More than 80 years ago, it became clear to even the most ardent supporters of Prohibition that their bold experiment wasn't working. The most practical among them recognized that the "public good" would be better served by legalizing and regulating alcohol than by an outright ban. After all, the ban had led to the rise of organized crime, deadly black market and bootleg product, and disrespect for the rule of law and for those charged with enforcement of the Volstead Act.

Scotland Yard wants to monitor Britain’s power network so it can locate cannabis farms, The Times has learnt.

Officers hope to investigate spikes in electricity usage that could be caused by production of the Class B drug on housing estates and in industrial areas.

The move comes amid concern that half a million people are secretly growing cannabis in their homes. Already more than 650 cannabis farms are discovered every month across England and Wales, and the numbers have grown steadily over the past decade.

Cannabis "coffee shops" won't be opening their doors in Berlin any time soon - as the Federal Institute of Pharmaceuticals halted plans to introduce legal cannabis establishments in the city.

A WAREHOUSE worker who admitted possessing cannabis so he could deal the drug was spared jail after a judge saw his positive work reference.

Nathan Wilkins, 25, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply the Class B drug.

Oxford Crown Court was told that Wilkins, of Chetwode, Banbury, was arrested by police on May 6 when he was riding his bike.

Cathy Olliver, prosecuting, told the court on Thursday that officers found him carrying three wraps of cannabis.

She said: “At home they found two Tupperware tubs containing cannabis, and notepaper showing numbers in columns and cash amounts.”

Ms Olliver said officers found about £350 worth of skunk cannabis.

A 68-year-old man form Mammari village in Nicosia has been arrested after cannabis plants were found in the buffer zone.

Drug Squad Police (YKAN) officers – acting on a tip-off – entered the area and retrieved 57 cannabis plants said to be around 1.5 metres in height. The man, who owns a field and two houses in the area, has reportedly admitting to growing the plants. His properties were placed under surveillance.

Police later searched the man’s two homes where they found 1,200 grams of cannabis and 1.3grams of hemp seeds.

From the standpoint of public health, the criminalization of drug use and its suppression by the police not only has produced a disproportionate response; it has also reduced the possibility of providing the treatment needed for people with serious addiction problems, as limited resources are concentrated on implementing punitive measures and criminalizing users. There is sufficient evidence to state that under prohibition, drug users have become more vulnerable while prevention and treatment capacities have fallen short.

Nearly 100,000 NSW residents each year will be subjected to roadside drug testing that police admit does not look for drugs that are still active in a person's system and critics say is about mass punishment of drug users, not road safety.

Documents obtained by the NSW Greens under freedom of information laws show there is no lower limit of drugs that are detectable in the saliva of people subjected to the roadside oral drug tests, and no proof the tests are effective in preventing crashes.

The offence of driving "with the presence of cannabis, speed/ice or MDMA/ecstasy in oral fluid" is separate to the charge of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and police operating procedures reveal the tests do not imply a person is impaired by their drug use. 

For far too long, Ohio has trailed the nation instead of leading the way.

For far too long, Ohio has trailed the nation instead of leading the way. This November, Ohioans have the opportunity to make Ohio a leader again by passing Issue 3 and enacting a proposal that a majority of Ohioans agree on — the legalization of marijuana.

Unless you have lived under a rock your whole life, than you are aware that the federal government considers marijuana to be illegal in all forms. You also know that some states have legalized marijuana in medical and recreational form. This of course has led to a lot of issues and tension between the feds and states. The Obama Administration has issued some limited policy changes that has resulted in less intervention in states that have legalized.

COLUMBIA — Initiative petitions have begun circulating that would revive a proposal for the decriminalization of growing up to six marijuana plants in Columbia.

The petition would limit cultivation to a person's home in locked area indoors inaccessible to children. It would make cultivation a municipal offense with a fine of $250 or community service or counseling. The petition also states that medical marijuana may be obtained, possessed and cultivated by seriously ill patients.