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Graft, drug trafficking threaten Albania's chances of joining EU
Leading politicians have been repeatedly accused of being involved in the business
Deutsche Welle (Germany)
Monday, October 4, 2021
Researcher Fatjona Mejdini states that the drug problem had its roots in 1991, when Albania went from an isolated communist dictatorship straight to capitalism. "They were tough times for everyone," Mejdini said. "And, as many people lost their state jobs, they turned to cannabis cultivation to sustain their families." Over the years, the government has turned a blind eye to the business — and "in some cases, we saw the collusion of state structures with people growing cannabis," Mejdini said. Criminal groups gained more influence. And, in the past 10 to 15 years, there has also been a new development: Networks have added cocaine to their business model. The networks and routes they had already built up in Europe were the perfect starting point. -
Owen Bonnici presents first reading on cannabis reform
The White Paper also proposes allowing the cultivation of up to four cannabis plants per household and the expungement of cannabis related criminal records
Malta Today (Malta)
Monday, October 4, 2021
The minister for reforms Owen Bonnici has tabled the first reading of Malta's government proposed cannabis reform. Taking to Twitter, Bonnici said the bill “will establish a new legal framework governing responsible use of cannabis.” The cannabis reform White Paper attracted more than 350 submissions from organisations and individuals when the public consultation closed last May. Government is proposing full decriminalisation for adults in possession of 7g or less of cannabis for personal use and proceedings before the Commissioner for Justice, rather than the criminal court, for those with more than 7g but less than 28g. -
‘Wall of shame’ built to block crack users sparks fury in Paris suburb
Rage and despair at Paris authorities’ failure to quell a drug problem that has ravaged northeast Paris for the last three decades – and the decision to park it in a suburb with plenty of problems of its own
France24 (France)
Thursday, September 30, 2021
Paris authorities have bricked up a tunnel that connects Paris and the northeastern suburb of Pantin in the département of Seine-Saint-Denis, after moving dozens of crack smokers into the area, a measure that has sparked fury and despair among residents. For residents of Pantin, the wall blocks a pedestrian walkway to the capital, fails to protect them from Paris’s decades-long crack problem, and symbolises their segregation from the affluent French capital. Residents are furious they were given no prior warning about the wall – it was built without consulting local authorities – and that most of them found out about it from the press or on social media. (See also: France tries to wall off crack users — With an actual wall | The Wall of Shame – Why crack consumption rooms are needed in Paris) -
UK drug laws used as tool of systemic racism, says ex-No 10 adviser
Simon Woolley says failure of drugs legislation is having a devastating impact on public health
The Guardian (UK)
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Britain’s drug laws are racist and cause “high levels of mental health harm” among black people, a former No 10 race adviser has said. Simon Woolley said drugs legislation introduced 50 years ago had failed to cut the use, supply and harms associated with illegal drugs, and instead was used “as a tool of systemic racism”. Despite white people reporting higher rates of drug consumption, black people were more likely to be stopped and searched for suspected drug possession and were more likely to be arrested, charged and imprisoned for drug offences, he said. (See BMJ: Our drug laws are racist, and doctors must speak out—an essay by Simon Woolley) -
Drug decriminalization movement gaining momentum in Canada as overdose deaths surge
Prominent mental health teaching hospital joins calls to decriminalize all illicit drugs
CBC News (Canada)
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
As overdose deaths keep surging in Canada, the movement to decriminalize illicit drugs is gaining steam, with one of the country's largest mental health facilities joining national advocates and several major cities in putting pressure on the federal government to act. Earlier this summer, mayors from across B.C. signed a letter in support of Vancouver city officials who are seeking Health Canada's approval to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of illegal drugs. Toronto is gearing up to submit a similar request, a move which follows the city recently hitting its highest one-day opioid overdose count in late July. (See also: BC’s rate of drug toxicity deaths has overtaken Ohio and Pennsylvania) -
Stand for craft: How Canada’s craft cannabis cultivators are pushing for tax reform
Craft cultivators ‘marching rapidly towards insolvency’
Forbes (US)
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
It’s been just three short years since cannabis was legalized in Canada, but it’s already clear the nation’s exorbitant taxation on cannabis cultivators is not only unsustainable; it’s killing craft growers that are paying more in tax than they earn in margins. Earlier this month, Tantalus Labs CEO Dan Sutton outlined exactly how problematic Canada’s cannabis excise tax is, with small businesses paying as much as 30 percent of their top line revenues to it, in a Twitter thread. “We are milking a calf to death,” he wrote. The industry emphatically agreed, and since then, the conversation has evolved into a campaign to raise the issue with lawmakers. -
Government allegedly backpedals on legalising cannabis
Cultivation yes, sale no: According to Radio 100,7, the government has decided to significantly change its course regarding the planned legalisation of cannabis in Luxembourg
RTL (Luxembourg)
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Radio 100,7 reported that the government has apparently decided that the sale of recreational cannabis will remain illegal in the Grand Duchy. Only the cultivation of cannabis plants for private consumption is to be legalised. Meanwhile, medicinal cannabis has been legal in Luxembourg since February 2019. However, since then, there have been frequent issues with the supply chain. Minister of Health Paulette Lenert confirmed that there are "a number of legal obstacles" in the European context that would render a legalisation significantly more difficult. (See also: 'Nothing has been decided yet', says Ministry of Health | Luxembourg to scrap legal cannabis plan, radio reports) -
40 mayors call on next Dutch government to legalise marijuana
The government has sanctioned experiments with regulated marijuana production in 10 cities, but that process is not due to start until next year
Dutch News (Netherlands)
Thursday, September 23, 2021
Almost 40 Dutch mayors, mainly from the south of the Netherlands, have signed a manifesto calling on the government to legalise soft drugs (cannabis) as part of a campaign to tackle organized crime and the infiltration of legitimate companies and organisations by drugs criminals. The issue must have a prominent place in the next cabinet’s plans, the mayors say. ‘By removing the criminals’ earnings model, vulnerable citizens can be protected,’ the manifesto states. According to the Parool, Amsterdam’s mayor Femke Halsema told city councillors that she supported the manifesto as well. (See also: Mayors push for tougher approach against organized crime | Drugs crime costs Dutch society up to €4.1bn a year, report claims) -
Italy will be first to light up Europe’s weed biz
A new approach to cannabis would have multiple financial and economic benefits
Reuters (UK)
Wednesday, September 22, 2021
Italy may soon jump on the weed bandwagon. A nationwide referendum to legalise cannabis will likely take place early next year. If Italian voters embrace dope, it will spark a domino effect across Europe. Backers of the pro-weed referendum have already gathered more than 500,000 signatures, the minimum required to hold a nationwide plebiscite. That paves the way for a decriminalisation vote, mirroring what happened in 18 U.S. states. With 57% of Italian voters expected to back the proposal, according to pollster Sondaggi Bidimedia, Italy has a concrete chance to turn its current restrictive system into Europe’s most liberal one. -
Warnings instead of prosecution for Class A drug users
Scotland logged a record 1,339 drug-related deaths in 2020 - by far the highest rate in Europe
BBC News (UK)
Wednesday, September 22, 2021
People caught with Class A drugs in Scotland could be given a police warning instead of facing prosecution. Officers can already issue a formal warning for possession of lower category drugs. Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain told MSPs this would now include Class A drugs in a bid to address the underlying causes of Scotland's drugs death crisis. The Conservatives said the move amounts to "de facto decriminalisation" of deadly substances. Ms Bain insisted this was not the case, adding that there is "no one size fits all" response to drug addiction and that every case should be judged individually. (See also: Warnings for Class A drugs is good step but there's still more to do)
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