The NZ Psychoactive Substances Act 2013 (PSA2013) was never world leading drug reform as frequently claimed by some drug reformers and recently re-asserted in an article by one of the Act’s key flag bearers. It was however, world leading drug legislation, that succeeded in gaining almost unanimous support across New Zealand Parliament (apart from one MP), because this new drug law extended prohibition to include EVERY new psychoactive substance not currently incorporated within the Misuse of Drugs Act.

In the world of medical marijuana entrepreneurs in Illinois, there’s plenty of green behind the grass.

Hundreds of would-be medical marijuana growers and sellers have put millions of dollars on the line hoping for coveted state permits that were supposed to issued by former Gov. Pat Quinn by the end of last year.

To snag those valuable permits, the entrepreneurs hired consultants, lawyers and lobbyists.

They’re already paying rent, in some cases, or have money tied up in options to buy property.

And now, they wait. And with millions of dollars on the line, waiting can get expensive.

One of the greatest social shifts of the decade is underway, tilting towards a normalized future for the consumption and production of cannabis. The legalization of this historically contentious plant is now supported by 66% of Canadian voters. 35 American states have legislated some form of decriminalization, medicalization, or regulated sale.

With the promise of weed in the future, a new stash of campaign funds could help the party blaze its way into the Knesset, though they’re still a longshot at best.

A promise of marijuana in the future in exchange for campaign donations today helped the Aleh Yarok (“Green Leaf”) party net more than NIS 100,000 in donations this week.

The campaign, launched in a YouTube video on Saturday, promises donors who front it campaign donations that they will receive marijuana if and when the day comes that the plant is legalized in Israel.

Clinical cannabis use is not decided by the military patient’s need for her medicine but rather by where she lives. This practice is of course totally illogical. Considering the source of this decision, the war on drugs mentality, it is not surprising. Realizing that Veterans are not being treated for their injuries properly, is not surprising to me. I’m a Vietnam Veteran and I have seen this all before.Treatment by geography can be looked on as a win for Veterans, some Vets. Before this protocol was adopted by the Veterans Health Administration, in July of 2010, there was no cannabis allowed medicinally for any service member.

Switzerland has always played a pioneering role in drug policy. In 1986, it was the first to open shelters for addicts and in 1994 it medically prescribed heroin. Today, its cities are looking at introducing cannabis social clubs – a controversial issue.

Former interior minister Ruth Dreifuss, nicknamed “dealer of the nation” for introducing ground-breaking drug policies, is one of the figureheads of the country’s legalisation campaign. One of her suggestions is to set up cannabis clubs, a concept her native Geneva is spearheading in Switzerland. Larger cities like Geneva, Bern, Basel and Zurich have created an expert working group to map out the details for a potential pilot project.

A Manus Island detainee alleges a third of asylum seekers in detention on the Papua New Guinea island is turning to marijuana to relieve their suffering.

Photo: AFP

A detainee has told Guardian Australia that a black market for the drug exists on Manus, and unhappy detainees are easy targets for dealers.

The detainee estimates more than 10 percent of asylum seekers use marijuana every night and almost half from time to time.