Attached is a substantial new monograph from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, entitled Harm Reduction: Evidence, Impacts and Challenges . . .

<<EMCDDA Harm Reduction Monograph 2010.pdf>>

 

Tories revive mandatory sentences for drug crimes
By Janice Tibbetts
Global News
May 5, 2010

 

MAPS mission is to treat conditions for which conventional medicines provide limited relief, such as PTSD & anxiety associated with life-threatening illnesses, by developing psychedelics & marijuana into prescription medicines. Psychedelic Science in NY Times, CNN, USA Today, BBC, NPR, Scientific American, and more! May 4, 2010 Dear Mark, We're proud to report that our conference, Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century, was a magnificent success! We generated a spectacular amount of media as a result, including from CNN, MSNBC, BBC, NPR, Scientific American, Nature News, New York Times, USA Today and many other media outlets. We have archived the conference related media reports on both our “MAPS in the Media” page and “Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century” page. We predict that the astonishingly positive public education achieved by these articles will be seen in retrospect as a turning point, building public support for a substantial expansion of psychedelic research. We encourage you to review and share these media reports with your friends and family. In case you missed it, or you'd like to see it again, here is the 19 minute opening talk by MAPS Executive Director Rick Doblin, Ph.D. (if the video does not appear in your email, you can watch it at this link): http://www.vimeo.com/11447375 At the conference we distributed our new MDMA/PTSD drug development prospectus, describing MAPS' Phase 2 pilot studies to be conducted over the next three years, leading to an "end-of-phase 2 meeting" with the U.S. FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMEA). Please read the prospectus and make a contribution to MAPS today to partner with us in our multinational MDMA/PTSD research. We at MAPS wish to extend our warmest gratitude to our sister organizations -- the Heffter Research Institute, the Beckley Foundation, and the Council on Spiritual Practices -- for collaborating with us and making the conference a huge success. The conference was a momentous occasion, with over 1200 people in attendance. Hundreds more people were turned away due to limited capacity. The conference was one of the most outstanding occurrences in all of MAPS’ 24 years of existence. Together, we can further the expansion and integration of psychedelic science in the 21st century! Sincerely, Randolph Hencken, M.A. Director of Communication and Marketing, MAPS Sign up for our twitter feed and get instant updates from Executive Director Rick Doblin, Ph.D. and other MAPS staff. 50 limited-edition, signed and numbered prints of Ann and Alexander "Sasha" Shulgin by Alex Grey On Saturday, April 17, during the Shulgin tribute dinner, Alex Grey unveiled his newest portrait of Ann and Sasha Shulgin. Fifty numbered limited edition prints of this portrait, signed by Alex, Sasha, and Ann are available through the MAPS webstore. Prices vary from $1500 to $3500, depending on the number (#1 sold at auction for $6600). Proceeds will be split between MAPS' MDMA/PTSD research with veterans of war and Alex and Allyson Grey's Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, with an honorarium being given to Ann and Sasha. We’ve already sold almost half the prints, so act quickly if you want one. Shulgin Tribute Dinner The banquet hall at Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century during the Ann and Sasha Shulgin tribute dinner. Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century from Teal Sievers on Vimeo. Rick's Opening Address MAPS Executive Director Rick Doblin, Ph.D. addresses a full house at Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century. MAPS 309 Cedar Street #2323 Santa Cruz, CA 95060-9989 tel: 831-429-MDMA (6362) fax: 831-429-6370 Share Unsubscribe MAPS Website Join MAPS

 By Perry Kendall, Times Colonist May 5, 2010

 Re: "Pre-teens target of gangsters," April 24.

The best way to prevent drug use in children and youth includes providing accurate information to both parents and children.

Child and youth rates of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use dropped significantly between 2003 and 2008. Rates of use of amphetamines (including crystal meth) dropped from four per cent to two per cent.

However, surveys also showed that the younger a child was when they first tried alcohol, the more likely they were to have subsequently tried marijuana and amphetamines.

Youth who have been abused, and/or who are not connected to family school or community are most at risk for early alcohol use and subsequent other drug misuse.

This information tells us how to identify and protect the most vulnerable children in our society.

Misinformation at best has no impact on youth behaviours, and at worst has the opposite effect of what is intended.

Health Canada's Drug Analysis Laboratory in Burnaby tests all samples of illegal drugs seized by police that are to be submitted as evidence in criminal trials. Large proportions of club drugs like ecstasy contain methamphetamine, but the laboratory has never found a sample of cannabis contaminated by crystal meth.

Our children depend on us to be factual and accurate and honest. Nowhere is this more important than in drug education.

Perry Kendall

Provincial Health Officer

Refugees from Mexico's drug war get chilly reception in Canada
By Adrian Humphrey
National Post
May 3, 2010

Washington, D.C., Approves Medical Use of Marijuana
By Ashley Southall
New York Times
May 4, 2010

 

Can cannabis cafes refuse to serve non-Dutch?
Dutch News
May 3, 2010

 

D.C. set to vote on legalizing marijuana, already a widely used drug
By Paul Schwartzman and Annys Shin
Washington Post
May 4, 2010

NRC Handelsblad
3 May 2010

European court weighs cannabis ban for foreigners

By Paul van der Steen in Luxembourg

A Dutch city has banned foreigners from its cannabis selling coffee shops. A European court will now decide whether this is legal.

The continuing struggle of Dutch border towns against drug tourism could soon take a new turn, as the European Court of Justice (ECJ) prepares to hand down a ruling regarding one of the most severe measures employed in this battle so far.

Last Thursday, the ECJ heard arguments in Josemans v. Maastricht. The case dates back to 2006, when authorities found two foreign nationals on the premises of Easy Going, a coffee shop of the kind that sells cannabis in addition to coffee. Maastricht is the largest city in the far south of the Netherlands; right on the Belgian border and only a 30 minute drive from Germany. The Easy Going coffee shop there is owned by Marc Josemans, who is also the chairman of a branch association unifying the city's coffee shop owners.

Free market for drugs?

Law enforcement officers found the two shortly after a municipal regulation had come into effect prohibiting the presence of foreigners in coffee shops. It remains the only time they acted on the new rule so far, because Maastricht is awaiting the outcome of this test case. In the Netherlands, the case has made its way up to the Council of State, the highest Dutch court in these matters. Before it gives a ruling, the council has requested the advice from the ECJ. It has asked the European court whether distinguishing between local and foreign cannabis customers isn't at odds with principles underlying the European Union's internal market.

In a weird legal twist, the case seems to have led to a clash between the EU's laws governing free trade on the continent and Dutch soft drug policy. For decades, the Netherlands has had a unique policy governing soft drugs, effectively decriminalising - though not legalising - the use of cannabis. The sale of soft drugs through coffee shops is strictly
regulated: advertising is not allowed, nor is selling to underage customers for instance.

On the other hand, the European Union guarantees a free, unified market of goods and services amongst its members. Whether or not this should apply to the semi-legal parts of the Netherlands' cannabis industry, is the question now up for debate.

André Beckers, Joseman's legal counsel, has argued it should. He claims cannabis is an economic commodity like any other. Beckers has shown that Easy Going, one of Maastricht's 14 coffee shops, expects to sell ten million euros worth of cannabis this year, in addition to the 500,000 euros it stands to make from 'normal' activities, like selling coffee.
Because of the illegal nature of some of its business, it is under no obligation to pay sales tax on the cannabis it sells, but Easy Going is required to pay income tax, employee benefits, corporate tax and value added tax on its legal revenues. The lawyer also cited a recent study which found coffee shops indirectly added 140 million euros and 1,370 jobs to the Dutch economy.

Sander Lely, a lawyer for the city of Maastricht, countered that trade in contraband could never be covered by regulations governing the common market. "That some of its revenue is generated through the sale of legal products is irrelevant," Lely said. He was supported in his argument by representatives of both the Dutch and Belgian state.

Hubert van Vliet, a representative of the European Commission, pointed out the possible consequences if the ECJ found coffee shops were not covered by EU laws . "Everything pertaining to coffee shops would then be exempt," he argued. "What will that mean for the border workers employed there? The free flow of capital would also be affected, which means only Dutch nationals would be allowed to own coffee shops."

The city of Maastricht's lawyer and the representative of the Dutch state argued that the exclusion of foreign nationals from coffee shops was not merely a matter of Dutch self interest, but also important for the maintenance of public order in other EU member states. "The Netherlands is subject to international pressure in this respect," said Corina Wissels, the representative for the Dutch state. Approximately 70 percent of the two million people who visit a Maastricht coffee shop every year are from foreign countries, mainly Germany, France and Belgium. The Belgian representative asked the court to consider the nuisance caused by French drug users travelling through Belgium, drug runners, and users returning home driving under the influence.
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Customer card system

Van der Vliet, arguing for the European Commission referred to an earlier ruling by the ECJ concerning Polish prostitutes in the Netherlands. The court then found that a member state could not let its own residents go about their business unhindered while impeding other EU nationals from doing the same. "The European Commission does not oppose a test case in itself," he said. "But why haven't less far-reaching measures been tried first, such as a customer-card system, reducing the maximum amount available to single customers (from 5 to 3 grammes for
instance) or requiring customers to consume purchased wares on the spot?"

The judges expressed surprise over the Dutch drug policy [see box] through their questions. They asked what the coffee shop's permit was for exactly, if the sale of cannabis was technically illegal in the Netherlands. The court also wondered who supplied the drugs on sale to the coffee shop. The state perhaps?

The ECJ declined to schedule a specific date for its ruling. It did, however, promise to process the case quickly. A definitive ruling by the Dutch Council of State is expected before the end of this year. The case will play an important part in the formation of new Dutch soft drug policy. Mayors of Dutch border municipalities have also said they would await a ruling by the Council of State before experimenting with customer cards for cannabis users.

----

Dutch tolerance

The use, possession or sale of cannabis has never been legalised in the Netherlands.

# Possession and production for personal use are considered misdemeanours. However, possession of cannabis for personal use is not prosecuted up to five grammes or five cannabis plants.

# Coffee shops are allowed to stock a maximum of 500 grammes of cannabis.

# Large-scale production, export or import of cannabis is illegal, and should always be prosecuted.

# In other words: coffee shop owners can legally sell cannabis but they cannot legally buy it.

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Tories may revive minimum pot sentences
CTV News
May 3, 2010