"Americans are divided over whether marijuana should be decriminalized — 50% say no, 48% say yes — but they overwhelmingly agree on this: When states vote to legalize pot, the feds should look the other way. In a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll, those surveyed say by almost 2-1, 63%-34%, that the federal government shouldn't take steps to enforce federal marijuana laws in states that legalize pot." Continue reading →
"A former Microsoft executive and Washington state resident is planning to enter the upscale marijuana business, in the hopes that it will help bring some respectability to the industry, reported KiroTV. Jamen Shively plans to name his business after his grandfather, who supplied hemp rope to the Spanish Armada at the time of the Spanish-American War. 'By creating the category of premium marijuana, we want to position it similar to a fine cognac, a fine brandy, a fine cigar,' Shively told KiroTV." Continue reading →
"California’s Humboldt State University announced recently it would form a new institute that combines experts from the fields of economics, psychology, sociology, politics, geography, social work and public policy to help better inform the nation’s ongoing debate on marijuana reform. The school, which is accredited and funded by taxpayer dollars, said it would begin offering lectures on marijuana policies as soon as Tuesday evening. At least 11 faculty members are also onboard, according to the institute’s website." Continue reading →
"In the wake of this month's marijuana legalization victories in Colorado and Washington, legislators in New England are ramping up efforts to be the next state to legalize. Solons in Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont have all signaled they will be filing legalization bills next year. The legislative process is frustratingly slow, often taking several years to get a measure through, but in the wake of the Colorado and Washington votes, we could see a sudden collapse in support for pot prohibition, even at the state house." Continue reading →
"The bill introduced Wednesday says only that the government will manage and regulate commercial cultivation and sales. Whether it will actually open state-run pot farms or marijuana retail outlets is yet to be decided, but in either case, a National Cannabis Institute will be in charge. Under the pending legislation, each household could grow up to six plants or possess up to 480 grams, or slightly more than a pound. People could also join 'smoking clubs' with up to 15 members and grow six plants per member, up to an annual production of 15.8 pounds." Continue reading →
"The parliament of Singapore has approved legislation abolishing mandatory death sentences in some drug trafficking cases. The action came last Wednesday, according to a press release from the Singapore Attorney-General's Chambers. Under the reform, judges will be able to commute some death sentences to sentences of life in prison. Before, judges were forced to impose the death penalty on persons trafficking drugs above certain specified quantities." Continue reading →
"Marijuana growing operations in Wisconsin, watch out: the U.S. Forest Service has instructed hunters to look out for fields in the state’s Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. In August, one fisherman in the state came upon a 8,000-plant growing operation worth $8 million. One Justice Department director explained that growers, rather than creating one large field of marijuana plants, now plant a larger number of smaller fields to thwart aerial detection. Police interviews with those who have been apprehended on growing operations revealed that most were undocumented immigrants." Continue reading →
"Mexican druglords have found an earthy new source of wealth: dirty old coal. They are mining it themselves in a coal-rich area along the US border or buying it from small mine operators, then reselling it to a state-owned company at fabulous margins that can see them make a profit 30 times greater than their initial investment. Reforma newspaper says the Zetas produce or buy 10,000 tonnes of coal a week. Selling it at their inflated prices, that means yearly revenue of $22 million to $25 million." Continue reading →
"A record 57 new legal highs have been detected so far this year, with the EU’s early warning system reporting the appearance of more than one new psychoactive drug on the market every week. The rise and rise of legal highs is being driven by an explosion in the number of online retailers selling the new drugs in Europe, which has risen from 170 in 2010 to a record 693 internet 'head shops'. The European drug experts say those manufacturing the drugs are trying to evade attempts to ban them by using ever more obscure chemical groups to synthesise them; a rising number of products now include several psychoactive substances." Continue reading →
"The President of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Raymond Yans, has voiced grave concern about the outcome of recent referenda in the United States of America that would allow the non-medical use of cannabis by adults in the states of Colorado and Washington, and in some cities in the states of Michigan and Vermont. Mr. Yans stated that 'these developments are in violation of the international drug control treaties, and pose a great threat to public health and the well-being of society far beyond those states'." Continue reading →