The purity and potency of illegal drugs is Europe is on the rise, according to a new report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). In its annual analysis of European drug trends, the EMCDDA also found that heroin use was in decline, that London's sewers had the highest concentration of cocaine among all European capitals, and that two new psychoactive substances hit the market every week.

Geneva prosecutor agrees to close investigation into HSBC in return for the financial settlement

HSBC has been ordered to pay a record 40m Swiss francs (£28m) and been given a final warning by the Geneva authorities for “organisational deficiencies” which allowed money laundering to take place in the bank’s Swiss subsidiary.

The settlement means the Swiss will not prosecute HSBC or publish the findings of their investigation into alleged aggravated money laundering. But Geneva’s chief prosecutor, Olivier Jornot, cautioned that the bank was on notice, saying: “This is an excuse which will only apply once.”

Who is the real Kristian Roulet and where on earth does he come from?

The shadowy figure snared at a major cannabis farm in a sleepy, idyllic corner ofWarwickshire remains a mystery man – even after being jailed.

Police are still not certain Kristian Roulet is who he claims to be – or about where he comes from.

The 18-year-old claimed to be French, but an interpreter pinpointed his accent to south-east Europe, possibly Albania.

Roulet has no documents revealing his identity.

What is known is that he was caretaker of a £66,000 cannabis crop that filled a modest, three-bedroomed home in Long Itchington.

Cannabis Sans Frontières is the only French party to run for election for the legalization of the herb. It was founded in 2009 by Farid Ghehiouèche with other pro-legalization activists. The party line is located at the extreme left of the political spectrum - reforms for the right to housing, open borders, the right to basic income - except they are also in favor of legalizing therapies based alternatives poppy, cannabis or iboga, and support to victims of those accused or suspected of drug use. In the European elections of 2014, the party had collected 7,389 votes in his favor, or 0.24% of the votes - which is low, we will agree.
 

Regular cannabis buyers in Marseille, France were amazed to receive loyalty cards with their purchases on Thursday. The loyalty card included a price list, the dealer’s opening hours, and a polite message thanking them for their business.

Apparently, for purchasers of cannabis from this particular dealer, opening hours in Marseille are from 11 a.m. to midnight and the message was very professional and friendly.

“We look forward to seeing you in the neighborhood, thanks for your loyalty.”

Tupperpot is the amalgam of Tupperware and Pot (another name for overseas cannabis) itself from Tuppersex (meeting women around toys).
In San Francisco (California), a group of women embarked on organizing meetings around marijuana based on the model of the famous meetings around the famous plastic boxes of all colors and all shapes.

Finding themselves with several friends, talking quietly about weed with a clear head and displaying the latest cannabinoid market innovations, it is the principle of Tupperpot.

People demand the legalisation of marijuana, on May 9, 2015 in Paris, France (AFP Photo/Kenzo Tribouillard)

Sporting T-shirts and caps printed with marijuana leaves and with joints hanging from their lips, hundreds of people demonstrated in Paris on Saturday as part of a world march calling for the legalisation of cannabis.

Crowds of protesters, many dressed in Jamaican colours, made their way through the streets of the French capital from the Place de la Republique to Bastille calling for the legalisation of recreational marijuana use.

“What do we want? Legalisation,” chanted the crowd, wreathed in clouds of hashish smoke and gathered behind a banner reading “Another drug policy is possible” and placards calling for “Ganga for all”.

Sporting T-shirts and caps printed with marijuana leaves and with joints hanging from their lips, hundreds of people demonstrated in Paris on Saturday as part of a world march calling for the legalisation of cannabis.

Crowds of protesters, many dressed in Jamaican colours, made their way through the streets of the French capital from the Place de la Republique to Bastille calling for the legalisation of recreational marijuana use.

"What do we want? Legalisation," chanted the crowd, wreathed in clouds of hashish smoke and gathered behind a banner reading "Another drug policy is possible" and placards calling for "Ganga for all".

Some, like 16-year-old Julien, came because they wanted to "smoke in peace". 

Placards and banners with the message "Ganga for all!" could be seen in the streets of Paris on Saturday as hundreds marched in support of legalising cannabis. As part of the Global Marijuana March, the crowds were calling for a change in France's drug policy.

The GMM is an annual rally held at different locations across the planet, now in its 15th year. Pro-cannabis rallies were held last weekend in several cities across France such as Marseille, Toulouse, Lyon, Bayonne and Poitiers.

Among the arguments for the legalisation of recreational marijuana use: less trafficking, better products and perhaps less crime.

Others say marajuana offers relief for the terminally ill.