Ecstasy may help boost therapy success in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, say researchers.

A small trial in 20 patients has shown use of the drug is safe and seems to improve the effects of psychotherapy.

The US team has now gained approval for a larger study in military veterans, but stresses more research is needed to confirm the finding.

.bbc.co.uk

The government's chief drugs adviser says the UK is "floundering" in its attempts to control the online mephedrone market.

A BBC investigation has found that the illegal drug is still widely sold through websites despite the ban.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs also said many new legal highs had flooded the market since mephedrone and naphyrone were banned this year.

bbc.co.uk

Juri Wiktorowitsch Fedotow ist ein hochrangiger Diplomat der Russischen Föderation. Fedotow ist ein Karrierediplomat, der 1971 in den Dienst eintrat. In seiner bisherigen Laufbahn hatte er mehrere Posten bei der UN inne und war zwischenzeitlich von 2002 bis 2005 russischer Vize-Außenminister und dann Botschafter in Algerien, Indien und zuletzt in Großbritannien. Im Juli 2010 wurde er von UN-Generalsekretär Ban Ki Moon zum Nachfolger von Antonio Maria Costa als neuer Leiter des UN-Büros für Drogen- und Verbrechensbekämpfung (UNODC) ernannt. Gleichzeitig wird der Russe auch die Leitung des Uno-Amtssitzes in Wien übernehmen. Als Unter-Generalsekretär wird er damit der höchste UN-Beamte in Wien und wird direkt an Generalsekretär Ban Ki-moon berichten.

taz.de

We live in a golden age of American cannabis connoisseurship. Pineapple Express and Blue Dream can be found from coast to coast. But some people have been passing on all the excellent pot in favor of a new designer drug - K2, Spice and other products containing synthetic cannabinoids - being sold and smoked in the United States. Marketed as incense, they can be purchased in head shops in silver pouches that contain random plant matter sprayed with chemicals.

celebstoner.com

4:20 statt Spice

Cheech and Chong have got some pretty blunt advice for Prime Minister Stephen Harper when it comes to Canada's marijuana's laws.

"Wise up, you douchebag," Cheech Marin says with some glee when asked what he'd tell the prime minister.

Chong, who hails from Edmonton, nods in agreement.

The team of tokers is miffed that Canadian authorities, after nearly decriminalizing pot a few years ago, have made a 180-degree policy shift which culminated in a rash of recent marijuana arrests.

winnipegfreepress.com