The governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla of Puerto Rico signed an executive order yesterday legalizing medical marijuana in the U.S. territory. The order enables the Puerto Rican Health Department to authorize the use of marijuana and its derivatives for medical purposes.
In this statement, UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov condemns the use of the death penalty for drug offences, in particular in light of the recent executions in Indonesia.
At the global level, much has changed since 1998 that undermines the previous global consensus on punitive counternarcotics strategies, however, there continues to be much global disagreement which will be reflected at UNGASS 2016.
Although it has provided a life-saving service with proven results, the Dr. Peter Centre (the lesser-known supervised injection site in Vancouver) has waited over a year for a decision on its application for an exemption of Canada's Controlled Drugs and Substances Act which has been granted to 'Insite'.
The Indonesian executions of eight convicted drug traffickers has attracted the attention to the countries that continue to impose death sentences on those who commit drug offences.
Despite repeated pleas for mercy from family members, citizens, human rights organizations, the United Nations, and governments around the world, eight people condemned for non-violent drug offences faced a firing squad at just past midnight Indonesia-time.
The announcement of Assembly bill A.7060, that would direct the state of New York to establish a programme to help critically ill patients obtain emergency access to medical marijuana as soon as possible, has come as a relief to patients, family members and activists.
The Colombian health ministry is recommending the immediate suspension of aerial spraying of glyphosate after the World Health Organisation said last month that glyphosate was probably carcinogenic in humans.
The Colombian constitutional court has given the government 3 years to end the ongoing humanitarian crisis in prisons, with the prison system operating at nearly 150% capacity.
Vancouver is about to become the first city in Canada where the business of selling marijuana will be regulated and permitted although the drug is still illegal in the country.