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Analysis: Colombia’s fight against the coca trade
Obinna AnyadikeIRIN (UN)
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
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EL TARRA, 28 August 2013 (IRIN) - The Colombian government believes people should just say no to growing coca: those that do not, risk aerial spraying of their illicit crop with powerful pesticides, or manual destruction by work teams hired by private firms and supported by the security forces. -
Gutless governments
Advocates say politicians have refused to capitalise on ganja because of int'l pressure
The Gleaner (Jamaica)
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Successive administrations are being accused of spinelessness in the pursuit of any venture aimed at legitimately utilising marijuana products in health and tourism to catapult Jamaica's limping economy forward. More than a decade ago, several far-reaching recommendations for the decriminalisation of the use of regulated quantities of the drug were presented by the National Commission on Ganja. Although the recommendations received the approval of the parliamentary committee, successive governments have failed to act on them. -
Shame, classism still define ganja smoking
Usage still linked to poor people
The Gleaner (Jamaica)
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Advocates for the decriminalisation at a recent Gleaner Editors' Forum said it was unfortunate that the image of ganja users has remained the same for years, when usage cuts across all social classes. Long-time ganja advocate Paul Chang, chair of the Ganja Law Reform Coalition (GLRC) said there was still too much shame associated with ganja usage because there are too many misconceptions about the narcotic. (See also: Remove the ganja stigma) -
Minister proposes to legalise krathom use
The Bangkok Post (Thailand)
August 28, 2013
Justice Minister Chaikasem Nitisiri said he is considering the possibility of legalising krathom leaves with one of the options being to use the plant as a substitute in drug treatment programmes. But public opinion would need to be gauged first, he said. The idea could materialise if it is backed by scientific research and gains social acceptance. Krathom is classified as a drug in the 5th category of the Narcotics Act, alongside cannabis and psychotropic mushroom species, but has lighter penalties than those drugs.
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Obama administration will not block state marijuana laws, if distribution is regulated
The Washington Post (US)
Thursday, August 29, 2013
The Obama administration said that it would not challenge laws legalizing marijuana in Colorado and Washington state as long as those states maintain strict rules involving the sale and distribution of the drug. In a memo to U.S. attorneys in all 50 states, Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole said the Justice Department is “committed to using its limited investigative and prosecutorial resources to address the most significant threats in the most effective, consistent and rational way.” -
Justice Dept. seeks to curtail stiff drug sentences
Charlie SavageThe New York Times (US)
Monday, August 12, 2013
In a major shift in criminal justice policy, the Obama administration will move to ease overcrowding in federal prisons by ordering prosecutors to omit listing quantities of illegal substances in indictments for low-level drug cases, sidestepping federal laws that impose strict mandatory minimum sentences for drug-related offenses. Attorney General Eric Holder announced the new policy as one of several steps intended to curb soaring taxpayer spending on prisons and help correct what he regards as unfairness in the justice system, according to his prepared remarks. -
Mexico and marijuana: A leaf out of Uruguay's book?
BBC News (UK)
Friday, 9 August, 2013
Ten days ago, the lower house of Uruguay's parliament passed a law legalising marijuana, reflecting a growing sentiment in Latin America that the current prohibition on drugs should change. Could Mexico be next? -
Five biggest lies from anti-pot propagandist Kevin Sabet
It is time to bust the myths Sabet has been perpetuating
Sunil Kumar AggarwalAlterNet (US blog)
Thursday, August 8, 2013
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Kevin Abraham Sabet-Sharghi, Ph.D., aka Kevin Sabet, has been a headline-grabbing right-winger ever since his U.C. Berkeley days—where he did not study science or medicine despite his current appointment as an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Florida. His most recent incarnation as a co-founder of Project SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana) follows a stint in the Obama White House on its drug policy staff from 2009-2011. His personal website claims he is the “quarterback” of a new anti-drug movement, boasting that he’s been “quoted in over 15,000 news stories.” -
Maroc: vers une légalisation de la culture du cannabis?
Un projet soutenu par plusieurs représentants politiques
Jeune Afrique (France)
Mardi, 6 août 2013
Le Parlement marocain est en train d'examiner un projet de loi sur la légalisation de la culture du cannabis proposé par la Coalition marocaine pour l'utilisation du cannabis à des fins médicinales et industrielles. Le débat avait été lancé en 2008 par le collectif marocain. Le militant rifain Chakib El Khayari, membre de la coalition, a confié au site d'information Bladi.net que cette légalisation sauverait des milliers de producteurs des griffes des barons de la drogue. Les derniers chiffres de l’Organe international de contrôle des stupéfiants indiquent que 72% de la quantité de résine de cannabis saisie dans le monde provient du Maroc. -
The argument for cannabis as medicine: Will ideology or science prevail?
Dr. Marcus DayInternational Drug Policy Consortium IDPC (UK)
Monday, August 05, 2013
In Saint Lucia and throughout the Caribbean, we at the Caribbean Harm Reduction Coalition have observed the therapeutic value of cannabis (marijuana) to address a number of mental and physical health issues. This has included cannabis as an alternative to alcohol consumption for problematic drinkers, and cannabis use as a substitute for smoking crack cocaine. I have also witnessed first-hand the ways that cannabis use can reduce community violence.
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