The federal government is moving toward a restrictive market for recreational marijuana, vowing to impose potency limits, controls on advertising, and strict rules over the production and sale of the drug. Ottawa has unveiled a nine-member panel to draw up Canada’s new marijuana framework, sending out the clearest signal to date that it is not bowing to the demands of members of the illegal pot industry that has boomed in recent months. (See also: Prohibit marijuana for Canadians under 25? How about a hit of reality | 7 in 10 Canadians support marijuana legalization)

En Luxembourg chaque ménage sera autorisé à cultiver quatre plants. Il revient par contre aussi sur l’annonce en grande pompe de la légalisation du cannabis, datant de 2018, et qui est désormais mise entre parenthèses. «La crise sanitaire est venue nous rappeler notre vulnérabilité. Le pays peut rapidement se retrouver isolé si un pays voisin décide de fermer ses frontières. L’espace Schengen n’est pas à ignorer», avançait la ministre de la Justice, Sam Tanson, pour expliquer le coup de frein subit par le projet de légalisation du cannabis récréatif. L’AFP est plus claire : «(…) le gouvernement du libéral Xavier Bettel a revu ses ambitions à la baisse pour ménager ses relations avec les pays voisins, notamment avec la France qui craignait l’émergence d’un lieu de trafic à ses frontières».

Pour qu'un tel lieu puisse voir le jour, il faudrait que ce soit dans le cadre d'une étude et avec l'accord du ministère de la Santé. Ou il faut que la loi change.C'est la dernière idée lancée par Georges-Louis Bouchez, chef de file de l'opposition MR à Mons, et qui a fait l'objet d'une motion au dernier conseil communal de Mons ce 25 avril: ouvrir un cannabis social club à Mons. Soit un cercle fermé où s'organise la consommation et la production de cannabis à usage privé. Pour qu'une telle association puisse durer dans le temps, il faut un changement de législation. "Je déposerai au Parlement dans les prochains jours une proposition de loi-cadre instaurant un marché réglementé du cannabis en Belgique", a précisé Elio Di Rupo, Bourgmestre de Mons. (Lire aussi: Mons: Le Cannabis Social Club en guise d’étude scientifique)

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.

Oxford scientists are to launch a major global trial to investigate whether cannabis-based medicine can treat people with psychosis or psychotic symptoms. Currently, cannabidiol (CBD) is only prescribed for a small number of conditions. “Cannabidiol is one of the most promising new treatments for people with psychosis,” said Oxford’s Prof Philip McGuire, who is leading the trial. “Many people with psychosis are open to trying cannabidiol and previous smaller-scale studies have indicated that it has beneficial effects.” (See also: Study reveals how CBD helps counter epileptic seizures)

Miles de pacientes que utilizan en España el cannabis como una medicina para aliviar sus dolencias y mejorar su estado de salud se han quedado sin acceso a su remedio, salvo el que ofrece el mercado negro de quienes trafican con esta sustancia. Por eso, asociaciones como la Unión de Pacientes por la Regulación del Cannabis (UPRC) piden que se permita la apertura controlada de los 1.600 clubes de usuarios existentes en España, cerrados a causa del Covid-19, para que puedan suministrarlo como un bien esencial para la vida de estos pacientes, una propuesta que también ha trasladado el Círculo Cannábico de Podemos a su grupo parlamentario para que la plantee en el Congreso.

El Gobierno neerlandés inauguró la fase inicial de un experimento para la venta del primer cannabis cultivado legalmente en Países Bajos, que se entregará a los 'coffeeshop' mediante un transporte seguro, un proyecto que llega tras cinco años de preparativos y entre temores a un boicot de los narcotraficantes. La propuesta para iniciar un experimento de cultivo legal de cannabis empezó a debatirse en 2017 y recibió la aprobación del Senado en 2019, pero su inicio ha sido pospuesto por diferentes motivos, hasta que, el pasado febrero, el Gobierno del liberal Mark Rutte prometió comenzar con un número limitado de productores y probar la idea a pequeña escala.

Los cultivadores de cannabis podrán postularse en julio como proveedores al gobierno holandés en julio para abastecer legalmente a algunos de los famosas coffee shops del país, anunció el Ministerio de Salud. El Gobierno había dado luz verde a un experimento en gran escala en 2018, que permitía a diez municipios cultivar cannabis legalmente. El objetivo del experimento era medir los efectos del cultivo de la cannabis en la delincuencia, la seguridad, el orden público y la salud. Según el plan del gobierno, que ha sido aprobado por el Consejo de Estado, los municipios interesados supervisarán durante varios años el cultivo de la cannabis y su distribución a los cafés, que podrán venderla a los clientes.

El combate al narcotráfico y específicamente al llamado "prensado paraguayo" fue uno de los objetivos que la administración de José Mujica se propuso al momento de incentivar la legalización de la producción, distribución y venta de cannabis. Sin embargo, el narcotráfico de marihuana aún es una realidad en Uruguay y las autoridades entienden que eso se debe a una oferta estatal "insuficiente". El director del Instituto de Regulación y Control del Cannabis (IRCCA), Martín Rodríguez, dijo que el ingreso de marihuana de origen paraguaya se debe a la existencia de una "mayor demanda" de marihuana frente una oferta "insuficiente" del Estado.

Today, more than 500,000 Canadians are encumbered with a criminal record for doing something that is now legal: possessing a small amount (30 grams or fewer) of cannabis. A criminal conviction has real and lasting consequences. It can restrict the bearer's access to employment, housing, travel and the opportunities that accompany them. This impact is grossly disproportionate to the actual harm caused by the simple possession of marijuana. Pardons do not go far enough. If the Liberals are serious about eliminating past convictions as a source of future prejudice, they must expunge convictions for simple possession.

Der Paritätische Bremen fordert eine Neuausrichtung der Drogen- und Suchtpolitik in Bremen. Der Spitzenverband der Wohlfahrtspflege will, dass legaler Konsum und kontrollierter Verkauf von Cannabis möglich werden. Ebenso plädiert der Verband in einem veröffentlichten Positionspapier für einen Drogenkonsumraum in Bremen, mehr Hilfen für Suchtkranke, bessere Prävention und weniger Strafverfolgung. Der Paritätische spricht sich dafür aus, dass Cannabis in Bremen zum Eigengebrauch legal gekauft und angebaut werden kann. Das bei der Strafverfolgung eingesparte Geld solle in die Jugendarbeit und Prävention gesteckt werden. Auch solle der Führerschein nicht allein auf der Grundlage von Cannabisfunden eingezogen werden, heißt es im Positionspapier des Verbands.

On Friday, 20th March, the Parliament of Ghana passed the Narcotics Control Commission Bill into law. This brought great excitement to many who have been following the legislative process since 2015, when the Bill was first introduced. Many civil society organizations (CSOs) in Ghana laud the Government for this significant moment in the history of drug policy reform in the country. The new law makes huge inroads towards more humane drug policy, and will pave way for other good examples to emerge in the sub-region.

Luxembourg residents hoping to legally grow cannabis at home might not have to wait till after the elections, after Parliament announced it will vote before the end of the month on a bill calling for legalisation. The law will “have to be debated and voted on in public session during the week of June 26”, an article on the Parliament’s website said. The bill stipulates adults can legally grow up to four plants. The plants must not be visible from a public space and consumers must not use cannabis products outside their residence. People who hold, transport or acquire cannabis products for their personal use would be allowed to carry up to three grams. Violators would risk a fine of €251 to €2,500.

El proyecto que busca regular el consumo de cannabis recreativo para adultos pasó a segundo debate. Lograrlo no fue fácil. Luego de una ardua discusión y de varios intentos de hundirlo, 31 miembros de la Comisión Primera de la Cámara votaron por el articulado y el título de la iniciativa: 17 congresistas lo apoyaron y 14 votaron en su contra. Así las cosas, la propuesta legislativa continúa su trámite que consta de ocho debates en total, por ser un proyecto de reforma constitucional. (Véase también: “El debate de la regulación del cannabis requiere apertura mental”: Juan Carlos Losada)

Since December, MPs in Thailand have been working on getting the long-awaited cannabis and hemp control bill to pass its second reading. This push is a breath of fresh air not only for patients and medical practitioners but also investors looking to export cannabis as a cash crop. The reason? The bill had been filibustered by a number of political parties, both in the government coalition and the opposition, since September, with the Democrat, Pheu Thai, and the libertarian Move Forward Party (MFP) withdrawing their support for the legislation, which aimed to lay out the rules to control cannabis consumption after it was deregulated in June last year. (See also: Vote trims weed control bill)

Luxembourg has ambitions to legalize recreational cannabis and convince other European countries to do the same. The Duchy would legalize the entire cannabis market, from issuing licenses for its production to legalizing its consumption, under a highly regulated structure. The health ministry is slated to unveil a proposal to start the legislative process this fall, and the goal is for it to become law within two years. It would ban home cultivation and likely impose an age restriction — possibly 18 — for purchase. Health Minister Etienne Schneider also envisions prohibition on purchases by non-residents, as a way to avoid drug tourism. He admits it will be difficult striking a balance between keeping borders open and regulating this new market, especially if Luxembourg's neighbors fear undesired spillover.

The Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) is again being pressed about its role in charting the way forward to enable the legal cannabis industry to access financial services and become a part of the formal economy. East Kingston and Port Royal Member of Parliament Phillip Paulwell — a member of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) — said that Jamaica continues to be at a disadvantage as it awaits the United States to lead the way in opening up the industry in order to address the issue of banking for cannabis. The BOJ senior deputy governor told the committee that the bank has been holding meetings with the various associations representing the industry to see how their needs can be accommodated in the formal banking system, but that so far there has been no progress in that regard.

The hype around cannabis startups in recent years intoxicated many investors. But poor balance sheets and plummeting share prices has made the comedown hard to stomach. By October, it became clear the hemp bubble had burst with quite a bang. The market has lost at least $35 billion in value since March and one firm, Aurora Cannabis, has been hit especially hard. The Canadian producer's shares have plummeted 60% over the past few months. Last year's gains, where some stocks rose 400% in a month, are now just distant memories.

The 1936 film Reefer Madness depicted cannabis as a drug that provoked uncontrollable insanity, leading to manslaughter, suicide and attempted rape. This was a ridiculous characterization of the effects of cannabis, but there is a long history of associating the drug with psychotic disorders. It is important to ensure we do not confuse correlation with causation and incite another Reefer Madness-style panic. By offering careful, evidence-based interpretations of the data, scientists can effectively contribute to policy decisions related to cannabis use and mental health.

Attorney-GeneralChristian Porter has warned Australian Capital Territory cannabis users they may not be protected by a new law legalising recreational use, weighing in alongside the home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, against the law. Dutton described the new laws as unconscionable, comments interpreted as urging the attorney general to challenge or overturn the ACT law. Porter played down – but did not rule out – the possibility of the commonwealth directly overriding the laws. The laws are “obviously a matter for the ACT” and he will consider “what issues may arise to the enforcement of existing commonwealth laws that criminalise the possession of prohibited drugs, including marijuana”. (See also: Greg Hunt 'concerned' about legalisation of cannabis but no plans to override ACT law)