Single Convention

UN 'shadow report' blasts drug war as 'failure'

earthAn international network of non-governmental organizations has submitted a "shadow report" to the United Nations, calling the war on drugs a "spectacular failure"—and calling on the world's governments to reconsider it. The report takes heart from the growing official tolerance of cannabis in several countries around the world, but warns of escalating and horrific repression in the name of drug enforcement in several others. Will the UN take heed when it revisits the question of drug policy in 2019?

UK approves prescriptions for medical marijuana products

Posted on October 12th, 2018 by Bill Weinberg and tagged , , , , , .

extractPhysicians in the United Kingdom will be able to legally prescribe medical marijuana products to their patients starting next month. The policy shift follows a public outcry over cases of young epileptic patients who were denied the only treatments that worked for them. 

Courts rule for workers denied employment for medical marijuana use

medical marijuanaAfter years of upholding employee firings for use of cannabis even under state medical marijuana programs, the courts are finally starting to turn around on the question.

One of the ways state medical marijuana programs have failed to fully extend protection to medicinal users is in failure to defend against employment discrimination. This is now beginning to change, thanks to a few recent court decisions in favor of patients and employees.

FDA called for de-scheduling of CBD: report

Posted on October 3rd, 2018 by Global Ganja Report and tagged , , , , , , , .

cannabisLast month, the DEA enthused the pharmaceutical industry but disappointed cannabis advocates by re-scheduling the drug Epidiolex—but not CBD, the cannabinoid that makes it work. Now word emerges of a letter to the DEA by the Food & Drug Administration essentially calling for the descheduling of CBD altogether.

DEA reschedules Epidiolex —but not CBD

Posted on September 27th, 2018 by Global Ganja Report and tagged , , , , , , , , .

EpidiolexWith the DEA's rescheduling of Epidiolex, shares in the British manufacturer of the drug are soaring. But CBD—the actual cannabinoid that the product is based on—is to remain in the restrictive Scheudle 1.

Activists bash Trump's 'Global Call' to renew drug war at UN

earthAs the UN General Assembly met in New York, President Trump issued a "Global Call" to renew the war on drugs—to the dismay of activists and dissenting nations. But the UN itself has a contradictory cannabis policy—with some agencies recognizing its efficacy as medicine and others backing the prohibitionist doctrine of the Single Convention treaty.

Tax relief for 'compassionate care' pending in Sacramento

Posted on September 12th, 2018 by Global Ganja Report and tagged , , , , , , , .

CaliforniaAmong several cannabis-related bills that cleared California's state house before the last legislative session came to close is one that would lift the tax burden on medical marijuana providers. The bill is intended to again open space for "compassionate care," which was ironically squeezed out under California's adult-use regulation regime. 

Health benefits of THC overlooked in CBD-mania?

Posted on August 22nd, 2018 by Bill Weinberg and tagged , , , , , , , , .

THCHaving just undertaken a "critical study" of CBD, the non-psychoactive cannabinoid held to have multifarious medicinal applications, the World Health Organization is now opening such a study on THC. Stigmatized due to its psychoactive properties and currently in the shadow of the suddenly sexy CBD, tetrahydrocannabinol shows its own potential for application by the medical industry.

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