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Sessions reassures senators: No pot crackdown imminent
Worries about a shift in federal enforcement in states that have legalized recreational use may be overblown
Politico (US)
Thursday, March 2, 2017
The Trump administration is causing serious paranoia among marijuana advocates with its hints of a federal crackdown on recreational use. But Attorney General Jeff Sessions has privately reassured some Republican senators that he won't deviate from an Obama-era policy of allowing states to implement their own marijuana laws. But a large group of bipartisan senators aren't taking any chances. They sent a letter urging Sessions to uphold the Obama-era policy. A Justice Department spokesman said senators should mellow out. "The department’s current policy is reflected in the 2013 Cole Memo," the DOJ spokesman said, referring to the Obama policy. -
Don't smoke it with tobacco: scientists suggest ways to make cannabis safer
As more countries relax their laws and with drug potency rising, it is crucial to take steps to reduce harm from cannabis use, researchers say
The Guardian (UK)
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Scientists are calling for a major effort to make cannabis use less harmful as a rising number of countries look to replace long-standing and outright bans on the drug with more relaxed legislation. Researchers at King’s College London and UCL said it was now crucial for health officials to consider measures to reduce the harm from cannabis use. Many of the health risks that users face could be reduced by discouraging people from smoking it with tobacco, and using vapourisers instead, according to an article in the journal Lancet Psychiatry. Another option the scientists propose is to boost levels of CBD in high potency cannabis, so that users can get their hit without being at such risk of mental harm. -
Criminalizing cannabis in Indonesia might do more harm than good
Synthetic cannabinoids will continue to spread as long as cannabis remains illegal
Tom Blickman Dania Putri &The Jakarta Post (Indonesia)
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
READ MORE...
Indonesia’s National Narcotics Board (BNN) together with the Health Ministry recently made a swift move to criminalize synthetic cannabinoids called “super tobacco”, also known as “Gorilla tobacco”, as part of their anti-narcotics efforts. However, synthetic cannabinoids will continue to spread as long as cannabis remains illegal. A better approach would be to develop a regulatory framework for the use and production of natural cannabis. -
Attorney General Sessions wants to know the science on marijuana and opioids
States with medical marijuana laws see fewer opiate deaths
The Washington Post (US)
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Speaking before the National Association of Attorneys General, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions expressed doubt that marijuana could help mitigate the opioid abuse epidemic. ““I see a line in The Washington Post today that I remember from the '80s,” Sessions said. "'Marijuana is a cure for opiate abuse.' Give me a break. This is the kind of argument that's been made out there to just — almost a desperate attempt to defend the harmlessness of marijuana or even its benefits. I doubt that's true. Maybe science will prove I'm wrong.” The stakes are pretty high here. After all, opioids killed 33,000 people in 2015, up from around 8,000 in 1999. Here's a run-down of where the evidence on marijuana and opiates stands. -
Sessions: More violence around marijuana than ‘one would think’
Attorney General says he doesn't think America will be a better place with "more people smoking pot"
The Cannabist (US)
Monday, February 27, 2017The Justice Department will try to adopt “responsible policies” for enforcement of federal anti-marijuana laws, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said, adding that he believes violence surrounds sales and use of the drug. Sessions said the department was reviewing an Obama administration Justice Department memo that gave states flexibility in passing marijuana laws. The comments were in keeping with remarks from White House spokesman Sean Spicer, who said that enforcement of federal law against recreational marijuana would be stepped up. Sessions stopped short of saying what he would do, but the Justice Department has several options available should it decide to enforce the law. (See also: Jeff Sessions issues ominous warning on state marijuana legalization) -
People in Latin America are starting to turn against outlawing marijuana
The variation in feelings toward drug policies in the countries surveyed "suggests that people are questioning the policies that set the norm in Latin America"
Business Insider (UK)
Monday, February 27, 2017
Sentiments in Latin America in favor of outlawing marijuana appear to be undergoing shifts in some countries, according to a study published the International Journal of Drug Policy. In some parts of the region, more than 40% of respondents supported legalizing the drug, while in other, more conservative areas, support remained minimal. "In recent years Latin American countries have increasingly rejected the traditional prohibitionist paradigm of drug policy, reflecting its failure to reduce either consumption or trafficking." (See also: Attitude toward legal pot mellows in parts of Latin America) -
Four of five Danes support legalising medical cannabis
Only 36 procent favours legalising recreational cannabis; 45 percent are against
The Local (Denmark)
Monday, February 27, 2017
More than 80 percent of Danes are in favour of legalising the medical use of cannabis, a new survey has found, increasing the chance that a pilot scheme planned for next year will lead to an end to prohibition. The survey by Analyse Denmark found that only five percent of people in Denmark opposed medical cannabis, with the remainder saying they did not have an opinion. Denmark plans from January 1 next year to launch a four-year trial which will allow “a defined patient group” to be treated with medical cannabis, after an agreement was reached in the Danish Parliament last November. (See also: Increasing number of Danish doctors prescribe medical cannabis) -
As Trump said in the campaign, leave pot to the states
OpEd by Ethan Nadelmann
The New York Times (US)
Monday, February 27, 2017
In pulling back from Mr. Trump’s assurance during the campaign that states should be left to decide their own marijuana policies, White House spokesman Sean Spicer made clear that a battle is coming over marijuana policy. It will be a fight that pits a Justice Department headed by a fervent prohibitionist, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, against the eight states — Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon and Washington — in which voters have approved ballot measures to legally regulate marijuana, as well as other states likely to legalize marijuana in the near future. (See also: Washington vows to fight feds on any legal marijuana crackdown | Seattle Times: President Trump, pot prohibition is a loser) -
What’s next after new Dutch cannabis cultivation bill
The new law still has to be approved in the Senate
Cannabis News Network (Netherlands)
Saturday, February 25, 2017
In a landmark decision, the lower House of the Dutch parliament voted in favour of adding cannabis cultivation to it's tolerance policy. A move that would decriminalize the supply aspect of the coffeeshops. The bill would exempt professional growers working within certain conditions from punishment, creating a closed system from the production to the consumption of cannabis. Not legalized, but tolerated under government control. But who is going to supply the coffeeshops? Big state controlled companies like Bedrocan, who is the sole producer for medicinal cannabis in Holland or greenhouse tomato-farmers? What about the original growers? -
White House hints at crackdown on recreational marijuana
Eight states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for recreational use
The Hill (US)
Thursday, February 23, 2017
White House press secretary Sean Spicer suggested the Trump administration will step up enforcement of federal laws against recreational marijuana. “I do believe that you’ll see greater enforcement,” Spicer said, while adding the exact policy is “a question for the Department of Justice.” It’s the latest sign President Trump is poised to take a tougher approach than the Obama Justice Department did in states that have legalized the use of recreational marijuana. Attorney General Jeff Sessions was coy about his approach last month during his confirmation hearing. (See also: Officials in legal pot State vow to fight federal crackdown | Poll: Majority of Americans support legalization, want feds to step off)
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