EUROPEAN UNION ON THE ROAD TO LEGALIZATION

[Crunchy]

While California is going bankrupt, one business is booming. "How Weed Won the West" is the story of the growing medical cannabis / marijuana industry in the greater Los Angeles area, with over 700 dispensaries doling out the buds. As a treatment for conditions ranging from cancer and AIDS, to anxiety, ADHD, and insomnia, cannabis is quickly proving itself as a healthier natural alternative to many prescription drugs.

 

Following the story of Organica, a southland dispensary which was raided by state and federal agencies in August of 2009, the film shows that although much has changed with Obama in office, the drug war is nowhere near over. From Kevin Booth, the producer/director of Showtime's "American Drug War", "How Weed Won the West" puts California forward as an example to the rest of the country by documenting how legalizing marijuana can help save the economy.

 

holy shit, the dispensary chick workin behind the counter is farking HOT!

funny how they made it 4:20 long, kinda pointless though cos its just the text for a minute at the end :\

i'd watch it.

[hashbudz707]

sweet

[Budman2012]

Just to provide a link regarding what Jabez said ... While it's still fresh in my mind (aka bookmark folder)

incb_annual_report_blasts_decriminalization

From STopTheDrugWar.Org

In its annual report on countries' compliance with the global drug prohibition regime, released Wednesday, the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) challenged the trend toward the decriminalization of drug possession in Latin America, saying it undermines the three international treaties that define the international framework for drug prohibition. Critics were quick to strike back, saying the INCB was overstepping its boundaries.

 

Under the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the 1988 UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, the INCB is charged with being the "nattering nanny" of the global prohibition regime. It "identifies weaknesses in national and international control systems and contributes to correcting such situations."

 

Its powers are primarily rhetorical, and it used them in the annual report to lash out at creeping decriminalization in the Western Hemisphere:

 

The Board notes with concern that in countries in South America, such as Argentina, Brazil and Colombia (and in countries in North America, such as Mexico and the United States), there is a growing movement to decriminalize the possession of controlled drugs, in particular cannabis, for personal use. Regrettably, influential personalities, including former high-level politicians in countries in South America, have publicly expressed their support for that movement. The Board is concerned that the movement, if not resolutely countered by the respective Governments, will undermine national and international efforts to combat the abuse of and illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs. In any case, the movement poses a threat to the coherence and effectiveness of the international drug control system and sends the wrong message to the general public.

 

Brazil quasi-decriminalized drug possession in 2006 (drug users are still charged, but cannot be sentenced to jail terms), a series of Argentine court decisions in recent years culminating in a Supreme Court decision last year has decriminalized marijuana position (and implies the looming decriminalization of the possession of any drug), and Mexico last year decriminalized the possession of small amounts of drug for personal use. In addition, possession of small amounts of marijuana has been decriminalized in 13 US states.

Click the link to see the other half of the article as it goes on to explain it more

 

I'm not sure the "UN" can be blamed in whole .. as this has been going on for a long time ...

The INCB is the entity to scrutinize here.

 

Cheerz,

 

[jabez]

I'm not sure the "UN" can be blamed in whole .. as this has been going on for a long time ...

The INCB is the entity to scrutinize here.

 

Yeah, it's been going on for a long time because of the UN. The INCB just enforce the United Nations drug policies, they are apart of the UN.

[El_Badass]

It's great to see that the EU is brave enough to face the truth and are willing to consider more equitable drug policies.

 

Lately I've been reading about the so called war on drugs, and what a farce it is!

Decriminalization can work and could save many lives and lots of taxpayers' dollars. It's about time that lawmakers around the world acknowledged that as long as there is a demand for drugs there will always be people prepared to ignore prohibition and cash in on the black market. The examples of alcohol and prostitution prove that decriminalisation can be better for the community in general.