-
Pro-ganja lobby endorses changes on eve of Senate debate
There is pushback from officials within the American Government
Jamaica Observer (Jamaica)
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Professor Archibald McDonald called on the Jamaican Government to continue with the reforms and disregard apparent threats from US Government official William Brownfield cautioning the Government against breaching international drug treaties to which it is a signatory. "He is saying that Colorado, Washington DC and so on can go ahead and legalise ganja, but Jamaica signed those treaties and therefore cannot do the same. What a ridiculous argument," McDonald commented. -
Vermont lawmakers consider legalizing marijuana
USA Today (US)
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Vermont lawmakers are considering whether to become the first state Legislature to legalize marijuana. Four states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational cannabis, but in each of those cases, it was voters at the ballot box, not lawmakers, who changed the law. Vermont could become the first state in history where elected officials directly legalize pot, and Gov. Peter Shumlin said he "continues to support" efforts to do so. (See also: A dozen ways to legalize the marijuana supply chain, in Vermont or any state) -
Attorney general nominee Loretta Lynch opposes marijuana legalisation
‘I do not support legalisation of marijuana’ she tells Senate committee. Obama’s nominee says position mirrors Justice Department policy
The Guardian (UK)
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Barack Obama’s nominee for attorney general, Loretta Lynch, told senators during her confirmation hearing that she, like her predecessor Eric Holder, would not support marijuana legalization. Lynch did not stray far from the Justice Department’s current stance. While Holder refused to challenge legalization in Colorado and Washington, he also did not change the federal government’s stance on what is currently a Schedule I controlled substance, in common with heroin. (Will the next Attorney General crack down on marijuana?) -
Ketamine praised for speedily alleviating depression
Patients in Israel report a fast reaction and improvement in their feeling within two or so hours of receiving treatment
Haaretz (Israel)
Monday, January 26, 2015
An increasing number of Israeli psychiatrists have started using ketamine as part of the medical treatment for depression and chronic pain. This follows a series of studies worldwide that found it to be effective and very fast at treating manic depression and suicidal tendencies without significant side effects. At present, there are several studies being conducted here to examine the use of ketamine to fight depression. (See also: Fact Sheet on the Proposal to Discuss International Scheduling of Ketamine at the 58th CND) -
Report predicts 18 states will legalize pot by 2020
Whether that pans out depends on Colorado, cash and the federal government
Time (US)
Monday, January 26, 2015
A new report predicts that 18 U.S. states will have legalized recreational marijuana in the next five years, a huge increase from the four states that currently have or are in the process of creating legal markets for pot. The report from ArcView Market Research, a firm that pairs investors with marijuana-related businesses, was sponsored by marijuana-industry groups and has a prolegalization tone. But their prediction is not simply self-serving optimism. (See also: The conference where guys in suits pitch marijuana start-ups to other guys in suits) -
Grüne wollen Cannabis teilweise freigeben
Modellprojekt für Abgabe in einem Stadtteil gefordert. SPD fürchtet Kiffer-Tourismus
Die Welt (Germany)
Samstag, 24. Januar 2015
Die Befürworter einer kontrollierten Cannabis-Freigabe in Hamburg melden sich immer lauter zu Wort. Nun haben die Grünen einen Antrag in die Bürgerschaft eingebracht, in dem sie ein Modellprojekt zur kontrollierten Abgabe des aus der Hanfpflanze gewonnen Rauschmittels an Erwachsene fordern. So solle die durch den Schwarzmarkt entstehende Kriminalität bekämpft, die Prävention verbessert und die ineffektive Verfolgung von Kleinkonsumenten beseitigt werden. (Mehr dazu: Politiker wollen Cannabis legalisieren) -
CDU blockiert Cannabis-Versuch
Frankfurter Rundschau (Germany)
Freitag, 23. Januar 2015
Die CDU-Fraktion im Frankfurt lehnt ein Modellprojekt zur Entkriminalisierung von Cannabis ab und kritisiert den Alleingang der Gesundheitsdezernentin Rosemarie Heilig (Grüne). Sie hat zehn deutsche Städte eingeladen, um sich gemeinsam über das Thema Cannabis-Konsum auszutauschen. Nachdem sich die CDU positioniert hat, rechnet die gesundheitspolitische Sprecherin der SPD-Fraktion für die laufende Legislaturperiode nicht mehr mit einem Modellversuch. (Mehr dazu: Cannabis: CDU entzieht sich Diskussion | CDU bleibt bei Nein zu Cannabis-Versuch | "Es wäre das falsche Signal") -
Jamaica poised to relax cannabis laws
Several restrictions on 'ganja' use could go up in smoke as island’s politicians back bill to establish licensing authority
The Guardian (UK)
Thursday, January 22, 2015
The cabinet has approved a bill that would decriminalise possession of small amounts of cannabis and pave the way for a legal medical marijuana industry in Jamaica. Justice minister Mark Golding said he expected to introduce the legislation in the Senate. Debate could start this month in the country where "ganja" has long been culturally entrenched but illegal. The bill establishes a cannabis licensing authority to regulate cultivation, sale and distribution for medical, scientific and therapeutic purposes. (See: Statement by minister of Justice on the Dangerous Drugs (amendment) Bill) -
The legalization of marijuana: a good example of flexible policymaking
The four US states that have legalized cannabis have entered a brave new world of flexible policy and consultation, with the goal of inclusive growth
The Guardian (UK)
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Marijuana policy may not seem like the natural setting to model policies that pursue inclusive growth, but the innovative policy-making processes initiated in four US states are actually well worth considering. To achieve inclusive growth – ensuring that economic prosperity benefits the largest possible number of people – governments must commit to two things: responsiveness to public opinion and flexibility around policy. -
Is São Paulo's drug treatment program working?
Recent crackdown on "drug traffickers" may account for the startling drop in the number of addicts
InSight Crime
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Authorities say crack use has dropped 80 percent in São Paulo's notorious "Crackland" district since the implementation of With Open Arms ("De Braços Abertos"), a government-sponsored drug treatment program initiated in January 2014, reported a municipal government office in São Paulo. But there are reasons to doubt the initiative's reported success.
Page 311 of 471
