Police took down a Sydney crime syndicate and made 'the largest cocaine seizure in Australian ... history' [photo] An Australian investigator unloads cargo from a seize boat, December 2016. Australian Federal Police Australian police dismantled a major cocaine smuggling ring after a two-and-a-half-year multi-agency operation undertaken with Tahiti, Australian authorities announced on Thursday. Operation Okesi, which began in July 2014, culminated in a Christmas-night seizure of 500 kilograms of cocaine in New South Wales in eastern Australia. [continues 648 words]
MANILA, Philippines -- Three American senators asked the US Department of State to explain the use of funding aid in the Philippines to make sure the money is not being used for the government's war on drugs. US Senators Edward Markey (D-Massachusetts), Marco Rubio (R-Florida) and Christopher Coons (D-Delaware) have expressed grave concern over alleged extrajudicial killings and human rights violations in the country under the President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-narcotics campaign. "The Philippine anti-drug movement known as Project [Tokhang] in fact appears to be a campaign of mass atrocities thinly disguised as a response to a public health emergency," the senators said in a letter addressed to US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Assistant Secretary William Brownfield. [continues 501 words]
The US State Department's 2016 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report says that addiction to shabu ( street name for methamphetamine or meth) is the most significant drug problem of the Philippines, with the narcotic continually growing as the most widely trafficked in the country. A UN World Drug Report also tagged the Philippines as the country having the highest rate of shabu use in the whole of East Asia with even the Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) releasing a pastoral letter last year expressing concern about the proliferation of the drug problem in the country and the alleged involvement of government officials. [continues 847 words]
Although President Duterte's police methods have drawn concern in various parts of the world, even those who deplore his methods at home are praying that his 'war on drugs' would somehow succeed. However, international experts who have done extensive studies on the global drug wars are deeply pessimistic; they describe the "war on drugs" as a failed strategy, and are calling for a major policy "rethink." These experts have not condemned the extrajudicial killings, the shoot-on-sight and "surrender or else" orders in the present drug war, as some UN officials, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and certain international publications have. Their studies precede DU30's war by at least a couple of years. [continues 1824 words]
Africa Check investigates the source of this statistic and others related to drug use in South Africa TOM ROBBINS, AMERICAN AUTHOR (1932-). Any half-awake materialist well knows - that which you hold holds you. "Drug use is really a symptom, not a primary cause of many of South Africa's issues, but it is a politically expedient target for people to focus on, instead of addressing the real imbalances and inequalities in our society." THE apparent drug-related murder of a respected media personality, Hope Zinde, has reignited a countrywide discussion about drug abuse in South Africa. Her son has been formally charged with her murder and possession of drugs. Media reports have linked his actions to a drug addiction that he is said to be suffering with. [continues 1158 words]
In a newsletter that reaches 700 000 medical aid members, a health insurance company presented "shocking South African drug statistics". But Africa Check researcher Vinayak Bhardwaj, says these aren't strictly factual THE APPARENT drug-related murder of a respected media personality, Hope Zinde, has reignited a countrywide discussion about drug abuse in South Africa. Her son has been formally charged with her murder and possession of drugs. Media reports have linked his actions to a drug addiction he is said to be suffering. [continues 1161 words]
Drug Laws Have Been Liberalised From Portland to Portugal. Why Is New Zealand Missing the (Magic) Bus? Philip Matthews Talks With Decriminalisation Advocate Ross Bell. Drug law reform. Is there any better example of a heart versus head issue? Logic and rationality tells you that the system does not work, that drugs are a medical issue not a criminal one. But your gut says lock all the junkies and potheads up. It is Ross Bell's job to wrestle with these dilemmas. For 11 years he has been chief executive of the New Zealand Drug Foundation, a charitable trust charged with preventing and reducing harms caused by drug use. [continues 2104 words]
Australia Comes Top of Global List for Recreational Drug Use AUSTRALIA has hit a new low by getting high, with revelations our nation can claim an unenviable gold medal for recreational drug users. The United Nations 2014 World Drug Report has found Australia ranks first in ecstasy use, second for opioids, third for methamphetamines, fourth for cocaine and seventh for cannabis - with experts warning our drug use is rising. AUSTRALIA, a country of sports champions, innovators ... and drug takers. The nation has the inglorious distinction of having the highest proportion of recreational drug users in the world - an embarrassing new low, albeit from getting high. [continues 815 words]
Global cannabis use seemed to have decreased, reflecting a decline in some European countries, but a lower perceived risk has led to more use in the United States, a U.N. report says. VIENNA - More Americans are consuming cannabis as their perception of the health risks declines, the U.N. drugs agency said yesterday, suggesting liberalization could further increase its use among the young. In a finding that could feed into an international debate on the decriminalization of marijuana, it said more people around the world, including in North America, were seeking treatment for cannabis-related disorders. [continues 536 words]
As more jurisdictions legalize its cultivation and use, stocks with eye-popping gains are appearing. But in cannabis investing, the trick is weeding out the low-quality stocks Investing in marijuana stocks may be a growth play for the long term, if you can stand the risk of getting burned in the short term. It's not that you can't make money right now. While Canada's S&P/TSX composite index has risen nearly 5 per cent year to date, at press time, Hemp Inc. has surged 563 per cent, Advanced Cannabis Solutions Inc. has soared 423 per cent, Medical Marijuana Inc. has jumped 92 per cent and GW Pharmaceuticals Plc has gained 35 per cent. [continues 760 words]
As more U.S. states consider legalization, those who support the status quo are sounding increasingly silly Jan. 1 was more than a New Year celebration for Coloradans who enjoy the occasional toke. It was the first day retailers could legally sell marijuana for recreational use. Despite the high tax rate, many lined up to be some of the first to purchase marijuana in a strip mall, rather than a dark alley. Washington state, which also legalized marijuana in a 2012 vote, will allow legal sales later this year. Not to be outdone, the legislature in New Hampshire - the state with the motto "Live Free or Die" on its licence plates - is also set to vote on a legalization bill. Activists in Alaska are on track to get a ballot initiative before the voters in that state, as well. [continues 597 words]
Canada busts the mom n' pop grow-op while fostering the rise of biopharmaceutical marijuana On a bright spring morning in 2012, in the Kootenay region of B.C., Emma Wright* dropped her daughters off at their elementary school and returned to her log house to find three black SUVs parked under the apple trees and an armed, flak-jacketed RCMP unit in her kitchen. Her husband Peter* stood by wordlessly as a man dug through the freezer. In the living room, officers were taking family photo albums off the shelves. From upstairs there came the thumps and scraping sounds of furniture being moved. A cop dressed in black led an excited German shepherd into the bathroom on a tight leash. The officers had a search warrant. [continues 1695 words]
Many New Zealanders are turning to cannabis as an alternative to alcohol, which might explain why we are among the highest users in the world, a medical anthropologist says. According to the Ministry of Health's most recent New Zealand Alcohol and Drug Use Survey, one in seven New Zealand adults will have used cannabis in the past year. The survey found 46.4 per cent of all adults had used cannabis in their lifetime. That put New Zealand among the highest cannabis users in the world, according to the 2013 United Nations World Drug Report. [continues 357 words]
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With more reports of young people overdosing on the "party drug" commonly referred to as Molly, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer wants D.C. to stage a legal assault to ban the chemicals used to make the drug. Schumer, (D-NY), said Sunday that a strategy involving federal agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, was needed to attack the dangerous trend. "This summer there have been a rash of overdoses of the drug, which is commonly taken at music festivals - three of which, in New York City, were fatal," Schumer stated. [continues 545 words]
I drive past the imposing, barbed-wired building of the prison in Paola every day. I should stop saying ' prison' really, seeing as for several years now it's been a ' correctional facility'. I quite agree with this turn of phrase, even though it's a mouthful. Corradino is no Norwegian prison - where inmates live in ' pods' and get lessons in respecting neighbours - but at least the intention is that one day it will become less of ' behind the bars' and more of a place for people to adjust their behaviour. [continues 745 words]
Health Officials Here Could Use Results to Push for Similar Reforms B.C. health officials are keeping a close watch on New Zealand as it experiments with a novel drug law that could legalize designer party drugs or so-called "legal highs" in a bid to make them safer for users. The new law, enacted two weeks ago, represents a U-turn from the traditional approach of banning synthetic drugs. Instead, New Zealand will attempt to regulate the substances, allowing their sale if they go through rigorous safety testing similar to that for pharmaceuticals. [continues 582 words]
Experiment to Make "Legal Highs" Safer Could Spur Reforms Here: Health Officials B.C. health officials are keeping a close watch on New Zealand as it experiments with a novel drug law that could legalize designer party drugs or so-called "legal highs" in a bid to make them safer for users. The new law, enacted two weeks ago, represents a U-turn from the traditional approach of banning synthetic drugs. Instead, New Zealand will attempt to regulate the substances, allowing their sale if they go through rigorous safety testing similar to that for pharmaceuticals. [continues 578 words]
After decades of wasted resources, clogged courtrooms and a shift in public perception, let's end the war on weed Sometime this year, if it hasn't happened already, the millionth Canadian will be arrested for marijuana possession, Dana Larsen estimates. The indefatigable B.C.-based activist for pot legalization is thinking of marking the occasion with a special ceremony. True, it will be impossible to know exactly who the millionth person is, but with the Conservative government's amped-up war on drugs, it won't be hard to find a nominee. As Larsen notes, the war on drugs in Canada is mostly a war on marijuana, "and most of that is a war on marijuana users." [continues 5925 words]
'It used to be weed. Now it's coke and pills,' St. John's cabbie says Part 1 in a two-part series The best part about waking up in the morning for Ron is that he doesn't have to call his dealer anymore. He starts his mornings now with reflection instead of drugs, but he's aware that could change any day. Ron is an addict, even though he's been clean for a decade. "I'm my biggest problem," he says matter-of-factly. [continues 1436 words]
Both the dangers of smoking cannabis and its potential health benefits have been a source of controversy for many years. The latest study on the drug suggested that heavy and prolonged cannabis smoking as a young person can result in a permanently lower IQ, reports Sade Oguntola. Persistent use of marijuana when the brain is undergoing critical development may have toxic effects on brain cells. Of particular worry is the permanence of these effects among people who began smoking marijuana in adolescence. Even after these subjects stopped using marijuana for a year, its adverse effects persisted. [continues 1074 words]
