Germany’s socialist Left party is calling an expert hearing on “legalizing cannabis through the introduction of cannabis clubs” in the German parliament on Wednesday. The idea has met widespread rejection.

The Left party’s proposal is to allow Germans to open exclusive cannabis clubs, where members will be able to grow marijuana plants. They also recommend that consumers be allowed to own 30 grams of the drug for personal consumption – double the current limit.

The study, carried out at the Sheba medical centre in Tel Hashomer, Israel, found that two thirds of patients who were prescribed marijuana to combat pain reported an improvement in their condition.

More than 60 percent said the marijuana caused a significant improvement in their quality of life, with 56 percent noting an improvement in their ability to manage pain.

ENCOD BULLETIN ON DRUG POLICIES IN EUROPE

FEBRUARY 2012

UNTIL THE END OF THE PROHIBITIONIST WORLD

President Juan Manuel Santos said during his appearance at the Hay Festival in Cartagena that he would legalize drugs in Colombia, the world’s largest cocaine producer, if that decision is accepted by the rest of the world.

Mexico’s drug war is a good example of the new wars on civilian populations that blur the lines between combatants and place entire societies in the line of fire. Of the more than 50,000 people killed in drug war-related violence, the vast majority are civilians. President Felipe Calderón claims that 90% of the victims were linked to drug cartels. But how does he know? In a country where only 2% of crimes are investigated, tried, and sentenced, the government pulled this figure out of its sleeve.