23, 2018
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to continue his murderous “war on drugs,” saying “it will be as relentless and chilling as on the day it began.” Speaking before members of the Senate and House of Representatives for his third State of the Nation Address, Duterte also accused the country’s human rights advocates of failing to criticize “drug-lordism, drug dealing and drug pushing.” Since Duterte’s first day as president on June 30, 2016, up to June 30, 2018, more than 4,500 people have been killed in what the Philippine National Police (PNP) calls lawful anti-drug operations, alleging that the suspects fought back during raids. Thousands more have been killed by unidentified assailants throughout the country. -
Most in US think cannabis has health benefits, despite lack of data – study
Survey respondents believe drug can alleviate various ailments, even as scientists call out for more research
The Guardian (UK)
Monday, July 23, 2018
Americans believe marijuana is helpful in treating a variety of health problems despite a lack of available evidence. A survey published in the Annals of Internal Medicine shows that most respondents believe smoking marijuana can help with pain management and MS. Just under half believe it can relieve insomnia, anxiety and depression, ailments for which marijuana’s efficacy and safety have not been established by scientists. A study in the Lancet found marijuana does not reduce chronic pain or help replace opioids. A different study published in the journal Addiction found an association between states which have legalized medical marijuana and a reduction in prescriptions for schedule III opioids. (See also: Study finds cannabis may not be effective at treating chronic pain)
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