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Cannabis Bill controversy: Did dagga growers influence MPs?
One of the growers said they were happy with the withdrawal of the Bill because the value of the illicit herb will continue to be high
Times of Swaziland (Eswatini)
Sunday, June 21, 2020
Did dagga growers influence MPs? The withdrawal of the Opium and Habit-Forming Drugs (Amendment) Bill No.06 of 2020 in the House of Assembly, has raised more questions than answers. Dagga grower Jama said he would continue advocating that dagga should not be legalised and that members of the Royal Eswatini Police Services (REPS) should continue destroying it but not all of it. “By destroying the dagga, the police control the price of dagga from dropping further,” said Jama. Another dagga grower, Musa, also said he was pleased that the Bill had been withdrawn. He said this was good because it meant that the value of the dagga would continue to be high. -
Cannabis legalization bill clears first hurdle
Legislation will decriminalize possession of up to 50 grams of marijuana while legalizing possession and consumption of up to 15 grams by people above 21
The Times of Israel (Israel)
Sunday, June 21, 2020
A bill to legalize cannabis use in Israel was approved by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation, passing its first hurdle on the way to becoming law. The legislation will decriminalize the possession of up to 50 grams of marijuana while fully legalizing the possession and consumption of up to 15 grams by individuals above the age of 21. If the bill becomes law, selling and purchasing marijuana for personal use will be legal for those above 21 and authorized shops will be allowed to sell cannabis product, through growing marijuana at home will still be illegal. The legislation also outlined medical cannabis reform. (See also: Cannabis legalization bills pass early readings; ultra-Orthodox MKs walk out) | Israeli lawmakers give preliminary approval for cannabis decriminalization) -
Switzerland releases details on recreational marijuana experiment, but full legalization likely years away
The Swiss National Council rejected several proposals by legislators that would have imposed hurdles and limits on the experiment
Marijuana Business Daily (US)
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
The lower house of Switzerland’s Federal Assembly approved a bill paving the way for a pilot research program that would permit the temporary production and distribution of cannabis to adults for recreational purposes. While an important milestone, the vote in early June is also symbolic of the sluggish pace at which recreational legalization is occurring in Europe. While approving the project, a majority of National Council legislators rejected proposals that would have limited the experiment’s size and scope – a sign that the lower house is committed to moving forward with the project. Now the Council of States will debate and vote on the bill. Local experts expect the project to be approved. -
Library of Congress highlights racist news coverage used to justify criminalizing marijuana a century ago
"Tales of alleged atrocities fueled by the drug are often tied to anti-Mexican propaganda”
Marijuana Moment (US)
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
The Library of Congress (LOC) is documenting racist depictions of marijuana in early 20th century news coverage that helped to drive the criminalization of cannabis, highlighting sensationalized articles about the plant that the federal research body says effectively served as “anti-Mexican propaganda.” As part of the institution’s “Chronicling America” project, which digitizes media from throughout U.S. history, LOC published a timeline last week that gives examples of headlines concerning cannabis from 1897 to 1915. “From the late 19th to early 20th century, newspapers reported the early rise of marihuana (known today as marijuana),” the post states. -
United Nations body to meet again this month to discuss WHO cannabis recommendations
Member nations will have an opportunity to clarify and discuss unresolved issues stemming from the WHO recommendations
Marijuana Business Daily (US)
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
According to an email the CND Secretariat sent to permanent missions in Vienna, the “first topical meeting of the intersessional considerations of the WHO scheduling recommendations” is scheduled for June 24-25. During the gathering UN member countries are expected to discuss the implications of recommendations regarding extracts and tinctures as well as CBD. The WHO’s CBD recommendation, if ultimately adopted, could lead to freer international trade in the cannabinoid. The topical meetings, to be held behind closed doors, involve only UN-member countries and relevant intergovernmental organizations. Next week’s gathering will be the first of a series of topical meetings to be held before December. -
Growers association calls ganja industry a failed experiment
The CLA has failed, if their main achievement being heralded is the granting of a total of 60 licences up to May 2020, to perhaps no more than 25 companies and individuals in totality
Jamaica Observer (Jamaica)
Monday, June 15, 2020
The Ganja Growers and Producers Association (GGPAJ) says despite the success of several Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) operators, Jamaica's regulated cannabis industry has failed to live up to its potential. In a statement the GGPAJ said while the 2015 legislation was progressive, the regulations are unworkable, restrictive and draconian. It said that the industry was not designed with a ground-up approach and blamed both of the major political parties for the state of affairs. It accepted culpability too, saying it has so far failed to adequately lobby on behalf of the local sector, but claimed it can still be rescued as an inclusionary income generating enterprise for thousands of Jamaicans with a new approach. (See also: Cannabis agency defends its stewardship on ganja) -
Saint Lucia cabinet to deliberate on cannabis commission’s proposals
The Commission was set up in July 2019 to review and make recommendations on the laws and regulations as it relates to cannabis
The Star (St Lucia)
Monday, June 15, 2020
Over ten months since the Saint Lucia government announced the formation of a Cannabis Commission, a report has been presented to the cabinet of ministers for a decision on the way forward. Mandated to “consult and provide advice on the design of a legislative and regulatory framework for cannabis”, the commission was chaired by Michael Gordon QC. From November-December 2019, the commission hosted a total of seven town hall meetings throughout the island, and also embarked on a social media campaign. The government’s point man on cannabis Commerce Minister Bradley Felix said that the criminalization of cannabis— which costs $3.6 million— has been ineffective in reducing related use. -
Criminalization that never should have been: Cannabis
The decades-long prohibition of marijuana was founded upon racism and bigotry
The Hill (US)
Friday, June 12, 2020
As the House debates ways to reform policing in the United States, it’s critical that we not only analyze the structures under which law enforcement operates, but also the extraordinary powers that they have been granted — powers that often provide them with the ability to interact with citizens whenever and wherever they please. One common pretext provided by police for these citizen interactions is that they suspect that someone has either used or is in possession of marijuana. That is why Rep. Lou Correa (D-Calif.) has suggested the need to amend federal anti-marijuana laws during the recent hearing on policing practices. -
Cannabis-Modellprojekt in Bremen kann kommen
SPD, Grüne und Linke sowie die FDP haben in der Bürgerschaft dafür gestimmt, dass der Senat die Machbarkeit eines Modellprojektes zur kontrollierten Abgabe von Cannabis prüfen soll
Weser Kurier (Germany)
Donnerstag, 11. Juni 2020
Bremen wird also nach dem 2017 gescheiterten Vorstoß im Bundesrat (damals gemeinsam mit Thüringen) nun für die Landesebene prüfen, unter welchen Bedingungen ein Modellprojekt, in dem die kontrollierte Abgabe des Rauschmittels durch wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen flankiert wird, möglich ist. Auf Bundesebene soll sich der Senat für eine Reform des Strafgesetzes in puncto Drogen einsetzen. Was das Bremer Modellprojekt angeht muss die Regierung nun entscheiden, ob man sich Berlin anschließt, das derzeit nach einem abgelehnten Antrag auf ein eigenes Cannabis-Versuchsprojekt bei der zuständigen Bundesbehörde für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte Rechtsmittel prüft, oder einen eigenen Antrag stellt. -
B.C. records highest number of fatal overdoses in a single month, with 170 deaths
Overdoses claimed more lives in May than COVID-19 has claimed all year in province
CBC News (Canada)
Thursday, June 11, 2020
The BC Coroners Service said 170 people died of an illicit drug overdose in May, the highest total ever recorded for a single month in provincial history. It's also more people than have died from COVID-19 in B.C. all year. "It's frustrating to see the number of illicit drug deaths go up and to reach a new high ... It's sad to see this many people impacted, losing their lives," said Andy Watson, a spokesperson for the coroners service.The province said 167 people have died of COVID-19 since B.C.'s first case of the virus was confirmed six months ago. The annual total for overdoses in B.C. was 554 as of May 31. (See also: An emotional Dr. Bonnie Henry urges family, friends to reach out to drug users after 170 die in May)
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