Colombia
What’s that smell? California flower town’s shift to pot creates stink
This picturesque coastal town cradled by mountains and sandy shores is a scene out of a Southern California postcard. Residents of Carpinteria say they feel lucky to live in what they consider a slice of paradise.
Germany May Follow Worldwide Marijuana Reform Efforts
While much of our focus on marijuana.net centers around the domestic United States patient, we are always trying to keep our readers up to date on international developments regarding marijuana reform. The past two weeks have treated us to great news coming out of Uruguay and Colombia with the former legalizing and the latter decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana.
We at marijuana.net were excited to learn that Germans are also voicing their pleas for decriminalization and legalization efforts. German government officials have been conducting online polls in an effort to engage the people in the political process directly. According to Reuters, 152,000 German residents voted online to make cannabis legal. Also up for vote was a bestiality law, which received 93,000 votes, another vote we agree with. Apparently in 1969 sexual abuse of animals was decriminalized, decades before serious marijuana reform (if in fact it even happens soon).
Germany is known for their innovation and has successfully navigated through the rough economic currents challenging most of the world. In fact, much of the rest of Europe and those who utilize the Euro as their main currency have been depending on Germany to provide funds for a bailout in order to stabilize the effects of the European Debt Crisis. As they are typically forward thinkers in terms of industry, Germany may want to think of unconventional ideas in order to stay ahead of the economic curve. Additionally, their online polling and voting system may prove to be a great tool for future governing, letting the people actually have a say.
As stated above, there have been some great develops internationally for marijuana reform. It appears change is now occurring rapidly. Marijuana.net recently wrote about a U.N. study that showed marijuana has now become the most used “drug” in the world. Regulated cannabis could be used to solve financial issues (a small town in Spain tried to lease their land to growers as a way to climb out of debt) and bring much needed medical relief worldwide. Legalization could also make Oktoberfest even more fun.
Marijuana Becomes Most Popular “Drug” Used Around the World
With no proven physically addictive properties, marijuana seems no more a “drug” than other pain relievers, though it does offer psychedelic effects. However, many still classify marijuana as a drug even as alcohol escapes this dubious distinction. Alcohol can result in a physical addiction, which is why many face difficult times when trying to quit drinking. Whatever the case is, it is now generally accepted that marijuana is far less harmful than consuming alcohol and new reports show the entire world agrees.
Several days ago Time Magazine published an article online entitled “Marijuana Now the Most Popular Drug in the World”. The article cites a U.N. report that shows as many as 224 million adults worldwide smoke marijuana. These staggering numbers do not even include those under the age of 18 who use cannabis. We have learned lately that teen use in the United States is climbing and it would not be a stretch to assume this is the case worldwide. Including teens would drastically inflate the U.N. statistics. Though the numbers are not rising as much in the North America, marijuana use is climbing steadily in Africa and Asia.
As we have been reporting, the international movement for marijuana reform is outpacing the United States. In a recent article, we reported on Uruguay making a historic move to legalize marijuana and how Colombia decriminalized marijuana days later. The momentum around the world is clearly picking up as we now know from the U.N. data that the two largest continents are also seeing an increase in marijuana acceptance. Israel is several steps ahead of America in their medical marijuana industry and has recently developed strains that have high levels of CBD (one of the 50 plus cannabinoids in marijuana) as opposed to the psychoactive cannabinoid THC. These medically friendly strains will not produce the well known psychedelic “high” most commonly associated with marijuana use.
Though the Time article omits any mention of alcohol, it does not seem to include alcohol in the “drug” category. With growing social and medical acceptance marijuana may be able to shed the “drug” classification in years to come especially as it has demonstrated far less addictive qualities and does not induce vomiting. There may yet still be some setbacks for patients and marijuana advocates but the worldwide trend seems to indicate that marijuana is here to stay.
The Walls Are Caving In: America’s Neighbors are Amending their Marijuana Policy
On June 22nd we at marijuana.net reported that Uruguay would be drastically altering their policy on marijuana. Frustrated with the United State’s unwillingness to help reduce Central and South American cartel violence, Uruguay decided to take matters into their own hands and legalize marijuana. In a stunning move the government in Uruguay government will cultivate, distribute, and regulate legalized cannabis.
Only days after Uruguay made history, Colombia has also decided to shift away from a failed drug policy. Colombia’s Constitutional Court approved the government’s legislation that aimed to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana and cocaine. Individuals caught with less than 20 grams of marijuana and 1 gram of cocaine can be sent to psychological rehabilitation but cannot be arrested or detained.
Even if the United States federal government does not realize it, the walls appear to be caving in on our failed drug policy. Federal inaction has prompted many of our 50 states to enact decriminalization and medical marijuana laws. In addition, our closest geographic neighbors are also riding the reform momentum. Besides Uruguay and Colombia, Mexico just witnessed a presidential election that revolved heavily around the issue of cartel violence. On Sunday it was announced that Enrique Pena Nieto of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) was the apparent winner. The president elect has vowed to reduce the surging violence linked to cartel activities, though it may take some time to win over all the people as the Institutional Revolutionary Party was known to rule in brutal fashion. Other leaders in Central and South America are also pro decriminalization, especially newly elected Guatemalan President Otto Pérez Molina.
The evidence of our failed war on drugs is overwhelming. Other than an upcoming presidential election, many analysts are left wondering exactly why the United States has decided to relinquish its traditional leadership role in international politics, and has instead chosen to be reform’s largest obstacle to overcome. As is often the case with American policy, it seems easy to ignore a problem that is not immediately a domestic threat. However, the United States’ failure to forecast how deep the cartel violence problem would become has now compromised our own security. The Mexican cartel has funneled money through race horses, set up a strong operational presence in Utah, and successfully dug over 75 tunnels (that we know of officially), complete with electrical lighting and ventilation. These breaches in security represent far worse than drug smuggling, and government officials should hope that Al Queda or other terrorists do not seize on these tailor made opportunities. Though its late in the game, the United States can recapture its leadership role and enact true marijuana reform which could eliminate the need for the Mexican Cartel’s supply and significantly reduce their funding and power.