Commissioner Claims Crime In Polynesia Linked To Marijuana

Monday, January 30, 2012 at 8:57 am
Jon Rawlinson/The Global Digital
​Reefer madness is alive and well in the South Pacific. The French high commissioner in French Polynesia has announced that "a large part" of the crime in the island territory is "linked to marijuana."

That's right, folks. Never mind alcohol or other drugs, it's that damn wacky weed that's making 'em crazy -- at least, if we're talking about government officials.

High Commissioner Richard Didier (who should really try living up to his title), made the comments as authorities revealed that last year 67,000 cannabis plants were dug up and seized by law enforcement authorities, reports Radio New Zealand International.

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Israeli Study: More Doctors Should Recommend Cannabis To Cancer Patients

Monday, January 30, 2012 at 8:20 am
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More than two-thirds of cancer patients who were prescribed medical marijuana to combat pain are satisfied with the treatment, according to a comprehensive new study from Israel.

The study involved 264 cancer patients who were treated with medical marijuana for a full year, reports Dan Even at Haaretz. The research was conducted at Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, in conjunction with the Israeli Cancer Association.

About 61 percent of the patients reported a significant improvement in their quality of life as a result of the medical marijuana, while 56 percent noting an improvement in their ability to manage pain. Two-third -- 67 percent -- were in favor of the treatment, and 65 percent said they would recommend it to other patients.

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Illegal Drug Market Violence in Mexico [Infographic]

Friday, January 27, 2012 at 4:20 am
Illegal Drug Market Violence in Mexico - Infographic
Via: Rehab International

The U.S. prohibition of drugs has led to unprecedented levels of violence between warring cartels in Mexico. The U.S. "War On Drugs" has failed to curtail this violence.

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U.S. Using Unmanned Drones Against Marijuana Smugglers

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 1:52 pm
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FOIA Geek
Six Predator B drones like this one are authorized to operate against marijuana smugglers
Program Costs Taxpayers
$​2,608 Per Seized Pound of Marijuana

U.S. border patrol agents are using drones -- the same type used to fight the Afghanistan war -- to locate illegal shipments of marijuana being smuggled across the Mexican/American border.

But based on the federal government's own statistics, it remains to be seen if use of the expensive, unmanned aircraft to supposedly halt the flow of weed into the United States can be financially justified, reports Noel Brinkerhoff at AllGov.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) currently operates six Predator B aircraft from two locations. Four of them are based in Sierra Vista, Arizona, according to the agency, and two in Corpus Christi, Texas. 

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German Parliament To Discuss Cannabis Legalization

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 9:20 am
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Alaskan Activism
Germany's socialist Left party is calling an expert hearing on "legalizing cannabis through the introduction of cannabis clubs" in the German Parliament on Wednesday, January 25, but the idea has reportedly been met with "widespread rejection" from mainstream politicians.

The Left party is proposing that Germans be allowed to open cannabis clubs where members can grow marijuana, reports PanArmenian.net. They also recommend that consumers be allowed to possess up to 30 grams of pot for personal use, double the current limit in Germany.

The proposal was written by Frank Tempel, former director of an anti-drug group that worked with police in the eastern German state of Thuringia, reports The Local. Tempel, who is now the Left party's advisor on drug policy, said there needs to be a sea change in Germany's attitude to marijuana.

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Canada's NDP Against The Drug War: End Prohibition Survey

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 8:52 am
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EndProhibition.ca
Candidates for leadership of Canada's NDP were unanimous this week in their support for ending the Drug War, according to a survey released by Vancouver-based End Prohibition.

The survey, released on the heels of a new federal Liberal Party policy calling for marijuana legalization -- and new polling showing two-thirds of Canadians support legalization/decriminalization -- demonstrates the new political consensus in Canada: The Drug War has failed, and it's time to regulate cannabis.

"What we see here is a major shift in Canadian politics, where there is wide acknowledgement that the drug war has failed, and that a non-criminal, regulatory approach has unanimous support among the opposition parties," said Dana Larsen, executive director of End Prohibition. "The question is not should we end the war on marijuana, but rather when we do, what should regulation look like?"

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Polish MP Could Get A Year For Even *Talking* About Smoking A Joint In Parliament

Friday, January 20, 2012 at 8:20 am
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AFP
MP Janusz Palikot, the leader of a new left-wing party in Poland, launched a drive on Friday to legalize marijuana in the Eastern European country
The leader of an up-and-coming new left-wing political party in Poland threatened to light up a joint in Parliament on Friday -- but ended up just burning what he said was cannabis-scented incense after being reported to prosecutors.

The prosecutors have opened an investigation into whether MP Janusz Palikot broke a Polish law against "promoting or advertising" drugs with his threat to smoke cannabis in Parliament, according to news agency PAP. That's a crime that could carry a prison sentence of up to a year, reports Vanessa Gera of the Associated Press.

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Two-Thirds Of Canadians Favor Pot Legalization Or Decrim: Poll

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 6:52 pm
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Simple Cannabis
Two-thirds of Canadians support legalization or decriminalization of marijuana according to a new poll released on Tuesday, with just 20 percent supporting leaving the pot laws as they are now.

The poll, by Toronto-based Forum Research Inc., showed that British Columbia residents were the most likely to support cannabis law reform, with 73 percent indicating laws should be changed, reports Ian Vandaelle at the National Post. Quebec had the lowest support, although even there, a sizable majority, 61 percent, supported legalization or decrim.

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Granny Told Me To Use Marijuana For Ear Problems: African Man

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 1:47 pm
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Lusaka Times
A Zambian reggae fan smoking marijuana during last May's Bob Marley memorial concert in Lusaka
A court in the African nation of Zambia has convicted and sentenced a 24-year-old man to six months in prison with hard labor after finding him guilty of marijuana possession.

Magistrate Bathromeo ("Bathromeo"?? Shit, and here I thought "Steve" was a cool name) Kaonga of the Siavonga Magistrates' Court slapped the sentence on Lucky Shamahoko, who was facing one count of trafficking in a "psychotropic substance" (cannabis) contrary to the laws of Zambia, reports the Lusaka Times.

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Lawmaker To Smoke Joint In Poland's Parliament Friday

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 9:47 am
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Kacper Pempel/Reuters
MP Janusz Palikot of Palikot's Movement Party wants to test Poland's new cannabis decriminalization law -- by smoking a joint in Parliament
A Polish lawmaker plans to test his country's new marijuana decriminalization law -- by firing up a joint in Parliament.

MP Janusz Palikot has announced he plans to share a joint in the Parliament building on Friday as part of a campaign to legalize marijuana in Poland.

The ultra-liberal Palikot's Movement Party will be using civil disobedience to test laws introduced in December that gave prosecutors a choice on whether to charge individuals who are found to be in possession of "soft drugs" for personal use, reports TheNews.pl.

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