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Vermont becomes first state to legalize marijuana through legislature
In the US, nine states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational use of marijuana
CNN (US)
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Vermont, the "Green Mountain State," has become the first state to legalize marijuana by passing a law in the legislature rather than by use of a ballot measure. Gov. Phil Scott signed H. 511 into law "with mixed emotions", allowing for the possession of recreational marijuana. Long one of the most liberal states in the country, Vermont legalized the use of medical marijuana in 2004 and recently decriminalized possession of a small amount. This is Vermont's second attempt at passing a marijuana bill in the past year. State lawmakers last spring passed a bill legalizing marijuana for recreational use. (See also: Vermont governor signs marijuana legalization bill | Vermont's legal recreational marijuana law: What you should know) -
Canada’s weed stocks are out of control
“There is so much hype and overvalue that a lot of investors who get into this now will get taken and robbed”
Vice (Canada)
Monday, January 22, 2018
Stocks in Canada’s biggest cannabis companies skyrocketed the past year – with the three largest rising more than 200 percent each. Analysts are warning the high times won’t last as the nascent legal weed sector seems to be heading towards a bubble. The combined market capitalization — the value of a company’s stocks multiplied by the number of shares‚ of Canada’s three largest weed firms, Canopy Growth Corp., Aurora Cannabis and Aphira Inc., topped $14.5 billion at the end of 2017. But the combined revenue of the three largest firms was less than $110 million in that same period, as analysts said that rapidly rising stock price are unsustainable given the companies’ sales and future prospects. (See also: Cannabis growers in marijuana mega-merger) -
Youngsters try to weed out taboo
We need awareness programmes to educate people about how marijuana is different from the other banned drugs
Times of India (India)
Monday, January 22, 2018
Should marijuana be legalised? Medical experts may be divided in their opinion on the subject, but many youngsters are citing examples from abroad to demand legalisation of the drug in India. They supported their argument with the fact that more than half the states in the US and nearly a dozen countries, like Portugal and Argentina, allow the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. "If the government can allow sale of tobacco and alcohol, why has it banned marijuana? Unlike the former two, marijuana has known properties to heal and even prevent diseases," said Utsav Thapliyal, member of Greater Legalisation Movement India, a non-profit organisation educating about the benefits of cannabis. (See also: GLM starts web series to debate on cannabis legalisation) -
Cannabis. Le maire de Grenoble appelle à sortir des « vieilles recettes »
« Il faut une solution moderne qui répondent aux enjeux de sécurité et de santé publique »
Ouest-France (France)
Lundi, 22 janvier 2018
Éric Piolle, maire (EELV) de Grenoble et partisan de la légalisation du cannabis, a appelé le président Macron et son gouvernement à abandonner les « vieilles recettes » du « tout sécuritaire ». L'écologiste, à la tête d'une ville moyenne en proie à des trafics de drogue comparables à ceux de Paris, Lyon ou Marseille, a qualifié de « demi-mesure » la proposition d'un rapport parlementaire de sanctionner les usagers de cannabis par une amende délictuelle ou une contravention. La loi prévoit actuellement jusqu'à 3 750 euros et un an de prison. « Cette mesure ne cherche pas à lutter contre les trafics. Or les trafics gangrènent nos villes, pourrissent la sécurité et la vie des habitants, avec un pendant de santé publique important », a dit M. Piolle. -
France looks to soften laws against cannabis use
A new government report recommends introducing fixed fines to tackle the problem
France 24 (France)
Monday, January 22, 2018
In France, the most recent figures available show that 17 million people have tried cannabis, 1.4 million people use it regularly - 700 000 on a daily basis - and consumption is on the rise. Yet laws against smoking pot are harsher than anywhere else in Europe: under current legislation, users can face up to a year in prison and a fine of 3,750 euros. A new parliamentary report to be released on Wednesday recommends introducing a fixed fine of 150 to 200 euros instead. It concludes that current legislation is not working. Few of the 140,000 people arrested every year in France for smoking a joint are fined, and even less are given a prison sentence. (See also: France to consider decriminalising all drug use, following government-commissioned report) -
Les paradis fiscaux financent les firmes de pot canadiennes
Près de la moitié des producteurs autorisés bénéficient de 165 M$ provenant d’États au taux d’imposition très bas
Journal de Montréal (Canada)
Lundi, 22 janvier 2018
De riches investisseurs anonymes des paradis fiscaux ont misé au moins 165 millions $ dans des producteurs de pot autorisés au Canada, a découvert notre Bureau d’enquête. Îles Caïmans, Bahamas, Belize, Dominique, Aruba, Curaçao, Malte, Barbade, Île de Man, Îles Vierges britanniques, Îles Marshall, Îles Seychelles, Panama, Luxembourg; il ne semble pas y avoir d’endroits trop peu peuplés ou trop lointains pour résister à l’attrait du pot canadien. En tout, 35 des 86 producteurs autorisés par Santé Canada, soit 40% d’entre eux, ont bénéficié d’un financement offshore au cours des deux dernières années, selon les documents financiers consultés. -
Why marijuana retailers can’t use banks
Banks cannot handle dope money lest they fall foul of federal rules about money laundering
The Economist (UK)
Monday, January 22, 2018
Nearly two-thirds of America’s states have legalised pot sales for certain uses, but the federal government still classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, on a par with heroin. Banks that handle marijuana money can be charged with money laundering. California's state treasury estimates that sales in 2018 will reach $7bn. But it will not collect its fair share, because pot taxes, it turns out, must be paid in cash. This makes tax collection “a nightmare”. Pot businesses are stuck working with cash, which causes problems for more than just tax collection. For starters, cash operations are inefficient. To pay its staff of 200 in cash, CannaCraft, a Californian maker of marijuana products, requires four employees who would otherwise be unneeded. -
The facts about ganja in Jamaica
Each household is allowed to legally grow no more than five ganja plants on its premises
Jamaica Observer (Jamaica)
Sunday, January 21, 2018
When the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act 2015 came into effect on April 15, 2015, new provisions were put in place regarding the possession and smoking of ganja, use of ganja by persons of the Rastafarian faith, and use of ganja for medical, therapeutic and scientific purposes. Possession of two ounces or less of ganja is no longer an offence for which one can be arrested, charged and tried in court, and it will not result in a criminal record. The police may issue a ticket to a person in possession of two ounces or less of ganja, similar to a traffic ticket, and the person would have 30 days to pay the sum of $500 (US$4) at any tax office. (See also: Call for Caricom to give ganja green light) -
Caricom: The people say 'legalise it'
Caricom's Marijuana Commission was established in 2014
Jamaica Observer (Jamaica)
Sunday, January 21, 2018
Across the Caribbean the strongest view expressed about cannabis is that it ought to be decriminalised or legalised, says head of Caricom's Regional Commission on Marijuana, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine. Speaking to reporters after a town meeting in New Providence, in The Bahamas, Antoine said, “[It was an] excellent meeting, very well attended, and my distinct impression is that this is a very important issue for The Bahamas. “… One of the interesting things, too, is what I said in the beginning: that marijuana isn't just about marijuana — it's about so many other social issues, like poverty and equality in a society, and that came out as well, so I was very pleased. But [it was] a very, very powerful meeting, I think.” (See also: Call for Caricom to give ganja green light) -
Thailand eyes moves to allow medical marijuana plantations
A study should be conducted on the potential benefits, both medical and also in terms of revenue, and drawbacks of changing the laws governing the cultivation of marijuana
The Bangkok Post (Thailand)
Sunday, January 21, 2018
Is Thailand now ready to legalise marijuana plantations for medical use? In recent days both legislators and state officials have been in the news after coming out to voice their support for cannabis cultivation for limited use within the medical realm. Deputy Agriculture Minister Wiwat Salayakamthorn said he agreed with the idea of legalising the cultivation of the narcotic plant purely for medical research and medicinal use. The council's move came after a regulation on the cultivation of hemp, or Kanchong, in designated areas for medical research purposes was published in the Royal Gazette on Jan 6. (See also: Thailand's legendary marijuana)
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