Europe

Accept The Facts – and End This Futile 'War on Drugs'

jeremiah — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:51:03 -0800

Illustration by Eva Tatcheva

The proponents of the "war on drugs" are well-intentioned people who believe they are saving people from the nightmare of drug addiction and making the world safer. But this self-image has turned into a faith – and like all faiths, it can only be maintained by cultivating a deliberate blindness to the evidence.

Dutch Among Lowest Cannabis Users in Europe

jeremiah — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:42:12 -0800

The Dutch are among the lowest users of marijuana or cannabis in Europe despite the Netherlands' well-known tolerance of the drug, according to a regional study published on Thursday.

Among adults in the Netherlands, 5.4 percent used cannabis, compared with the European average of 6.8 percent, according to an annual report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, using latest available figures.

Sacking of UK Drug Chief Sparks Major Controversy

jeremiah — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:13:16 -0800

CANNABIS CULTURE - The fallout continues after the UK's top drug adviser, David Nutt, was fired for claiming cannabis and ecstasy are safer than alcohol and tobacco, with several resignations, increasing criticism of the government, and the possible collapse of the country's advisory council on drugs.

Copenhagen Considers Legalizing Cannabis

jeremiah — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:34:40 -0700

CANNABIS CULTURE - A debate over legal marijuana has been raging in Denmark this summer because of an unpleasant gang war.

War on Drugs is Not Working, Says EU Commission

jeremiah — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:47:12 -0700

The war on drugs has not reduced the production, trafficking, availability or use of drugs, a massive study by the European Commission has found.

The research project said the prices of drugs have fallen significantly in western Europe despite massive efforts at law enforcement.

The commission said drug prohibition has inflicted "substantial harms", including the creation of lucrative black markets, as well as inflicting political stability in certain countries and worsening levels of violence.

British Government Plans To Ban Legal 'Party Drugs'

jeremiah — Thu, 21 May 2009 09:22:09 -0700

Ball-and-stick model of the γ-butyrolactone (GBL) molecule.Two "party" drugs linked to the death of young people will be banned under plans unveiled by the Home Office.

The move will make BZP - also known as herbal ecstasy - and industrial solvent GBL, sold as a "legal high", illegal.

The parents of Hester Stewart, 21, who died after taking GBL in Brighton last month, wrote to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith asking her to change the law.

Airships To Be Used In Battle On Drugs

jeremiah — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:00:24 -0700

They were known as Zeppelins and “blimps”, they were used as bombers in the first World War and for several decades later, they provided first-class air travel until the 1937 Hindenburg disaster. Now the application of the airship design to monitor offshore drug-smuggling and for remote sensing is being discussed at a European conference in Galway.

British Government Ignores Scientific Advice and Reclassifies Cannabis

jeremiah — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:51:55 -0800

The British government's decision to ignore scientific advice has been controversialCannabis has been reclassified in England and Wales by the government from a Class C to a Class B drug, carrying a higher maximum jail sentence for possession.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said there was "uncertainty at the least" on the future impact on young people's mental health as a result of using cannabis.

United Kingdom: The Drug Laws Don't Work

karlis — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Cannabis and Big Ben in EnglandFifty years ago, Lenny Bruce, the American comedian who was pursued relentlessly by the police for his drug use, remarked that cannabis would be legal soon, "because the many law students who now smoke pot will some day become congressmen and legalise it in order to protect themselves".

Hungarian Marijuana Activist Arrested Again After Trial

karlis — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Hungarian police on Wednesday arrested a drug activist for possession of illegal substances two days after he brought a cannabis plant to his trial for using marijuana.
"The police came to my house because I took a plant into the courtroom," Peter Juhasz, the Vice President of the Hempseed Organization, told Cannabis Culture. "They found a plant and other paraphernalia and arrested me."

Summer travel ganja guide

karlis — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0700

European Dreaming
The unified Europe is good for pot travelers because the Union has eliminated passport controls and formal airport border crossings between most countries. Many cannatourists begin their European vacations in Holland, procure cannabis, and then travel to other European destinations.

Cannabis Culture News Roundup - September 18th 2005

karlis — Sun, 18 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Marc Emery speaks in Vancouver on September 10thA look at some of the recent and current events in the cannabis community.

Bombed in London

karlis — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0700

In the olden days, they said the sun never set on the British Empire.
Nowadays, reports a cannabis advocate from the UK, the empire is gone, the sun has long ago set, and most citizens of the emerald isles have lost all faith in their government.

Last week's London bombings are the latest karmic blow to a country that finds itself governed by leaders who seem incapable of telling the truth.

UK cannabis opponents go bonkers

karlis — Sun, 19 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0700

British Prime Minister Tony BlairAt the beginning of May, we reported that British Prime Minister Tony Blair, faced with a tough re-election campaign, was making troublesome noises about reversing a statutory reclassification of cannabis implemented by his government in January, 2004.

Global pot contests

karlis — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0700

The High Times Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam is the oldest annual pot judging contest in the world. Started in 1988 by then High Times editor Steven Hagar, the cup began as a small event with only three judges and five entrants.

Hazed and enthused

karlis — Tue, 31 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Throughout history the Dutch have been astute, bordering on ruthless, business people. By the mid-17th century, the Dutch dominated overseas commerce and became the first great maritime trading nation. From spices to salt herring, for 400 years, the Dutch have effectively been the world's biggest dealers.

Nol van Schaik freed from prison

karlis — Tue, 25 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0800

Nol Van Schaik with his beloved marijuana.Dutch pot promoter Nol van Schaik has been released from a French prison after a total of 79 days behind bars.

Marching for freedom

karlis — Fri, 03 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0800

Leaf lovers in LondonThe sixth annual Million Marijuana March was a great success. On May 1, 2004, activists around the globe held marches, rallies, parties, concerts, and festivals raging against prohibition and calling for legalization.

Pot belly

karlis — Tue, 30 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0800

Pot almost always leads to the munchies, but sometimes it's the other way around. For example, an Ohio businessman delivered pot with pizza from his downtown shop until he was arrested in June. Also, this year's largest bust in El Paso, Texas, came when customs agents pulled over an 18-wheeler attempting to cross the border with 3,500 pounds of marijuana hidden in lettuce and strawberries.

Ronald Reagan on drugs

karlis — Thu, 11 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0800

Ronald Wilson Reagan ? America's 40th president ? died on June 5, 2004 at the age of 93.
Though some may try to remember him as "the great communicator" or the "vanquisher of communism," Reagan should also be remembered for turning Nixon's drug war rhetoric into an actual war, complete with military involvement against the American people.

Nol van Schaik freed from prison

karlis — Wed, 13 Oct 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Nol Van ShaikDutch pot promoter Nol van Schaik has been released from a French prison after a total of 79 days behind bars.

Dutch potshop guru imprisoned

karlis — Wed, 22 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Nol Van ShaikDutch coffeeshop guru Nol Van Schaik is in France to face charges of hashish smuggling and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

Pot luck

karlis — Fri, 27 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Among some crowds, the term "cabbage head" means someone who will smoke anything to get high, but in January one Belgian tourist may have taken the notion too far. En route from Amsterdam to Brussels by train, he was arrested for possessing 250 grams of cabbage leaves mixed with pot and given a 200 Euro fine. Police seemed unsure whether the grass was meant as a special garnish for a cabbage salad, or if he was merely trying to conceal his stash.

Ganja decrim sweeps the globe!

karlis — Thu, 19 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Russian tokers holding Putin`s photo while celebrating his new decrim law.Over-policed streets, overbooked courts, overstuffed prisons and overtaxed citizens has made the drug war a miserable failure. Governments can see little choice but to decriminalize marijuana, and several have recently changed their country's laws.

Dutch pot hero wrongfully imprisoned

karlis — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Nol Van SchaikDutch cannabis activist and coffeeshop guru Nol Van Schaik, who owns three quality potshops in Haarlem, Holland near Amsterdam, is imprisoned in France on a 15-year-old hashish smuggling charge.