The International Centre for Science in Drug Policy (ICSDP) today released a new research report that demonstrates the clear failure of U.S. marijuana prohibition and supports calls for evidence-based models to legalize and regulate the use of cannabis. The British Medical Journal, one of the world’s most influential medical journals, published a supportive commentary to coincide with the report’s release today.

icsdp.org
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An Austrian undercover police officer pleaded not guilty Thursday to assaulting an American teacher after mistaking him for an African drug dealer at a subway station in Vienna.

The officer's lawyer, Bernd Gahler, acknowledged, however, that the officer had made mistakes and used force during the Feb. 11, 2009, incident in which Mike Brennan, a former football player from Jacksonville, Florida, suffered injuries to his back, head, neck, hand and wrist. Brennan now works at a school for the children of expatriates in Vienna, the Austrian capital.

wane.com

Dass er den Sportlehrer Mike Brennan bei einer Razzia mit einem Drogendealer verwechselte, bedauert ein Polizist - Den Vorwurf der vorsätzlichen Körperverletzung weist der angeklagte Fahnder aber zurück

Wien - "Wie groß ist die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass in einer U-Bahn zwei Schwarzafrikaner sitzen, die ähnlich angezogen sind, in derselben U-Bahn-Station aussteigen und beide auf mich zukommen?" Mit dieser rhetorischen Frage entschuldigt sich am Donnerstag im Wiener Landesgericht der angeklagte Drogenfahnder für eine fatale Verwechslung, die dem Sportlehrer Mike Brennan zwei Wirbelbrüche, Rippenprellungen und Muskelzerrungen einbrachten. Es waren "menschliche Fehler", räumt der 37-jährige Polizist ein, doch was die angeklagte vorsätzliche Körperverletzung betrifft, bekennt er sich "nicht schuldig".

derstandard.at

Amy Winehouse has claimed she has been drug-free for three years.

The troubled singer says she managed to kick her dependency overnight, claiming: "I literally woke up one day and was like 'I don't want to do this any more'."

Amy - still to release a follow-up to 2006 album Back To Black - told Glamour magazine: "I'm much healthier now. I used to use drugs and I haven't used drugs in almost three years. It's not a hard thing."

eastwoodadvertiser.co.uk
independent.co.uk
Quincy Jones says Amy Winehouse is so talented she is "from another planet."

The Polish government announced Monday that it has shut down around a thousand stores that sold newly-emerging synthetic drugs, such as mephedrone and preparations containing synthetic cannabinoids (marketed under names like Spice and K2 in the US). It is also moving to amend its drug laws to cover such substances.

"The state will not flinch when it comes to using all legal means available in the struggle against these substances," Justice Minister Krzysztof Kwiatkowski told reporters Monday. "This is going to be a long and difficult fight because our opponent is extremely well-prepared, rich and determined," said Kwiatkowski.

wbj.pl
wsj.com
afp

Dustin Moskovitz confirmed tonight that he has recently given $50,000 in support of Proposition 19, which is seeking to legalize marijuana in California this November. He had previously donated $20,000 to supporters of the act, which would allow people 21 years old or older to possess, cultivate or transport cannabis for personal use and would permit local governments to regulate and tax commercial production and sale of the substance.

forbes.com
Update: Dustin explains why he backs Prop 19.
latimes.com
norml.org

FOUR nine-year-old boys have been suspended from school after being found with cannabis in the playground.

Police said they were called to Cherry Fold Community Primary School, in Cog Lane, Burnley, following reports the children had been discovered with the class B drug.

lancashiretelegraph.co.uk

Joint operatives from police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) destroyed an estimated P1.5 Million worth of marijuana plants during their latest eradication operation held in the outskirt areas in Kapangan town in Benguet province, it was reported Tuesday here.

pia.gov.ph