Advocates of drug law reform had reason to celebrate today after public statements by senior figures in the medical and legal community suggested the argument was turning in their favour.

The chair of the Bar Council argued in his most recent report that decriminalising drug use would have substantial public benefits, while the editor of the British Medical Journal (BMJ), the UK's most well-respected medical publication, came out publicly in support of drug law reform.

The twin developments come at an exciting time for those calling for a more liberal drug policy. Both deputy prime minister Nick Clegg and prime minister David Cameron are on record questioning the effectiveness of Britain's drug laws. Activists hope reform might be in the pipeline.

politics.co.uk

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

Party girl Paris Hilton was briefly held by police on the French island of Corsica after being caught with cannabis in her handbag, according to police sources cited Saturday by AFP.

Police found less than a gram of cannabis in her handbag and quickly released her without charge.

nypost.com
greenwichtime.com

Paris Hilton, die Muztter aller Starlets, ist auf der französischen Insel Korsika mit Marihuana erwischt und kurzzeitig verhört worden. Die 29-Jährige war mit einem Privatjet aus Paris kommend auf der Insel eingetroffen.

klatsch-tratsch.de