Recent work published by researchers in Barcelona has just uncovered more details about the neurochemical pathway that leads to marijuana’s psychoactive effects, specifically its effects on memory. Not only did they make a breakthrough in the neurochemistry of cannabis, they also designed a compound that was able to block THC’s effects on memory in mice.

Over 250,000 people in the Netherlands have used the party drug ecstasy at least once in the past year, according to new figures published on Friday. The research, by the national statistics office CBS and drugs research group Trimbos Institute, involved questioning a representative group of 6,000 people. The figures show that 2.5% of the Dutch population take ecstasy, compared with a European average of 0.6%. The Dutch are also more likely to take amphetamines than any other Europeans. In terms of cannabis use, around 8% of the Dutch have used it in the past year, which is above the 5.7% EU average but well below France (11%), Spain (9%) and the Czech Republic (9%).

BLender’s hybrid model creates credit ratings based on financial, social, and demographic background to upend the banks’ foothold on peer-to-peer lending – and empower emerging markets

P2P lending platform, BLender, secured $5M in funding from Blumberg Capital, one of the leading American VC firms whose most notable influence is in the global FinTech market. The company currently operates within Israel, but with the funding, BLender plans expand into Western European and Latin American markets within the coming months. Blender CEO, Dr. Gal Aviv, told Geektime that targeted countries include Columbia, Brazil, Germany, and France, among others. He also indicated that some new features will be released, although he would not disclose any specifics.

While in Romania only 1.6% of the population consumes cannabis, in France 40.9% do so, more than in Denmark or Spain. And it’s no great mystery why: France, geographically, is a corridor for grass coming from North Africa and the rest of Europe. Moreover, home growing has recently increased considerably.

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction recently published its annual report on the Continent's most consumed substances, concluding that cannabis is a plant in high demand among Europeans, with 78.9 million people recognizing having consumed it.

A new survey of 219 PatientsLikeMe members has found that patients with certain conditions who use medical marijuana believe it is the best available treatment for them, with fewer side effects than other options and few risks. The survey, conducted in June 2015, is among the first to gauge patient perceptions about the benefits and risks of medical marijuana and their level of willingness to recommend its use.

The Swiss postal system, in collaboration with California-based drone delivery company Matternet, announced this week that they’re testing a new package delivery service that uses drones as couriers. Switzerlands diverse terrain, full of mountains, lakes, rivers, and other environments easier to navigate by air, make it an ideal test site for flying robot mail delivery.

For several years, the annual reports of the United Nations Office against Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) indicate a net decrease in the production of cannabis cultivation in Morocco. But if the land areas used for this crop have undoubtedly been reduced since that Rabat has engaged in a "war against drugs" in 1992, cannabis resin production has not decreased in same proportions.

A real gap between the assessment of Moroccan hashish production made by UNODC or INCSR and quantities of cannabis seized in Europe and Morocco, thus casting serious doubt on the figures.

DECRIMINALISING THE POSSESSION of drugs for personal use is to be considered by the Oireachtas.

A delegation from the Oireachtas Justice Committee visited Portugal last month where the approach as been in operation for 15 years.

The public’s views are now being sought about whether a similar approach should be considered here.

In 2001, Portugal introduced a system whereby drugs were not legalised but possession of a small quantity did not result in a criminal record.

Instead, possession of illegal drugs is treated in a similar way to a traffic offence and anyone in possession must attend a treatment programme within three days.

Funding for this service is split, with 60% provided by the State and 40% by the National Lottery.

The Irish public is being invited to have a say in what is thought to be the country’s first official examination of the decriminalisation of drugs for personal use.

The Oireachtas Justice Committee is seeking submissions from people and organisations on alternatives to the current model of criminalisation. It comes on the back of a committee trip to Portugal, where a delegation studied its model of decriminalisation of the possession of drugs.

A report published by the Justice Committee on the Portuguese system said the approach “has not resulted in an increase in drug-taking nor has it resulted in Portugal becoming a destination for drug tourists”.

It said the Portuguese government and police had also told them:

Europe’s favourite drug

Cannabis is Europe’s most commonly used illicit drug, with approximately 20 million adults, or around 6% of the population aged 15–64 years, having used the drug in the last year. Here are some other facts and figures: