• Brazil Supreme Court debates decriminalization of drugs

    The case comes amid calls for the decriminalization of marijuana possession in Brazil
    The Associated Press
    Wednesday, August 19, 2015

    brasil-descriminalizacao-stfBrazil's Supreme Court began debating a drug case that could lead to the decriminalization of possession for personal use in the South American country. In 2009, an inmate in a Sao Paulo prison was caught with three grams of marijuana. The crime of drug possession was tacked on to his criminal record that included robbery, sale of stolen goods and illegal possession of a gun. Two years, later the public defender's office in Sao Paulo state filed an appeal on his behalf arguing that the inclusion of drug possession was unconstitutional because it violated the constitutional right to privacy.

  • Majority of Canadians support decriminalizing marijuana: poll

    Since 1987 support has grown considerably from just 39 per cent to 65 per cent
    Global News (Canada)
    Wednesday, August 19, 2015

    canada-pot-flag3More Canadians than ever support decriminalizing marijuana, according to a new Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of Global News. Ipsos found 65 per cent of Canadians (29 per cent strongly/36 per cent somewhat) support the decriminalization of marijuana so that possession of small amounts would no longer carry a penalty or fine. Conversely, 35 per cent of people oppose (18 per cent strongly/17 per cent somewhat) decriminalization.

  • Chile considers cannabis decriminalization

    Highlights a growing movement in Latin America
    Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA)
    Tuesday, August 18, 2015

    With its proposed changes to Ley 20.000 (Law 20,000), Chile joins a growing list of Latin American countries decriminalizing marijuana. The initiative, which would grant Chileans the right to possess up to 10 grams of cannabis and grow up to six marijuana plants, was passed in Chile’s Chamber of Deputies on July 7 with 68 voting in favor and 39 against. The bill must first be adjusted by a health commission and then passed by the Senate before it officially becomes law, but strong support for cannabis legalization in the country illustrates that legalizing marijuana use appears to be the new norm in the Western Hemisphere.

  • Ohio prepares to vote on marijuana legalization: which states will be next?

    California, Massachusetts and Arizona are among top contenders to OK the substance – and more states could follow
    The Guardian (UK)
    Monday, August 17, 2015

    Thus far, Ohio is the only state where voters will consider pot legalization in the 2015 election. But that’s not because many states aren’t already eyeing their own marijuana campaigns. In fact, a number of states, including California, Massachusetts and Arizona, are already laying the groundwork to legalize recreational pot. They just won’t put it on the ballot until 2016, lining up with the presidential election. Surveys in California, Massachusetts, and Michigan showing voters in favor of legalized marijuana.

  • ‘Medical cannabis could be worth more to Israel than natural gas’

    Licensing and taxing locally grown marijuana could be a boon for the government coffers
    The Jurasalem Post (Israel)
    Sunday, August 16, 2015

    israel-medical-marijuanaIf Israel grew pot instead of peppers, said Dr. Tamir Gadot, CEO of pro-medical cannabis agricultural association Breath of Life, the economy would be the biggest beneficiary, arguing that the government should recognize that medical cannabis is “a legitimate pharmaceutical industry.” Taking the estimate of the US market and estimates of Europe’s potential market ranging from €10b.-€60b. a year, Israel would need just a fraction of the growing market for the value of medical cannabis to eventually outweigh that of natural gas. (Can economy gain from legalizing pot?

  • Ohio's legal weed proposal could create the world’s first 'pot grower oligarchy'

    System would create an unprecedented, constitutionally protected monopoly on marijuana production, which could stifle market competition
    Vice News (US)
    Sunday, August 16, 2015

    marijuana-monopoly-ohioOhio voters will have the opportunity to legalize the commercial cultivation and sale of cannabis this November, including for medical marijuana patients and recreational consumers. Critics say the proposal, called the Marijuana Legalization Amendment, would create a "pot grower oligarchy" by limiting commercial marijuana cultivation to just 10 sites in the state, rooted to specific land parcels that wealthy financial backers of the amendment have already acquired. (See also: Ohio's marijuana legalization ballot measure, explained)

  • Case of prisoner caught with 3 grams of marijuana guides definition of drug possession in Brazil

    No one can be punished for a personal decision, one which does not interfere with or endanger the rights of others
    Folha de São Paulo (Brazil)
    Wednesday, August 12, 2015

    brasil-descriminalizaA marijuana case from July 2009 inside the provisional detention center of Diadema (SP) will guide the STF's (Supreme Court) verdict which will decide whether drug possession for personal use in Brazil is a crime or not. Based on the punishment imposed on the detainee, a 55 year old mechanic, the Court will discuss the constitutionality of the article that criminalizes the possession of narcotics in the Anti-Drug Law. (Brazil’s Supreme Court to decide decriminalization of drugs)

  • Colombia decriminalizes marijuana cultivation up to 20 plants

    The court ruling further decriminalizes the cultivation and possession of the drug for personal use
    Colombia Reports
    Wednesday, August 12, 2015

    colombia-corteColombia’s Supreme Court ruled that growing up to 20 plants of marijuana is not a crime. The possession of small amounts of the drug had already been decriminalized. The court ruled on the private cultivation of marijuana in an appeal filed by a man who had been sentenced to more than five years in prison after he had been caught by police with a recently cut plant weighing 124 grams. The maximum amount of marijuana that can legally be carried is 20 grams in Colombia.

  • Tories' false claims about pot laws put youth at risk: drug policy centre

    In recent years, national surveys have shown a majority of Canadians want to loosen marijuana laws
    The Globe and Mail (Canada)
    Wednesday, August 12, 2015

    cannabis-claims-icdspConservative Leader Stephen Harper has made Canada’s approach to marijuana laws an election issue, contrasting his government’s tough approach against the Greens’ and Liberals’ plan to legalize the drug and the NDP’s pledge to at least decriminalize it and study legalization. The International Centre for Science in Drug Policy released a list of common claims about the use and regulation of pot that research shows are actually incorrect. Such false claims about marijuana lead to policies that actually put youth at risk, the researchers say.

  • Brazil may decriminalize drug possession

    The Supreme Court should set forth, in the sentence, the criteria for being considered a user
    Agência Brasil (Brazil)
    Tuesday, August 11, 2015

    Brazil can match to other countries in South America that decriminalized the illegal drugs possession and show more tolerance for the consumption and cultivation for personal use. The Supreme Court (STF, in the original acronym) may judge a lawsuit questioning the constitutionality of the prohibition. The lawsuit was filed by the Public Defense Office of the State of São Paulo alleging that drug possession shall not be taken as a crime, because it does not harm third parties. The current law from 2006 does not establish the specific amount of possession for each case, leaving the decision to the judge.

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