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THE TOP TEN INTERNATIONAL DRUG POLICY STORIES OF 2011

2011-12-29T15:21:46Z

The new year is almost upon us and 2011 will soon be a year for the history books. But we can't let it go without recognizing the biggest global drug policy stories of the year. From the horrors of the Mexican drug wars to the growing clamor over the failures of prohibition, from the poppy fields of Afghanistan and the Golden Triangle to the coca fields of the Andes, from European parliaments to Iranian gallows, drug prohibition and its consequences were big news this year.

- 2011

HOW THE PENTAGON WILL PRIVATIZE THE WAR ON DRUGS

2011-12-26T12:52:01Z

The Pentagon's and Department of Defense strategy though the CNTPO, is part of the plan for the privatization of military assistance and intelligence services, which turns to be a very profitable business, and part of the U.S. secretive move to transfer tactics from the so called "war on terror", to the "war on drugs."

According to the description given by the US federal government, the CNTPO seeks to provide a wide variety of security services, which, in Mexico's case, would include instruction for pilots and mechanics of UH-60 (Black Hawk,) Schweizer 333 or OH-58 and Bell 206 helicopters; development and delivery of curriculum, provide all personnel, equipment and materials, and conduct training for night vision helicopter pilots and crew. Other contracts would include delivery of equipment and training to exchange information on drug trafficking activity.

- 2011

Latin American leaders fault U.S. drug users

2011-12-19T21:53:08Z

MEXICO CITY — Latin American leaders have joined together to condemn the U.S. government for soaring drug violence in their countries, blaming the United States for the transnational cartels that have grown rich and powerful smuggling dope north and guns south.

- 2011

BELGIAN CANNABIS SOCIAL CLUB HARVESTS FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN 2011

2011-12-18T00:17:40Z

Today the First Cannabis Social Club of Belgium, Trekt Uw Plant in Antwerp, brought in its fourth harvest of 2011. In a meeting in Antwerp 90 members received their plant containing each 20 grammes of cannabis. Since February 2010 the association grows cannabis for the personal use of its 150 members, on the basis of the principle 1 plant per member. This is made possible by a ministerial guideline that was signed in January 2005 by the Minister of Justice and all 5 Chief Prosecutors of Belgium, which decriminalises the possession of max. 3 grammes of cannabis or 1 cannabis plant.

Growing cannabis for personal use is a sensible and healthy alterntive to the illegal market and the tourism from Belgians to Dutch coffeeshops. Trekt Uw Plant uses only ecological cultivation methods, without any risk of contamination or adulteration of the product, like it can be the case on the black market. Contrary to the illegal market, a Cannabis Social Club is not accessible to minors. And because members of Trekt Uw Plant do not need to drive to the Netherlands anymore, to buy cannabis in coffeeshops there, a contribution is made to the reduction of public nuisance and pollution.

- 2011

DUTCH GOVERNMENT DELAYS PLANS TO BAN TOURISTS FROM BUYING WEED

2011-12-17T20:45:05Z

The conservative Dutch government said Thursday it is delaying plans to ban tourists from buying marijuana until at least May 2012, though it still intends to curtail the country's famed tolerance policy.

Cannabis is technically illegal in the Netherlands, but police turn a blind eye to possession of small amounts and it is sold openly in designated cafes known euphemistically as “coffee shops.” Large-scale growers are prosecuted.

- 2011

BASQUE GOVERNMENT REGULATES CANNABIS SALE AND USE

2011-12-13T21:12:28Z

The Basque Parliament will approve a law bill in the first few months of 2012 on drug addiction, which will regulate "the growing, sale and consumption of cannabis". This is according to the second in command at the region's health authority, Jesus Maria Fernandez, who was quoted by the EFE agency. "It is better to regulate than to ban," said Fernandez, who called the consumption of cannabis "a practice that is already consolidated".

His words were echoed by the leading health official, Rafael Bengoa, who said: "We do not want to be prohibitionists". The consumption and possession of cannabis are regulated by the penal code and by the law on citizen security. For the new ruling, for which "technical and legal studies have been undertaken", the regional government wants to "open a debate" with associations in favour of consumption and to "shape their rights".

- 2011

POLAND INTRODUCES 'TREAT NOT PUNISH DRUG LAW'

2011-12-13T18:23:55Z

The amendment will be put into practice as of Friday, with prosecutors able to act independently in cases of the possession of small quantities of narcotics.

Agnieszka Sieniawska, head of the Polish Drug Policy Network (PSPN), told Polish Radio's press agency (IAR) that the new system will be quicker, cheaper and more efficient.

- 2011

"Weed Wars" Documentary on medical Cannabis starts on Discovery

2011-12-09T17:27:38Z

The first episode of the new documentary "Weed Wars" about the californian medical marihuana dispensarys startet.

- 2011

SWISS ALLOWED TO GROW 4 CANNABIS PLANTS

2011-12-06T12:03:20Z

Cannabis smokers in Switzerland will soon be allowed to grow up to four marijuana plants each at home to stop them buying drugs on the black market.

In a bizarre twist to the new law, four people sharing a house can grow up to 16 plants - but only if each person tends to their own crop.

- 2011

CHANCELLOR MERKEL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON CANNABIS

2011-11-30T13:22:08Z

Chancellor Angela Merkel followed the example of president Barack Obama and has agreed to answer questions submitted and voted on German citizens. Merkel answered the 10 most popular ones via Youtube. The German Hemp Association] took the chance and asked her about cannabis legalization. Due to our good facebook network and the help of our partners Steffen Geyer ("mr. hemp parade") and the hemp journal (Hanfjournal), the question became the number one. Here is an unauthorized translation of the Merkel's answer by a volunteer helper and native speaker.

Angela Merkel sagt „Nein“ zum Joint: Haschisch und Marihuana sollen nach dem Willen der Bundeskanzlerin weiter illegal bleiben. Eine beschränkte und kontrollierte Freigabe lehnte die CDU-Chefin am Mittwoch ab. Cannabis müsse anders als Alkohol und Zigaretten als Droge eingestuft bleiben, denn auch der Konsum geringer Mengen könne eine sehr hohe Abhängigkeit hervorrufen, sagte sie in einem am Mittwoch veröffentlichten Interview auf dem YouTube-Kanal der Bundesregierung.

- 2011