Reform / Legalisation
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Legal Marijuana Sales Set To Quadruple By 2018: Study
U.S. legal marijuana sales are projected to hit $1.5 billion this year , and that could look like nothing in just a few years. Data from Medical Marijuana Business Daily shows that total sales could quadruple to $6 billion by 2018 on the back of legalization efforts in Washington and Colorado, as well as the growing medical marijuana industry. The two states both legalized the recreational use of weed in November.A marijuana tax is being considered as a reason to legalize the drug by several cash-strapped states, including New York and Maine. Advocates of marijuana have said that taxing the drug could help pump cash into states struggling to make ends meet. However, skeptics have disagreed. But some lawmakers agree with advocates. They assert that legalizing marijuana and taxing it would help put a large amount of money into state budgets still recovering from the recession.
Marijuana Tax Considered By Cash-Strapped States
Facts on drugsThe Libertarian | The Libertarian
This was origionally published in http://thebackbencher.co.uk/ Drug legalisiation does not increase usage http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/02/02/the-case-for-the-legalisation-of-drugs/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2011/07/05/ten-years-after-decriminalization-drug-abuse-down-by-half-in-portugal/ When Portugal decriminalised drug usage 10 years ago many worried drug usage would rise, it hasn’t.The Marijuana Conspiracy
(Nothing to do with its effects on the mind and body) By Doug Yurchey – Article from The Dot Connector They say marijuana is dangerous. pot is not harmful to the human body or mind. marijuana does not pose a threat to the general public. Marijuana is very much a danger to the oil companies, alcohol, tobacco industries and a large number of chemical corporations. Big businesses, with plenty of dollars and influence, have suppressed the truth from the people.
Why Congress might legalize marijuana (this time)
In 1973, Oregon rode the hippie wave to became the first state in the country to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. Within five years, eight other states had followed, but momentum soon lagged, and then reversed in the Reagan era. Lately, however, it’s beginning to feel like the ’70s again, with numerous polls showing a majority of Americans in favor of legalizing marijuana and the recent referenda in Colorado and Washington to do just that.
New Ipsos MORI Poll Shows 53% Of GB Public Want Cannabis Legalised Or Decriminalised
A new poll by Ipsos MORI, commissioned by Transform Drug Policy Foundation, shows that over half of the public (53%) support cannabis legalisation (legal regulation of production and supply) or decriminalisation of possession of cannabis. Only 1 in 7 support heavier penalties and more being spent on enforcement for cannabis offences. In addition, the survey shows that around two thirds (67%) support a comprehensive independent review of all the possible policy options (from legal market regulation to tougher enforcement) for controlling drugs. The findings indicate that 45% of mid-market newspaper readers (including Daily Mail and Express readers) support cannabis legalisation (legal regulation of production and supply) or decriminalisation of possession of cannabis, with less than one in five (17%) supporting heavier penalties and more being spent on enforcement for cannabis offences. For tabloid readers these figures are 47% and 20%.The majority of Britons would support a softer stance on cannabis laws, an independent think-tank has said. More than half the public support legalising the production and supply of cannabis or decriminalising its possession, according to a survey ordered by the Transform Drug Policy Foundation. Only one in seven Britons support heavier penalties and more money being spent on enforcement for cannabis offences, the campaign group found. Some 67% of people support an in-depth review of policy options for controlling all drugs. Transform head of external affairs Danny Kushlick said: "These results show just how far ahead of politicians the public are. "While Labour and Conservative politicians shy away from the debate on drugs, around half of their supporters want to see legal regulation of cannabis production and supply or decriminalisation of cannabis possession."
Half Of Britons Support Softer Cannabis Laws
<img src="http://timewellness.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/133492099a.jpg?w=307&h=200&crop=1" alt="133492099a" title="133492099a"/> States that legalize medical marijuana see fewer fatal car accidents, according to a new study, in part because people may be substituting marijuana smoking for drinking alcohol. Sixteen states and the District of Columbia, have legalized medical marijuana since the mid-1990s. For the new study, economists looked at 1990-2009 government data on marijuana use and traffic deaths in the 13 states that had passed legalization laws during that time period. The data were from the National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Why Medical Marijuana Laws Reduce Traffic Deaths
Oregon, Maine and California targeted for marijuana legalization in 2016
Fresh off victories in Colorado and Washington, drug reform activists are wondering where the next hotbed for legalization will emerge. The Marijuana Policy Project , a leading group behind those 2012 wins, told Raw Story that they think they know the answers: Oregon, Maine and California. Oregon is particularly of interest to MPP’s leadership, who saw a legalization initiative fail in the state last year even as Colorado and Washington’s efforts passed. MPP spokesperson Mason Tvert said he believes it failed because the proposed regulatory system was not strong enough, leaving room for improvement, either by the legislature or at the polls. “If such action isn’t taken by the legislature, we are very interested in woking with activists throughout Oregon to have a ballot measure to that effect [in 2016],” Tvert said. At a town hall meeting with constituents on Sunday, marijuana legalization was a hot topic for Rep.David Nathan says pot should be sold and regulated like alcohol and tobacco. David Nathan disputes CNN op-ed by David Frum that argues pot should be illegal Nathan treats drug abusers and agrees with Frum that young people should avoid marijuana Drug should be legal for adults and sold like alcohol, with kids taught the risks, he says Nathan: If pot is illegal, then dangerous drugs like alcohol and tobacco should be, too Editor's note: David L. Nathan, a clinical associate professor at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, was recently elected as a distinguished fellow in the American Psychiatric Association. He teaches and practices general adult psychiatry in Princeton, New Jersey. (CNN) -- David Frum is one of today's best and most reasoned conservative political voices, so his recent CNN.com op-ed on marijuana policy was just a little disappointing.
Why marijuana should be legal for adults
Contact: Peter Reynolds Tel: 07880872022 peterreynolds@clear-uk.org The Great Skunk Scare If there is a problem with ‘skunk’ in Britain, then it is successive governments and their foolhardy drugs policies that have caused it. In recent years there has been a lot of press coverage claiming cannabis has changed and is now far more harmful than it used to be. Cannabis certainly has changed but it’s important to understand how and why. 20 years ago most of the cannabis on sale in the UK was hashish, mostly imported from Morocco.
News Release - Corby By-Election -The Great Skunk Scare
Time for Irish patients to benefit from legal cannabis - The Irish Times - Tue, Nov 13
MEDICAL MATTERS: Colorado and Washington have just become the first US states to legalise the possession and sale of cannabis for recreational use. The states, which already have laws legalising cannabis use for medical purposes, are now in conflict with the federal government, which classifies it as an illegal drug. Preparations of the leaves and resin of the cannabis plant have been in use for over 2,000 years. Short-term effects include a feeling of relaxation and wellbeing. Appetite is often increased and the person appears increasingly talkative.'Don't break out the Cheetos too quickly': Colorado and Washington become first US states to legalise recreational cannabis but federal laws still consider it an illegal narcotic - Americas - World
The legalisation will set the stage for a possible showdown with newly re-elected President Barack Obama as the states’ initiative is in defiance of the US Department for Justice’s federal laws which consider marijuana an illegal narcotic. Supporters of Colorado’s constitutional amendment were the first to declare victory after returns showed 53 per cent voted in favour. And supporters of Washington State’s legalisation initiative declared victory after the Seattle Times and other media projected a win for marijuana proponents.News Release - Corby By-Election - The Cost Of Cannabis Prohibition
Contact: Peter Reynolds Tel: 07880872022 peterreynolds@clear-uk.org At a time when vital public services are being cut, the cost of cannabis prohibition makes no sense The cannabis trade is huge industry. A staggering £10,000,000 is spent in the Corby area every year on cannabis, this is all money going to the illegal black market. None of this money comes back into the community to fund schools, hospitals or any other essential service, instead the vast majority of it goes to organised crime gangs and perhaps even terrorists.Attempts to cut the supply simply increase the profits to be made and because the police raids will take out the easy to reach dealers, the trade is pushed ever more into the hands of the sort of people who can protect their turf with violence.'Six plants per person is acceptable' University professor Alex Stevens said people should not be punished for what they will do anyway He also advised student on cannabis use, telling them to 'be careful' By Sara Malm PUBLISHED: 21:59 GMT, 30 October 2012 | UPDATED: 01:06 GMT, 31 October 2012 A professor at a top British university has called for a decriminalisation of growing cannabis, saying six plants per person is an ‘acceptable amount’. Alex Stevens, an expert on criminal justice at the University of Kent, said possession of the drug and cultivating cannabis plants for personal use, should not be a criminal offence. He said he did not want to harm people for ‘things they are going to do anyway’.
Growing cannabis in your own home should not be a criminal offence
Weed