The Dutch are among the lowest users of Marijuana or cannabis in Europe despite the Netherlands' well-known tolerance of the drug, according to a regional study published Thursday. Among adults in the Netherlands, 5.4% used cannabis, compared with the European average of 6.8%, according to an annual report by the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction, using latest available figures. (National Post)
Monday, November 9, 2009
Cannabis dispensaries spreading like... well... weeds....
The medical marijuana dispensary in Sebastopol, California wine country town is in a former auto dealership and has more registered patients than the town has residents. Los Angeles has more pot shops than Starbucks or schools. (from the Portland Press Herald)
In Los Angeles – the marijuana dispensary capital of the country – about 800 dispensaries are estimated to have opened despite a 2007 order halting new pot operations.
In Los Angeles – the marijuana dispensary capital of the country – about 800 dispensaries are estimated to have opened despite a 2007 order halting new pot operations.
Cocaine and Alcohol combination health warning
Combining alcohol and cocaine leads to the creation of a third chemical – cocaethylene which builds up in the liver over a number of years among those who mix the two drugs. Major health consequences are now becoming apparent. (from the Guardian)
Britain the designer drug capital of the world
Britain has become the online "designer drugs" capital of Europe with more than a third of all internet retailers that sell "legal highs" based in the UK, according to a report from the European Union's drug agency. (from the Guardian)
This new generation of online "head shops" is at the centre of a rapidly growing market in highly potent synthetic drugs, such as Spice, that mimic the effects of illegal substances such as cannabis and ecstasy.
European drug agency officials are also alarmed by the way the online retailers are reacting to moves to ban individual "legal highs" by rapidly marketing alternatives. Officials say it is like trying to hit a moving target.
Britain is poised to ban Spice, a cannabis substitute that can be more potent than skunk, which is sold as a "herbal smoking mixture" , but already the online head shops are selling 27 alternative "herbal smoking blends" based on the active ingredient in cannabis synthesised by chemists in Asia.
This new generation of online "head shops" is at the centre of a rapidly growing market in highly potent synthetic drugs, such as Spice, that mimic the effects of illegal substances such as cannabis and ecstasy.
European drug agency officials are also alarmed by the way the online retailers are reacting to moves to ban individual "legal highs" by rapidly marketing alternatives. Officials say it is like trying to hit a moving target.
Britain is poised to ban Spice, a cannabis substitute that can be more potent than skunk, which is sold as a "herbal smoking mixture" , but already the online head shops are selling 27 alternative "herbal smoking blends" based on the active ingredient in cannabis synthesised by chemists in Asia.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Violence - an unintended consequence of drug busts
While the UK Drug Policy Commission accepts limiting supply is important, its report claims that in the UK's entrenched drugs markets, arrests can lead to damaging unintended consequences.
Arresting one king-pin drug dealer also raises the possibility of creating a power vacuum, with the resulting turf war and spike in violence, says the report. (from BBC)
Arresting one king-pin drug dealer also raises the possibility of creating a power vacuum, with the resulting turf war and spike in violence, says the report. (from BBC)
South African drug laws lack rational basis
South Africa has three drug regimes. Prohibition, Control and Exemption. Which regime applies to a drug has no rational foundation. All drugs are prohibited, but for tobacco which is controlled and alcohol which gets an exemption. Alcohol is specifically exempted from the definition of "drug" in the National Drug Master Plan of 2006. Placing alcohol under the control of the Department of Trade and Industry to develop the industry without concern for the harm done
Logic dictates that the most dangerous drugs would be prohibited while less dangerous drugs are controlled. The Academy of Medical Science drug policy group in England conducted a survey of the harms of all drugs - licit and illicit. The inconsistency in the law is apparent as alchol appears at number 5 on the list.... far ahead of cannabis! (from the BBC)
David Bayever the deputy head of the Central Drug Authority when asked about cannabis legalisation had this to say: "We have 9.2 percent of our population - twice that in other parts of the world - who use cannabis. It will be a grave mistake to legalise cannabis as elsewhere in the world. We legalised alcohol and never mind the money made from it - alcohol is our biggest problem. The cost to society is horrific. We cannot make the same mistake twice."
What did David Bayever do about his first mistake? NOTHING! What evidence that the cost to society of legalising cannabis Bayever's solution is to lock them all up! 9% of the population? Add to that the cost of his alcohol exemption and the 10% of children being born retarded and dear David belongs in prison. No one else in the country has had the opportunity to deal with the problem.
Logic dictates that the most dangerous drugs would be prohibited while less dangerous drugs are controlled. The Academy of Medical Science drug policy group in England conducted a survey of the harms of all drugs - licit and illicit. The inconsistency in the law is apparent as alchol appears at number 5 on the list.... far ahead of cannabis! (from the BBC)
David Bayever the deputy head of the Central Drug Authority when asked about cannabis legalisation had this to say: "We have 9.2 percent of our population - twice that in other parts of the world - who use cannabis. It will be a grave mistake to legalise cannabis as elsewhere in the world. We legalised alcohol and never mind the money made from it - alcohol is our biggest problem. The cost to society is horrific. We cannot make the same mistake twice."
What did David Bayever do about his first mistake? NOTHING! What evidence that the cost to society of legalising cannabis Bayever's solution is to lock them all up! 9% of the population? Add to that the cost of his alcohol exemption and the 10% of children being born retarded and dear David belongs in prison. No one else in the country has had the opportunity to deal with the problem.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
UK government chief science advisor backs Prof Nutt
The UK government's chief science adviser, Professor John Beddington, has told BBC News that he supports the former chief drugs adviser's scientific view on cannabis. (from the BBC)
Professor David Nutt was chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
He was fired after using a lecture to say cannabis was less harmful than alcohol and tobacco.
Asked whether he agreed with Professor Nutt's view that cannabis was less harmful than cigarettes and alcohol, Professor Beddington replied: "I think the scientific evidence is absolutely clear cut. I would agree with it."
Professor Beddington is the man ultimately responsible for scientific advice in government
Professor David Nutt was chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
He was fired after using a lecture to say cannabis was less harmful than alcohol and tobacco.
Asked whether he agreed with Professor Nutt's view that cannabis was less harmful than cigarettes and alcohol, Professor Beddington replied: "I think the scientific evidence is absolutely clear cut. I would agree with it."
Professor Beddington is the man ultimately responsible for scientific advice in government
Cape Town targets drunk drivers and vandals
Vandals, drunk drivers and destructive protesters will soon be forced to cough up for damage to council property, as the city pushes for the introduction of a zero-tolerance policy to recoup repair and replacement costs from those responsible. (from IOL)
"For decades the city has not attempted to go back to the person who caused the damage and collect (from them)," mayco member for finance Ian Neilson said yesterday.
There were no exact figures, but "clearly a great deal of money" was spent on repairing damaged council property.
"We are now pursuing (a policy) so people can start taking responsibility and not rely on other people to pay," he said.
"For decades the city has not attempted to go back to the person who caused the damage and collect (from them)," mayco member for finance Ian Neilson said yesterday.
There were no exact figures, but "clearly a great deal of money" was spent on repairing damaged council property.
"We are now pursuing (a policy) so people can start taking responsibility and not rely on other people to pay," he said.
Patch to kick Cannabis habit being researched
The American federal government has awarded a Kentucky pharmaceutical company more than $2 million in stimulus dollars to develop a patch that will ease the withdrawal symptoms of cannabis. (from the Courier Journal)
AllTranz Inc. of Lexington will use the grant to create a patch that combats marijuana addiction and withdrawal — part of a larger body of research that has included $1.7 million in money from Kentucky investors, said Clint Dederick, the company’s President and CEO.
AllTranz Inc. of Lexington will use the grant to create a patch that combats marijuana addiction and withdrawal — part of a larger body of research that has included $1.7 million in money from Kentucky investors, said Clint Dederick, the company’s President and CEO.
Monday, November 2, 2009
David Nutt's sacking provokes mass revolt against UK Home Secretary
The home secretary faces mass resignations from the government's drug advisory body over his decision to force out its chairman, who accused ministers of distorting scientific evidence on cannabis. (from the Guardian)
Two members of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs resigned today in protest at Alan Johnson's treatment of Professor David Nutt. Another member told the Guardian that the experts were "planning collective action" against Johnson, adding: "Everybody is devastated. We're all considering our positions."
Nutt said today that there was "no future" for the council in its present form and it is thought the group's members may use a meeting next Monday to announce a mass resignation.
The sacking follows the publication of a paper by the Centre for Crime and Justice at King's College London, based on a lecture Nutt delivered in July.
He repeated his familiar view that illicit drugs should be classified according to the actual evidence of the harm they cause and pointed out that alcohol and tobacco caused more harm than LSD, ecstasy and cannabis. Alcohol should come fifth behind cocaine, heroin, barbiturates and methadone. Tobacco should rank ninth, ahead of cannabis, LSD and ecstasy, he said. He also argued that smoking cannabis created only a "relatively small risk" of psychotic illness.
Two members of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs resigned today in protest at Alan Johnson's treatment of Professor David Nutt. Another member told the Guardian that the experts were "planning collective action" against Johnson, adding: "Everybody is devastated. We're all considering our positions."
Nutt said today that there was "no future" for the council in its present form and it is thought the group's members may use a meeting next Monday to announce a mass resignation.
The sacking follows the publication of a paper by the Centre for Crime and Justice at King's College London, based on a lecture Nutt delivered in July.
He repeated his familiar view that illicit drugs should be classified according to the actual evidence of the harm they cause and pointed out that alcohol and tobacco caused more harm than LSD, ecstasy and cannabis. Alcohol should come fifth behind cocaine, heroin, barbiturates and methadone. Tobacco should rank ninth, ahead of cannabis, LSD and ecstasy, he said. He also argued that smoking cannabis created only a "relatively small risk" of psychotic illness.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Big talk, song and DANCE in Mitchell's Plain
Mitchell's Plain can count on the government's "full support" in its fight against gangs and drugs, President Jacob Zuma said on Saturday. (from News24)
"Mitchell's Plain already has a good track record in the fight against crime," Zuma told a crowd of several hundred, who had gathered at a festival marking the township's 35th birthday.
"We know that the communities of Mitchell's Plain and Khayelitsha have taken a strong stance against drugs and gangsterism and you have government's full support."
Police recently launched a 30-day lockdown of Mitchell's Plain after the death of two street committee members, Mervyn Jacobs and Vincent Naidoo, who had been campaigning against drug sellers in the area.
Zuma paid tribute to Jacobs and Naidoo, saying they had "paid the ultimate price".
"In their memory, let us continue to battle to keep our communities safer by working with law enforcement agencies to fight crime," said Zuma, who was greeted with loud cheers. (couldn't protect them while they were alive, but let me use them for some political leverage)
Zuma also appealed to coloured and African communities to make their "divisions" a thing of a past.
"We are one people and no one should make us despise one another," he said. (SIMUNYE?)
Zuma was greeted with silence as he sang his trademark song, but received loud applause as he danced on stage.
"Daai man kan dans" a woman in the crowd was heard saying (Hy kan ook kak praat hoor!)California considers legalising cannabis
Less quietly California is actively considering legalising cannabis (from Cannabisnews)
On the quiet the US is legalising cannabis
You know things are shifting in America when Fortune magazine, the bible for business journalism, runs a cover story titled “Is pot already legal?”. You also know it when Barack Obama’s Department of Justice publishes a long-expected memo signalling that the federal government will no longer raid medical marijuana dispensaries if they are legal under state law. That happened formally this month. (from the Times)
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