True to its title, this book is a quick, accessible read, but it is also packed with interesting historical information about dagga in its local and global contexts. It is also a timeous book. The world is abuzz with dagga (excuse the puns, they seem inevitable with this topic): it’s being decriminalised and legalised all over. South Africa has a “Dagga Couple” – Myrtle Clarke and Jules Stobbs – who are challenging the constitutionality of our laws against cannabis. Dagga, in other words, is in the air, becoming mainstream, like beer.

By Anthony Johnson

A Canadian marijuana legalization poll taken this week by Forum Research found that 59 percent support the new Liberal government’s stance on legalizing, taxing, and regulating cannabis for adult use, closely mirroring a recent Gallup poll showing 58 percent support for legalization in the United States.

However, there are some strong differences in Canadian and American opinions on how marijuana should be legalized.

Why should California and Colorado capitalize on America's budding pot craze and economic boon -- and not Florida?

Growing numbers of Americans believe pot should be legal for medical and personal use. Miami-Dade recently gave cops discretion to hand out citations instead of handcuffs for anyone caught with a baggy of marijuana. Broward and Palm Beach should follow suit soon.

With our sun, sand and surf, no other place on the planet is more primed to take advantage of the American Pot Era than South Florida. Now is the time to pave the way.

Five reasons South Florida should decriminalize pot:

Arrests, fines and confiscations reported at annual trade fair 

The sixth cannabis festival Cannafest took place over the weekend of Nov. 6–7 at the Holešovice fairgrounds. The festival, which focuses on promoting further legalization of marijuana, medical marijuana, legal production of cannabis and sale of hemp products, is the largest of its type in Europe.

Amendment Would Allow VA Doctors to Recommend Medical Marijuana to Their Patients in States Where It’s Legal

The Senate today passed the FY2016 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Bill, which includes language to allow Veterans Administration (VA) doctors to recommend medical marijuana to their patients in states where medical marijuana is legal. The language was included as an amendment in the Senate Appropriations committee in May.

One of baseball's best prospects got suspended for 50 games Monday. He did not drive drunk. He did not hit a woman. He did not cheat in a game. He did something legal in four states, decriminalized in 16 and completely endorsed this time next year, when he's on a major league roster.

Drug Enforcement Administration chief Chuck Rosenberg is facing pressure from pot advocates to step down after he called medical marijuana a “joke.”

Nearly 10,000 medical marijuana supporters have signed a petition calling for Rosenberg to be replaced with a more pot-friendly DEA head.

“President Obama should fire Chuck Rosenberg and appoint a new DEA administrator who will respect science, medicine, patients and voters,” reads the petition organized by the Marijuana Majority.

CommonSpace columnist James McEnaney says it's time officials changed their thinking on drugs policy

IN the early 20th century, America spent years fruitlessly pursuing a policy of prohibition. The goal was to prevent the production, import, sale and consumption of alcohol; the result was an environment in which crime and drug addiction increased and organised crime built the foundations of an empire which endures to this day.

A FORMER Amy medic who saw a close friend die in his arms has been given a chance to avoid a prison sentence for growing cannabis at his Bradford flat.

Nathan Dixon served in Afghanistan and Iraq during an Army career lasting more than six years, but the 30-year-old left the service in 2010 and his barrister said he appeared to have "suffered in silence" with what he had experienced.

Bradford Crown Court heard today that father-of-one Dixon's marriage had subsequently broken down and he started using cannabis.