Luxembourg's plans to allow residents to grow four cannabis plants at their home have been thrown into question after the country's de-facto upper chamber stated the proposals would breach international law. Lawmakers who put forward the draft law "risk exposing themselves to criticism on the international level of non-conformity with international law," the State Council said in a legal opinion. While Luxembourg's plans would breach international law, they would conform with existing EU law, the state council found, given the country would not completely legalise cannabis. (See also: Cannabis cultivé chez soi : l’Europe ne dit pas non)

In 2013, Uruguay became the first country in the world to legalize recreational marijuana -- which came into effect four years later -- permitting its sale in pharmacies, a move that helped to push many drug traffickers out of the domestic market. But a bland and insufficient state supply has meant most consumers still prefer the diversity of the black market. There are three legal ways for registered users to get hold of marijuana: purchasing it at pharmacies, through home growing for personal use, and by belonging to an official cannabis club. The most sought after legal method is membership of one of the 249 consumer clubs, which offer a greater variety to their 7,166 members than pharmacies. But many clubs have long waiting lists as they are limited by law to between 15 and 45 members.

Thailand legalized the growing of marijuana and its consumption in food and drinks on June 9 and removed cannabis from its list of banned narcotics. The Southeast Asian country hoped the move would boost its agriculture and tourism industry and allow the plant to be used for medical purposes. But lawmakers have failed to come to an agreement on how to regulate and control the new thriving industry. "We are against legalizing weed in an uncontrolled manner that has been happening since the health minister delisted cannabis as a narcotic without regulation that can really be enforced," the leader of the opposition Move Forward Party, Pita Limjaroenrat said, during the bill's second reading. Uncertainty is expected to continue...

«Est-ce que la légalisation envisagée ne posera pas plus de questions pratiques qu’elle n’en résoudra, notamment par rapport aux contrôles du nombre de plants autorisés pour la culture par une communauté domestique?» C’est Brigitte Konz, la présidente du tribunal d’arrondissement de Diekirch, qui résume le mieux les nombreuses interrogations énoncées dans les avis rendus par les autorités judiciaires sur le projet de loi visant à légaliser partiellement le cannabis récréatif au Luxembourg. La liste des «difficultés et incongruités» mises en avant notamment par le parquet général est longue : contradictions, inégalités de traitement, manque de clarté, oublis, grave erreur de logique ou encore porte grande ouverte aux abus. Bref, la ministre de la Justice, Sam Tanson, est renvoyée à ses études.

La Chambre des représentants a adopté le 26 mai au soir le projet de loi relatif à l’usage thérapeutique et industriel du cannabis par une majorité confortable, mais inhabituelle. Les groupes parlementaires ont tous présenté des arguments en faveur d’une légalisation de la plante. Tous sauf le PJD, paradoxalement à la tête de la majorité gouvernementale. Le projet de loi adopté devra être soumis à la Chambre des conseillers dans les tout prochains jours. Le Parlement promulguera le texte une fois qu’il sera adopté en Commission, puis en session plénière de la Chambre haute. (Lire aussi: Légalisation du cannabis : dernière ligne droite, des amendements vains et un PJD plus hostile que jamais)

If New Zealand votes to legalise cannabis in 2020’s binding referendum, we will have a unique opportunity on our hands. Creating a licit market from scratch means the government can legislate for particular outcomes, before the gates are open and the proverbial horse has bolted. As it relates to harm caused by drug laws, this means there is an opportunity to legislate and regulate a legal cannabis market so that communities who have suffered under prohibition benefit economically and socially from the licitmarket. Righting wrongs and closing gaps are best done alongside decriminalisation right at the outset. (See also: Regulating cannabis - a challenge we are more than up to)

The Czech cabinet recently approved drug policies that include introducing a strictly regulated cannabis market. The details of the plan are still being fine-tuned – but there already obstacles in sight. The exact rules are now being drafted by an expert group. The state’s drugs policy chief, Jindřich Vobořil, said previously that taxation on legalised cannabis could bring no less than CZK 15 billion into the state coffers annually. The authorities in Germany are discussing a similar move. However, they recently had to tone down their intentions somewhat following concerns from the European Union.The Czech government’s plans could run into similar obstacles. Another aspect is that all elements within the five-party Czech government coalition may not be in unison on the matter.

The Greens are about to introduce legislation into the parliament to legalise cannabis across Australia. Currently out for public consultation, the legislation, if passed, would allow for the regulation and sale of approved cannabis strains for recreational consumption in Australia, joining the handful of countries (and US states) that have already moved to legalise it. Greens senator David Shoebridge plans to introduce the bill to the Senate once the party has taken on board the results of that consultation. To get anywhere, the bill would need government support and Labor hasn’t yet given any indication it would throw its weight behind the legislation. So what does and doesn’t the legalise cannabis bill allow?

As the New Zealand government announces its plans for a cannabis referendum, a self-described “cannabis master” who grows and sells marijuana, provides insight into the illegal business he’s running, and what a workable legitimate business model could look like.  If recreational use becomes legal, he wants to be part of the change. It will allow growers and sellers like him – those he describes as “ninjas or living double lives” – to stop hiding. He said they'd come out of the woodwork and contribute to a new, legal market and would apply for a licence. (See also: New Zealand Drug Foundation is backing a Yes vote)

The German 'traffic light' coalition of the SPD, Greens, and Liberals promised in their 2021 post-election governing manifesto to not just decriminalise cannabis — but to be the first country in Europe legalise it. Nearly 18 months later, and with a battle with Brussels looming over the move, not to mention the likely knock-on effects of Europe's largest (by population) and richest nation effectively making marijuana another lifestyle choice, like alcohol, how is that going? EUobserver spoke to Georg Wurth, the head of the German Hemp Association [Deutsche Hanfverband] in Berlin, to assess the likely pitfalls and potential.

After an 11-year-old girl died recently due to a shooting incident in Merksem, politicians have stressed that tackling narco-terror is a top priority, without exception. Ministers and mayors have spoken about stronger controls and even deploying the army to tackle the growing crisis. Could the legalisation of cocaine be part of the solution to reduce drug violence in Belgium? Criminologist Tom Decorte from Ghent University thinks so. He has claimed that it is precisely the illegality of the drug business that creates the biggest economic incentive for criminals and by legalising and regulating it, violent competition could be reduced or even eradicated. (See also: Fines for using hard drugs could increase from €150 to €1,000 |Belgium in Brief: Carrots, sticks, and cocaine)

Foi admitido pela mesa da Assembleia da República o projeto-lei pelo qual o Bloco de Esquerda voltará à carga com a tentativa de legalizar o consumo recreativo de canábis. Os bloquistas defendem a "legalização da canábis para consumo pessoal não medicinal, passando a lei a regular os aspetos da produção e do cultivo, da comercialização, da aquisição, detenção e consumo da planta ou derivados". Pretendem ainda que "o consumo, o cultivo, a aquisição ou detenção, para consumo pessoal, de plantas, substâncias ou preparações de canábis" deixem de "constituir ilícito contraordenacional ou criminal".

De acuerdo con el predictamen sobre la legalización del uso de cannabis y sus derivados, se señala que su regulación es bajo el enfoque de salud pública, derechos humanos, desarrollo sostenible, combatir las consecuencias del uso problemático y reducir la incidencia delictiva vinculada con el narcotráfico. Corresponde al Estado el “control y la regulación de los actos inmersos” del uso de cannabis, así como de los reglamentos correspondientes, normas oficiales mexicanas y en las disposiciones que resulten aplicables. Queda permitida la venta de cannabis y sus derivados para el uso lúdico dentro del territorio nacional, la cual se delimitará a los establecimientos autorizados.

Algo muy grave está sucediendo con la regulación de la cannabis en México. Por mandato de la SCJN, el Poder Legislativo está obligado a publicar a más tardar el 30 de abril la regulación para la venta y consumo de mariguana. El dictamen de ley presentado por el senador por Hidalgo de Morena, Julio Menchaca, parece que fue preparado por las trasnacionales canadienses dedicadas a la industria cannábica. Al grado que en la primera versión había párrafos en inglés. Lisa Sánchez, de MUCD, ha señalado que no sólo perpetuaría el régimen punitivo, sino que impondría una carga adicional sobre un sistema de justicia que ya se encuentra rebasado. (Véase también: AMLO rechaza el consumo lúdico de la marihuana e insiste solo en su uso médico)

A partir de hoy, el consumo de productos comestibles elaborados con cannabis es legal en Canadá, un año después de que el Gobierno canadiense aprobase la legalización del consumo recreativo de la marihuana. Pero aunque el consumo de productos comestibles y bebidas que contengan cannabis es legal, los consumidores canadienses no podrán comprarlos al menos hasta dentro de dos meses, ya que el Ministerio de Sanidad de Canadá requiere 60 días para aprobar la venta de productos. Además de comestibles, a partir de hoy también son legales los extractos de cannabis, como los utilizados para vapear, y cremas derivadas de la droga. El Ministerio de Sanidad de Canadá ha establecido un límite de diez miligramos de THC por paquete de producto para comer o beber.

A determined political movement to end the war on drugs has taken shape across Europe and North America. Harm reduction advocates say lives can be saved and resources spared, if only the state would move away from punishing drug users. Perhaps, some predict, the state could even get into the business of regulating the production and sale of once-illegal substances. Yet proponents of decriminalizing, or even legalizing, drugs have focused mostly on the world’s biggest drug importers and often overlooked the countries responsible for producing and trafficking the drugs to satisfy rich countries’ demand. States such as Mexico.

The federal plan to legalize recreational marijuana does not include the general amnesty for past pot convictions some would like to see, says Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale. Newly tabled legislation would allow people 18 and older to publicly possess up to 30 grams of dried cannabis, or its equivalent in non-dried form. But the Trudeau government is not considering a blanket pardon for people with criminal records for possessing small amounts of the drug, Goodale said in an interview. The government has also made it clear that the move to legalization by mid-2018 doesn’t mean lax law enforcement during the transition period. (See also: Marijuana legalization: What was Justin Trudeau smoking?)

Back in 2017, Los Angeles was among the first places in the United States to legalize weed with social equity in mind. Today, social equity dominates the conversation about who should be allowed to sell legal pot, with programs planned or up and running in Michigan, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Connecticut, Virginia, Arizona, and more. But behind the corporate rhetoric and the political promises are sobering numbers and widespread frustration with how social equity has harmed some of the exact people the programs are meant to help. In the five years since a plan was outlined in Los Angeles, 1,629 people became verified as social equity applicants, but only about 35 retailers have opened.

Los artículos de la ley establecen que aquellas personas que precisen del autocultivo del cannabis deberán indefectiblemente contar con un certificado médico visado por el MSP que avale que el paciente sufre alguna dolencia tratable con el aceite de cannabis. El proyecto fue aprobado por Senadores y pasa a Diputados para su tratamiento. Los artículos del proyecto establecen que aquellas personas que precisen del autocultivo del cannabis deberán indefectiblemente contar con un certificado médico que deberá estar visado por el Ministerio de Salud Pública, el cual certificará que el paciente padece alguna dolencia tratable con el aceite de cannabis. (Véase también: Cannabis medicinal: licencia para producción e industrialización ya está reglamentada)

A Dutch experiment involving the licenced production and sale of cannabis which is due to start this autumn is likely to be delayed, broadcaster NOS reported. Arnhem mayor Ahmed Marcouch has told the city council that there are still many uncertainties that need to be ironed out and although a justice ministry spokesman did not use the word ‘delay’ he did point to the tough conditions surrounding the experiment. In total 10 cities, but not the big four, are taking part in the experiment which aims to remove the grey area between licenced cannabis cafes, or coffee shops, and the illegal drugs trade. Independent research will assess the impact of having a closed chain from plantation to retail on crime and public order. (See also: Dutch legal cannabis cultivation trial stalled)