Cannabis Hemp News

Police target shoppers in drug blitz Tanya Westthorp | 12:01am May 19, 2012 SHOPPERS are being targeted by Tweed police as part of a new range of operations to rid the region of its drug problem. Since the start of the year, plain-clothed police have been randomly targeting drug dealing hot spots, including bus shelters and major shopping centres, with the help of a drug detection dog. Police have charged more than 50 people with drug possession and searched hundreds more -- many of whom told police they had used drugs that day. On Thursday, dozens of shoppers were searched after police dog Doug picked up the smell of cannabis. Police officers then swooped …

For the first time in five years, the U.S. House of Representatives will be voting on an amendment to prevent the federal government from interfering with state medical marijuana laws. We need you to call your member of Congress and tell him or her to support this amendment. At the start of the Obama administration, it appeared as if there would be a new approach to medical marijuana by the federal government. Unfortunately, that new approach was short-lived, and it can now be said that Pres. Obama is even worse than Pres. George W. Bush on this issue. Obama’s Department of Justice is relentlessly attacking state-approved medical marijuana providers. Medical marijuana…

Police cancel drug chopper op Troy Kippen | 13th April 2012 10:22 AM AN annual drug detection operation in the Tweed will not go ahead this year. The NSW Police Drug Squad along with the police wing, dog squads and Tweed/Byron police conduct the Cannabis Eradication Program in the region each year. The operation included aerial examination to locate cannabis crops. Tweed police said the operation was cancelled this year because resources were required in the west of the state. Acting Inspector Brad Stewart said the operation was called off because the helicopters were required for flood relief. "The air units were deployed elsewhere," Insp Stewart said. …

Police happy with 'orderly' MardiGrass AAP | 08:40am May 7, 2012 POLICE have congratulated organisers of an annual cannabis reform rally in northern NSW, saying it was well run and orderly. The 2012 Nimbin MardiGrass protest was "very well-managed", says officer in charge, Inspector Nicole Bruce. "We're very pleased with the co-operation received from the MardiGrass organising body," she said on on Sunday. "There has been a very low incidence of violence and crime." Insp Bruce was unable to give final numbers of arrests due to ongoing operations but said they were low compared with previous years. Police estimate the protest crowd of about 5000 was also down d…

It's every stoner’s dream – a marijuana vending machine, preferably placed right next to another one dispensing crisps and chocolate bars. http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2012/05/03/article-1336067393303-12E5315A000005DC-523277_636x450.jpg Machines will be housed in cages, and can only be accessed via a valid registration card and finger-print identification. (Picture: Splashnews) But this ‘Autospense’ machine lets registered users of the drug pick up their prescriptions, 24 hours a day. Sixteen US states – as well as Washington DC – allow patients with certain medical conditions to buy small quantities of cannabis. Hundreds of dispensaries have popped up across th…

http://www.opposingviews.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/top_of_piece_275x200/marijuana_3.gif Submitted by NORML on May 3, 2012 http://www.opposingv...ihuana%E2%80%9D © 2008-2012 Opposing Views, Inc. All Rights Reserved A fascinating new book is out entitled Home Grown: Marijuana and the Origins of Mexico’s War on Drugs by Isaac Campos. In it, he traces the history of cannabis in Mexico as the Spanish Conquistadors brought the useful fiber crop to the New World in the 16th century. East Bay Express reviews the book and touches on a subject I’ve written about – the word “marijuana”: But let’s start with the word “marijuana.” Marijuana came to the New World as…

http://www.bbc.co.uk...gazine-17896081 Police say cannabis growers are moving away from commercial and industrial sites towards ordinary houses. But how can you spot a cannabis farm in your street? Cannabis growing in the suburbs is soaring, with about 21 farms or factories being discovered every day, a new report by the Association of Chief Police Officers says. The problem has persisted for a while, with insurer Aviva reporting a 30% year-on-year increase in cannabis damage claims last year as criminals turned to rented houses to cultivate plants. Now the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) says most of the cannabis consumed in Britain is homegrown and is ur…