The debate goes on — yes or no to medical marijuana?

As a parent who is currently giving my child medical marijuana for epilepsy, it’s hard for me to understand the resistance. The answer seems so obvious to me: why wouldn’t we try this?

On arrival at the Psychoactive Substances Bill protest last Saturday 1stAugust, it felt less a protest, more a sparsely-populated picnic. Of the 1500 + people who were down as attending on Facebook, less than 100 actually showed up. Consider how little success much larger protests have been met with in recent years. The protest against the Iraq War in February 2003 drew up to two million people in London alone and was the largest ever coordinated protest world-wide. Yet, it had no effect. The war machine trundled on regardless.

Richard Branson and former director of public prosecutions Lord Macdonald lead call for inquiry into Home Office’s support for anti-narcotics operations

Thirty-seven public figures, including Sir Richard Branson, Lord Macdonald QC, the former director of public prosecutions, and Alistair Carmichael, the former Scottish secretary, have called for an urgent inquiry into the UK’s role in anti-narcotics operations abroad, which they say have helped to fund executions in countries such as Pakistan and Iran.

THE passing of the amendment of the Dangerous Drugs Act 2015 in February has laid the foundation for the development of the policy framework governing a ganja industry in Jamaica.

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - A state appellate court has rejected a New Jersey marijuana activist's bid to overturn a drug possession conviction.

Edward Forchion, who calls himself NJ Weedman, had argued that he uses marijuana for medical reasons. He also claimed, among numerous other arguments, that criminalizing the drug violated his religious freedom as a Rastafarian.

But in a 31-page decision issued Friday, the appellate court rejected his arguments.

Forchion told NJ.com that he plans to ask the state Supreme Court to consider his case, though it wasn't clear Sunday when that might happen.

If Kelly van Gaalen is reading this article, she'll be reading it in prison.

I don't know her personally. If you Google her, though, you'll see that last December she was one of 15 recipients of Northland's Local Hero medal, acknowledging her efforts in a community that has had more than its share of tough times.

She's a former member of the Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board, the former chair of the Kaikohe Community Arts Council and the former promotions manager for the Kaikohe Business Association.

But all those positions are prefixed by "former" because — remember — van Gaalen is in prison.

Janusz Palikot, Polish politician wants to waive his parliamentary mandate in favor of Andrzej Dołecki, leader of the “Free Hemp” association, so that he could fight for the freedom of his parents imprisoned for transporting RSO oil into Poland.

Andrzej Dołecki

Andrzej Dołecki, leader of the “Free Hemp (Wolne Konopie )” has a chance to become a politician for 2 months till the end of the parliamentary cadence. Janusz Palikot said that by this action he wanted to support case of Andrzej Dołecki parent’s that are accused of irrational allegation of transporting one liter of RSO oil into Poland.

A 71- year- old -man of Mpongwe district has been found with a case to answer for cultivation of marijuana, a psychotropic substance for the purpose of trafficking.

Before Luanshya Principal Resident Magistrate Dominic Makalicha was Dickson Makaya, 71, of Mpongwe district.

It was alleged that on 24th May, 2015, a team of Drug Enforcement Commission Officers conducted a search on the accused’s farm where it was discovered that he was cultivating marijuana intercropped with Maize.

The court heard that following a tip-off from the public that the accused was involved in the cultivation and trafficking of Psychotropic substance called marijuana, DEC officers went to the accused’s house.

Lex is a drug-sniffing police dog. His owner trained Lex by giving him a treat every time he alerted, whether or not Lex was right. Is that a good way to train drug-sniffing dogs? Maybe not for innocent people who get stripped searched when they are falsely identified as drug carriers, but it's great for police departments that use the dogs to enrich themselves with civil asset forfeitures.

Radley Balko of the Washington Post writes about how Federal Courts are making matters ever worse.

Florida marijuana activists have launched a voter initiative called “Regulate Florida,” which would amend the Florida constitution to legalize and regulate adult use of marijuana in the Sunshine State.

If the Regulate Florida measure makes it on to the November 2016 ballot, Florida voters could face two decisions about the future use of marijuana: one to legalize medical use and another to legalize adult use. The Florida Legislature would be in charge of taxation in either case.