Experts say cannabis should stay class C despite mental health fears
The News Review:
- Experts say cannabis should stay class C despite mental health fears
- Shop blaze destroys cannabis farm
- Telluride ballot lowers pot priority
- Man faces drug charge in Highway 395 death
- Police Report: Jail Log
- Senseless Death, Senseless Law
- Abramovich faces £500 million lawsuit over oil shares deal
Experts say cannabis should stay class C despite mental health fears
The Independent – Independent – Sep 25, 2005
This followed the recent publication of studies which associated cannabis with “psychotic” symptoms. The drug advisers were also asked to provide guidance on a higher classification for skunk – a more potent form of cannabis – but it is understood that members of the ACMD think this would be unworkable. Most cases of cannabis possession are now non-arrestable offences, but research published next year is likely to show some police forces are continuing to take a hard line against users. A source close to the ACMD said: “The feeling is that the committee has given thorough consideration to all the research on the health risks of cannabis and that reclassification is not necessary. “However, this does not rule out a rethink. Mr Clarke has indicated he still may reverse the decision of David Blunkett, the previous Home Secretary, to make cannabis a class C drug even if the ACMD advises him against this.
Shop blaze destroys cannabis farm
BBC News – Sep 25, 2005
Fire crews were damping down on Sunday at the scene in Hyde Road, Gorton, Manchester, following the previous night’s fire. Police officers who were called to the incident said they discovered a cannabis farm. Detectives will carry out a forensic search at a flat above the shop, once the fire is finally quenched.
Telluride ballot lowers pot priority
Seattle Times – Sep 25, 2005
Executive Director Allen St. Pierre of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws said the fact the Supreme Court did not strike down the state laws seemed to suggest “concern by justices about thwarting local control, local values. ”
People who favor relaxing marijuana laws — many of whom believe the government wastes public resources by targeting low-level drug offenders — hope Telluride sets a national example, St… Dorsey said the proposal is misguided, partly because voters should not establish law-enforcement priorities. He also objected to a second portion of the initiative, which would declare that Telluride would approve if Colorado decided to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana use. That would “tell people in town that we think marijuana should be legal, and it will tell people who visit that we think marijuana should be legal,” he said. “I think that’s the wrong message to give to families in town, and I think it’s the wrong message to give to families who are coming here. ”
To supporters, the proposal reflects the town’s ethos. Much of the town seems to celebrate that “high” can refer to its lung-clenching altitude — 8,750 feet above sea level — and to the heady smoke that wafts intermittently. One popular T-shirt reads: “Honey, I think the whole town is high.
Man faces drug charge in Highway 395 death
Record-Courier – The Record-Courier – Sep 25, 2005
, was in Douglas County Jail on Friday on $50,000 bail. He is charged with driving with a prohibited substance in his blood causing death and driving while under the influence of a controlled substance causing death. Investigators said Clark had marijuana in his bloodstream which caused the vehicle to drift off the road killing Tracy Fein, 22, also of Simi Valley. The couple was heading for the Burning Man festival in the Black Rock desert when the accident occurred at 11:45 p. 27 at Highway 395 and Ray May Way south of Gardnerville… Johnson also said Clark’s tongue was green which indicated recent marijuana use. Clark denied it, saying said he was dehydrated. He told the trooper he hadn’t used marijuana for 10 days. Blood test results indicated the presence of marijuana in Clark’s system, but no alcohol. Fein’s sister told investigators before the couple left for the festival from Simi Valley, Clark reportedly showed her a plastic bag with 30 Ecstasy tablets which he said he was taking to Burning Man to use as currency. She said he seemed to be under the influence and he told her he had taken the drug.
Police Report: Jail Log
St. Augustine Record – Sep 25, 2005
(SJCSO) Who: Brown, Darrell Lynn, 25, Jacksonville. Charge: Possession of Cannabis — less Than 20 Grams. (SJCSO) Who: Brown, Robert Louis, Sr. Charge: Failure of Sex Offender To Properly Register.
Senseless Death, Senseless Law
Washington Post – Sep 25, 2005
Magbie, who used marijuana to ease pain from the childhood injury that left him disabled, need not have gone to jail in the first place. Had Congress allowed the medical marijuana initiative passed by District voters in 1998 to take effect, he probably would be alive today. If the District’s jailers have blood on their hands, so do the members of Congress who conspired to treat Mr. Magbie and patients like him as criminals. BRUCE MIRKENDirector of CommunicationsMarijuana Policy ProjectWashington© 2005 The Washington Post Company… Magbie, who used marijuana to ease pain from the childhood injury that left him disabled, need not have gone to jail in the first place. Had Congress allowed the medical marijuana initiative passed by District voters in 1998 to take effect, he probably would be alive today. If the District’s jailers have blood on their hands, so do the members of Congress who conspired to treat Mr. Magbie and patients like him as criminals. BRUCE MIRKENDirector of CommunicationsMarijuana Policy ProjectWashington© 2005 The Washington Post Company.
Abramovich faces £500 million lawsuit over oil shares deal
Guardian Unlimited – Sep 25, 2005
Cannabis law under reviewThe government’s drugs advisory panel met yesterday to discuss whether the downgrading of cannabis should be reversed following research suggesting a link with ‘psychotic symptoms’ in users. Home Secretary Charles Clarke has asked for guidance on Dutch plans to introduce a higher classification for skunk, a more potent form of the drug. Cannabis was downgraded from Class B to Class C last year. Row over ‘guillotine’ remarksA Tory councillor who provoked a row after allegedly suggesting severely disabled children should be sent to the guillotine has insisted his words had been taken out of context. Owen Lister, a retired GP, resigned as deputy mayor of Swindon, Wiltshire, after the row broke out over his comments at a meeting earlier this month. Lister reportedly told a discussion on sending the children to a care home in Cornwall: ‘I would guillotine them. ‘ Lister admitted to using the word ‘guillotine’ but said that he had been referring to fears that links with children’s families would be severed.