Cannabis Hemp News

Voronezh city court has ruled that Yukos can legally sell its Cannabis brand vodka, Interfax reports. A case against Yukos had been filed by the State Service for Drug Control on April 21, accusing Yukos of violating the law against propagandizing drugs. The labels on the vodka bottles sold at gas stations belonging to Voronezhnefteproduct, a Yukos subsidiary, said the vodka had been prepared from hemp seed extract. The conclusion of the psycholinguistic expert examination was that that the advertising on Cannabis vodka bottles does not propagandize drugs, but rather, is aimed at improving vodka sales. As a result, the court declared that Yukos was not guilty and closed…

Prime Minister Paul Martin pledged Friday that he would decriminalize simple possession of small amounts of marijuana if Canadians re-elect his Liberal Party in the coming federal election. Speaking at a day care centre in Halifax, Martin told reporters he remains committed to passing legislation that would bring fines -- not criminal sentences -- to people caught with 15 grams of pot or less. An initial decriminalization bill brought forward under Jean Chretien's government died when Martin took over as PM, but was later re-introduced. That second bill also died when parliament was dissolved last month following the election call. Martin said he planned to "bring…

Customs officers acting on a tip-off from a shipping company have foiled a sophisticated drug smuggling attempt, seizing more than 600kg of cannabis hidden in a container at Fremantle Port. Federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison today described the haul as the biggest cannabis seizure at Australia's border since 1997. In all, 640kg of the drug with an estimated street value of more than $12 million was found in the container after an employee noticed it had a false floor. Customs officers then used an x-ray machine to reveal the drugs which were wrapped in about 300 separate plastic bags. The container was in transit at Fremantle but Senator Ellison declined to…

The District Court jury could be forgiven for wondering why such a sweet-looking old couple were seated in the dock. Unpaid parking fines or failing to return a library book perhaps. In fact, probably just about anything apart from drug dealing. David William Sidney Davies, 81, and his wife Florence Gladys Davies, 77, are each accused of two counts of possessing cannabis with intent to sell or supply. Rugged up against the cold, the elderly pensioners sat shoulder to shoulder in the courtroom as prosecutor Paul Dixon outlined the State's case against them. Hard-of-hearing, Mr Davies leant forward intently as Mr Dixon told the court how police found 18.7kg of canna…

A 67-year-old man is to appear in a Lithgow court today after police allegedly found more than 100 kilograms of marijuana in his possession. Acting on information police say they stopped the man while he was driving his car in Lithgow, in central west NSW, yesterday morning. They say a search of the vehicle found a kilogram of marijuana. Police then searched the man's house, where it is alleged they found 12 50-litre drums and four 44 gallon drums of marijuana. Police estimate the street value of the drugs at $600,000. Author: ABC Date: 4/06/04 Source: ABC Online Copyright: 2004 Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Four men will face court today after cannabis worth $2.5 million was seized in raids at seven inner-western Sydney rental houses. NSW Police said today three men arrested in Marrickville, aged 29, 37 and 38 will appear at Newtown Local Court charged with cultivating a commercial quantity of cannabis. Another man, 50, will appear at Bankstown Local Court, charged with cultivating a prohibited plant, after his arrest in a house at Roberts Rd, Greenacre. Yesterday at 6.30am (AEST) 80 police, led by Marrickville local area command, raided houses in Marrickville, Earlwood, Greenacre and Fairfield. The raids were the result of a two month investigation called operation …

Costa Rican National Police have seized 2,475 kg of compressed marijuana in the country's southern locality, the authorities said on Friday. The drugs were found on Thursday night on a truck parked on theoutskirts of San Vito de Coto Brus. Informed by confidential clues and reports, police found 42 plastic sacks covered by sacks of organic fertilizers on the truck.Each of the 42 sacks had 50 packages with one kg of marijuana each. Besides, the police found another 15 sacks with 25 packages with one kg each. The seized compressed marijuana totaled 2,475 kg, valued over 10.6 million US dollars in the national market. Two Costa Ricans, Valverde Palma, 28, and …

12,000 LET OFF AS LAW GOES TO POT THOUSANDS of pot smokers are being let off without criminal charges every year because the law is too soft, The Daily Telegraph can reveal. NSW Police have been instructed to dole out caution notices to offenders rather than charging them - and now 12,266 people have escaped punishment. In addition, its traffic services department charges more than 1000 motorists with driving while under the influence of illegal drugs every year. Last night the Government was accused of legalising cannabis through the back door. Shadow Attorney-General Andrew Tink said: "This is all about decriminalising cannabis by stealth. Too many peopl…