Matt Noffs, the chief executive of the Ted Noffs Foundation and a spokesman for the Take Control Campaign for Safer, Saner Drug Laws, and Alex Wodak, the president of the Drug Law Reform Foundation, discuss the legalization of ecstasy. "People need time to think about it. Despite the breakthroughs, the politics of this is still fiercely difficult. But, on the other hand, let’s remember what’s important about this: it’s human life, the sacredness of human life and also the difficulty that young people have in the world today. Drug reform makes a material difference to young people – it’s about their future health and safety." (See also: Now that the ACT has given marijuana the green light, could (and should) MDMA be next?)

Australia’s cannabis industry could be earning the black market $25bn a year and, rather than policing it, we could be gaining revenue from it by legalising it, Greens senator David Shoebridge has said. “Law enforcement is spending billions of public dollars failing to police cannabis, and the opportunity here is to turn that all on its head by legalising it,” he said. In answer to a question from Shoebridge during Senate estimateson how much cannabis Australians consumed, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (Acic) provided data from the nation’s wastewater which found 14.6 kilograms of THC (the psychoactive compound found in cannabis) per thousand people a year.

Possessing and growing cannabis for personal use will become legal in Australia’s capital. The laws, which don’t come into effect until 31 January, were passed in the ACT Legislative Assembly. They will allow Canberrans over 18 to possess 50 grams of cannabis and grow two plants. The ACT attorney-general, Gordon Ramsay, told the assembly it was time to treat drug addiction like a health issue rather than an issue of “right and wrong”, which is why the laws would be accompanied by more drug and alcohol services and the introduction of specific drug courts. (See also: Cannabis legalised for personal use under ACT law | Police could still charge for cannabis possession if laws pass | Home grown cannabis to be legal in the ACT. Now what?)

La comisión de Presupuesto y Hacienda de la Cámara de Diputados avanzó en el dictamen del proyecto del Poder Ejecutivo, que cuenta con sanción del Senado, que establece el "marco regulatorio para el desarrollo de la industria del cannabis medicinal y el cáñamo industrial". El proyecto promueve mecanismos de autorizaciones para los productores y comercializadores, y estrategias de seguridad, fiscalización y trazabilidad en la cadena. El objetivo del texto es brindar un marco regulatorio para la inversión pública y privada en toda la cadena del cannabis medicinal y complementar la actual legislación, la Ley 27.350, que autoriza el uso terapéutico y paliativo del cannabis. En el caso del cáñamo industrial, apunta a legalizar los eslabones productivos, los de comercialización y sus subproductos.

El dictamen para regular el consumo de la marihuana en México fue aprobado en lo general por las comisiones unidas de Justicia, Salud y Estudios Legislativos del Senado de la República. Con 26 votos a favor, siete en contra y ocho abstenciones, el documento fue aprobado, lo que no significa que la marihuana ya pueda ser utilizada de manera lúdica, médica o industrial, pues se prevé que la siguiente semana se analicen los puntos particulares del dictamen y posteriormente se envíe al pleno de la Cámara Alta para su votación. El proyecto propone, entre otros temas, que las personas puedan poseer hasta 28 gramos de marihuana, a diferencia de los cinco gramos que actualmente están permitidos. (Véase también: Colectivo rechaza proyecto del Senado para regular la mariguana)

A basic legislation proposal for introducing a regulated cannabis market in Czechia should be finished by the end of March, the country’s National Drug Coordinator Jindřich Vobořil said after a meeting of experts. The proposal should lay the foundations for the rules of handing licenses to producers, distributors and sellers, as well as to the formation of so-called cannabis clubs and the cultivation of cannabis. The idea is to "create three principles of regulation". This should cover licensing, cannabis clubs and self-growing. The so-called substantive plan should be in place by the end of the first quarter of 2023. The proposal should then be discussed by coalition politicians and the government. Work would then continue on drafting specific paragraphs.

Things haven’t been this good in the illicit cannabis industry in British Columbia in many years. Factors such as increased wholesale prices on the black market, a low level of enforcement, and too many challenges for legal players from all levels of government are helping to encourage people to not transition into the legal market. As BC works to create a thriving legal cannabis industry alongside what is arguably one of the most robust illicit cannabis industries on the planet, the appeal of staying in the black market is strong. Even as many former black market growers and retailers do successfully make the transition to the legal industry, many others continue operating as they have for years. (See also: StatsCan: Legal pot spending beat black market for first time in Q2)

Beijing's leading drug enforcement body has blamed the legalization of marijuana in Canada and parts of the United States for a spike in the amount of drugs smuggled into the country, describing it as a "new threat to China." Liu Yuejin, deputy director of the China National Narcotics Control Commission, said that the number of cannabis users in China had grown by more than 25% in 2018, rising to about 24,000 people. "In two years, we have found increasing cannabis trafficked from North America to China," he said, though he conceded there were "few cannabis abusers in China" relative to the total population. Anyone found with more than 50 grams of a controlled substance can face the death penalty in China. (See also: China nominates Hong Kong occupy-era police chief for UN post)

Elio Di Rupo, leader of the French speaking socialist party, reiterated his party’s plan to legalise cannabis in Belgium in order to prevent young people being forced to aquire it in a criminal milieu controled by ‘mafia-like’ elements. "We are going to resubmit a legislation to legalize cannabis and we will do everything to get the government to agree,” Di Rupo said in an interview to La Libre. Meanwhile however the Christian democrats have rallied against the plans. (See also: Belgium legislates in favour of medicinal cannabis | Legalising cannabis could generate up to 144 million euros for Belgium)

For some time now patients in Belgium have been able to use cannabis on medical grounds.  So far the problem has been that suitable cannabis has been hard to get hold of as cannabis cultivation was banned in Belgium. This ban is now being lifted for cannabis for medicinal purposes but cultivation will have to meet strict norms. "A newly established Cannabis Office will organise the cultivation of all cannabis" lawmaker Nele Lijnen (Flemish liberal), who took the initiative for the law said. "It will issue licences.  The office will also purchase the cannabis production and sell it on to chemists and hospitals." Medicinal cannabis will only be available on doctor's prescription.

A coalition of political parties in the German capital agreed to push for partial decriminalization of cannabis. The initial effects will be limited. Berlin's Social Democrats, the Greens and the Left Party agreed to seek a "scientifically monitored pilot project for the controlled distribution of cannabis to adults." The initiative could be a step toward getting marijuana decriminalized. In the past attempts by city districts to legalize pot foundered on the Federal Intoxicants Law, which bans cannabis. The city, which is also one of Germany's 16 federal states, has better chances for success. (See also: Neuer Senat will Cannabis aus Apotheken - nicht aus Coffee-Shops)

Die rot-rot-grüne Koalition will ein Modellprojekt zur kontrollierten Abgabe von Cannabis auf den Weg bringen. Ein entsprechender Antrag solle im September an das zuständige Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte (BfArM) gehen, sagte Catherina Pieroth, Sprecherin für Gesundheits- und Drogenpolitik der Grünen-Fraktion im Berliner Abgeordnetenhaus. Das Projekt solle zwei Jahre laufen und wissenschaftlich begleitet werden. Damit werde eine Vereinbarung aus dem Koalitionsvertrag umgesetzt, heißt es weiter. Geplant ist, dass eine noch nicht näher benannte Zahl von Teilnehmern legal Cannabisprodukte erwerben kann. Sie müssen sich im Vorfeld melden, Angaben über ihren Konsum und ihr Konsumverhalten machen. Zwei bis drei Abgabestellen solle es geben.

The ruling Progressive Labour Party (PLP) has reacted angrily after the Senate rejected a controversial law to legalise cannabis, which will now be sent back to the House of Assembly in the British Overseas Territory. The Cannabis Licensing Act, setting out a regulatory framework for growing, selling and using the drug, was passed by MPs two weeks ago. But in the Upper House, senators opposed the legislation, six votes to five, handing a major defeat to the PLP five months after it was re-elected with a huge 24-seat majority. All three independent senators – who are chosen by the governor – and three Opposition One Bermuda Alliance (OBA) senators voted the Bill down; the five government senators voted in favour. (See also: Government to push on with cannabis law despite Senate rejection)

A refined draft bill to lay the legal groundwork for a regulated adult-use cannabis regime in Bermuda will soon be presented to the island’s legislature. That puts the British island territory among a small group of countries where the establishment of a regulated industry for recreational marijuana is under active consideration. Bermuda recently concluded month-long public consultations over the proposed law and policy document outlining how a regulated cannabis market would look on the island. The proposal is a major pivot from the government’s previous plan to establish a medical industry. That plan was scrapped after it was concluded it “did not go far enough to meet public expectation,” the attorney-general said. (See also: New cannabis law ‘will help overcome stigma’)

Los intentos para legalizar la siembra y la venta de cannabis volvieron a generar controversia en Bermudas, después de que la Cámara baja de la Asamblea aprobara la medida y esta quede ahora a expensas del consentimiento real de la gobernadora británica. Un proyecto de ley similar ya fue aprobado hace un año por la Cámara baja de este territorio británico de ultramar y rechazado por el Senado, que ahora, sin embargo, no puede bloquearlo por segunda vez. La última palabra es de la gobernadora británica de Bermudas, Rena Lalgie, quien ha enfatizado que el cannabis como uso recreativo no está permitido bajo las obligaciones internacionales del Reino Unido. El proyecto de ley, presentado por el ministro de Interior de Bermudas, Walter Roban, fue aprobado con 18 votos a favor y seis en contra.

Illinois’ coffers have enjoyed a boost in tax revenue approaching the amount generated by booze sales thanks to the year that recreational marijuana has been legal there. But that success is dampened by the fact that the program’s loftier goal of bringing social equity to an industry dominated by wealthy white men hasn’t been met. Sales of highly taxed marijuana that have topped $1 billion are popular in a state with a $3.9 billion budget deficit. But other states are watching Illinois’ experiment that promised to ensure people of color could reap revenue in a rapidly growing, multi-billion dollar industry.” That’s not happening.

Big Tobacco has been planning for this moment for decades. A 1983 industry list titled New Product Ideas, made public as part of a court settlement, reveals that tobacco companies even then were anticipating the opportunity to blend marijuana into cigarettes if the government legalized cannabis. Now tobacco behemoths are pouring billions of dollars into the new legal marijuana industry. We don’t have to let them. Announcing a comprehensive bill to legalize marijuana, Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer said, “We don’t want the big tobacco companies and the big liquor companies to swoop in and take over.” Tobacco companies are convicted racketeers who knowingly misled the public with false claims about their products for decades.

Senior operating staff working at CannTrust Holdings Inc.’s Pelham, Ont. facility late last year brought cannabis seeds from the black market into production rooms, leading to some illicitly-grown pot flowing into the legal market. In an apparent effort to conceal the black market cannabis seeds from regulatory inspections and other staff members, some CannTrust employees changed the names of as many as 20 strains to those which the company was licensed to sell in the legal medical and recreational markets. Adding cannabis seeds obtained through the black market would have allowed CannTrust to significantly bolster its production at a time when it had overcommitted itself with supply contracts with provinces and other licensed marijuana producers.