An ill Boksburg man has obtained a court order to stay his criminal trial for possessing, manufacturing and dealing in dagga pending the outcome of a constitutional challenge aimed at legalising the substance in South Africa. Judge Ronel Tolmay granted an order in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to stay the criminal trial of Clifford Thorp, 58, pending the final outcome of his legal battle to legalise the medicinal use of dagga. The court in November last year granted Thorp permission to join the application of Julian Stobbs and his partner Myrtle Clarke, also known as the "Dagga couple", in their legal challenge to the constitutionality of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act which outlaws the possession of and dealing in dagga. [continues 289 words]
Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie, pictured, has announced a plan he says is supported by his political party to rid gang-afflicted communities of drug dealers. On his Facebook account, he yesterday asked members of these communities to inbox him the addresses of drug houses and "lolly lounges" in their areas, because the PA needed to verify that they were, indeed, selling drugs. He wrote: "We shall send kids to buy drugs in order to be a hundred percent sure that your accusation is accurate. We shall verify every house before we strike. [continues 337 words]
Cape Town - The abuse of illegal and over-the-counter drugs was seemingly growing and needed to be dealt with urgently, said the chairperson of the SA Medical Association, Mzukisi Grootboom. He added that South Africa continued to be the regional hub for drug trafficking in and out of the country. "Drug dependency, in all its forms, is a massive problem that creates serious health, social, legal, and economic problems for the country. We need to stand together to deal with this and say enough is enough." [continues 287 words]
The Gauteng provincial government yesterday took to the streets of Hillbrow to spread the word on its drug rehabilitation programme as part of Child Protection Week, which started on Sunday. The "radical" programme implemented by the Gauteng department of social development is aimed at compelling the rehabilitation of young drug addicts, who pose a danger to themselves and others. Gauteng social development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza said government was embarking on the campaign to raise awareness on the rights of children and intervention and prevention programmes available for drug addicts. [continues 128 words]
Supply and Demand: The Rules Can Play Tricks With the Unwary Having the best product on the market means very little when no one wants it any more. Heroin, cocaine and ecstasy, to name a few commonly known drugs, have been a menace to governments worldwide. Billions are spent every year on the war on drugs and a greater portion of that is allocated to battling the supply end. But the problematic issue is really on the demand side, coming from those who buy and consume drugs. [continues 377 words]
Medicinal: Claims herb reduces pain, nausea Court bid to decriminalise use of cannabis and allow recreational use. A Boksburg man has been granted leave to join a Johannesburg couple's constitutional challenge aimed at legalising dagga in South Africa. The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria last week granted permission to Clifford Thorp to join the legal battle of Julian Stobbs and his partner, Myrtle Clarke, which is expected to be heard in March next year. Thorp, who has numerous health problems, wants the use and possession of dagga for medicinal purposes legalised. [continues 286 words]
Cancer-stricken IFP MP Mario Ambrosini's heartfelt plea for the decriminalisation of cannabis for medicinal purposes comes at a time when use of the drug is increasing becoming acceptable worldwide. While cannabis remains illegal in most countries, the US states of Colorado and Washington have recently legalised use and possession. In December Uruguay became the first country to legalise the sale, cultivation and distribution of cannabis. Medicinal use is allowed in 20 US states and a number of countries, including France, Austria, Canada, Finland, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain and the Czech Republic. [continues 201 words]
Mitchell's Plain police made a mistake arresting DA leader Helen Zille. Those who imagine theres's a Zimbabwe-style political motive are wrong. Even ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe says police could have acted with restraint against her. So we don't think any order came from on high, as happens in Zim where opponents are routinely detained by Robert Mugabe's jackboots. Zille was arrested along with 15 other anti-drug protesters when she went to the police station to find out why march leader Moulana Maker had been held. Given the levels of incompetence in the SAPS, we can't expect every officer to understand the consequences of their heavy-handedness. But the attempt by MEC Leonard Ramatlakane to justify the arrest is lamentable. [continues 163 words]
MAPUTO - More than 50 Mozambicans jailed in Brazil for drug trafficking will be repatriated to the southern African country this year, while a Brazilian will be sent home from Mozambique. Mozambican justice minister Esperanca Machavele, and Leda Lucia Martins Camargo, the Brazilian ambassador in Maputo, signed an accord to facilitate the transfer this week. The 52 Mozambican drug mules will be transferred this year while the Brazilian also finish his prison term in his country of origin. The accord was facilitated by another one, which was ratified by parliaments of the two countries to conform with international legislation on transfer of prisoners. [continues 104 words]
A businessman from Brits and a Menlo Park company have instituted a damages claim for more than R5,8 million against Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula, after police arrested the man and destroyed his "scientific" dagga crop. Transvaal Deputy Judge President Jerry Shongwe granted leave to businessman Russel de Beer and the company Leading Prospect Trading to proceed with legal action for unlawful arrest and delictual damages, despite them not giving timeous notice of their claim. According to court papers, the police raided De Beer's farm at Kameeldrift, near Brits, in February 2004, arrested him and destroyed his crops, stock and seeds. [continues 143 words]
BLOEMFONTEIN - The profile of patients attending the Aurora Alcohol and Drug rehabilitation centre in Bloemfontein has become younger over the years, the centre's director said on Wednesday. "(Previously) you mainly worked with alcoholism at centres like this, the other stuff (drugs) were a side issue," said Gert Kruger. "Today the majority of your patients are under 35 years of age." Kruger said in the age category five to 20 years they had about 43 patients during the previous financial year that ended in March 2006. [continues 262 words]
