Last week, a new survey released by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that a record-high percentage of Americans — 61 percent — say they support marijuana legalization.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos signed a decree legalizing the growing and sale of marijuana for medical purposes. The decree comes against the backdrop of the ongoing peace negotiations between the FARC-EP and the Colombian government and signed agreements about illicit drugs.
The US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) have given their permission for clinical trials to begin for therapeutic use of marijuana on veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is a 180 degree turn from the DEA’s stance on marijuana just 6 months ago.
Drug law amendments that partially decriminalize small amounts of pot and pave the way for a lawful medical marijuana sector went into effect Wednesday in Jamaica, a country where the drug has long been culturally entrenched.
A medical marijuana legalization bill has been sent to Ohio Gov. John Kasich in an effort by state lawmakers to offset support for a proposed fall ballot measure. The measure cleared the Ohio Senate by just three votes, and the House followed by OK’ing Senate changes 67-28.
The Supreme Court of Mexico deliberates about legalizing the production and consumption of marijuana for recreational use. The first court session is scheduled for October 28.
The Ontario government has announced a deal to use Shopify’s e-commerce platform to help conduct both their online and in-store sales of soon-to-be-legalized cannabis. The Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation (OCRC), a subsidiary of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), will utilize the Ottawa-based Shopify’s platform to facilitate online as well as brick and mortar sales.
Uruguay’s President Jose Mujica has signed a bill, legalizing the cultivation and recreational use of marijuana. Mujica signed the bill into law after the Senate adopted the bill on Monday 14 December. Mujica brushed off harsh criticism from the UN’s INCB chief Raymond Yans, who had accused Mujica of not consulting with him first. An accusation President Mujica responded to by saying that the old man should stop lying and accusations of double standards.
A few years ago I decided it was time to leave the DEA. After targeting low-level offenders for petty marijuana violations, it no longer seemed a job worth doing.
I support the effort underway to allow adults to legally use marijuana. In part this is because marijuana is safer than alcohol and it doesn’t make sense to punish people who use it. But more importantly, I support regulating the production and sale of marijuana so that we can deliver a serious blow to the powerful cartels that cause so much crime and violence in Arizona.
