WESTERN BUREAU:

During the Negril launch of Rastafari Rootz Fest at Swept Away resort on Wednesday night, the organisers clarified what they say are misconceptions by the general public that the festival's main focus is the High Times Magazine's Cannabis Cup competition.

Rootz Fest co-organiser Eddie Wray said the Cannabis Cup could be held in Jamaica only because High Times had sought a collaboration to stage it during the festival, which runs from November 12-15 at Long Bay Beach Park, Negril.

Mexico have ruled that outlawing possession and use of cannabis represents a fundamental violation of human rights for Mexican citizens. 

Mexico’s Supreme Court voted 4-to-1 in favour of the ruling, which now gives lawmakers a very promising political case to introduce marijuana reform bills at both the state and federal level in Mexico.

Washingtonpost.com reports:

The Department of State thinks that it’s just fine if Canada and Mexico decide to legalize recreational marijuana.

State Spokesman John Kirby answered a question at a Thursday press briefing about whether the recent federal election in Canada, as well as the Mexican Supreme Court ruling, would impact crime cooperation. The ruling established a constitutional right to recreational marijuana for personal use — for four individuals, leaving the country’s drug laws untouched. 

A marijuana-themed magazine in Mexico was always going to represent a challenge to the authorities who have the power to prohibit publications considered to run counter to "proper customs." Yet now that the Mexican supreme court has opened the door to the possible legalization of recreational use of the drug, the magazine's publishers feel that they have morality-based regulations on the back foot.

"Let's celebrate the beginning of change!" the magazine Cañamo México posted on its Facebook page after the court voted on Wednesday in favor of permitting four individuals to cultivate, transport and consume marijuana for fun. Subsequent posts focused on infographics detailing the ruling's consequences.

Plenty of things are assumed to be best buds with marijuana: sugary snacks, laser light shows, week-long guitar solos and, of course, video games.

But what exactly causes players to devote hours at a time to Candy Crush, World of Warcraft or The Witcher 3? What makes video games different when it comes to grabbing and holding our attention?

Mexico's Supreme Court postponed on Wednesday a much-anticipated hearing on a citizen group's bid to legally smoke marijuana, a potential landmark case in a country beset by drug violence.

While dozens of legalization supporters gathered outside the court in the capital's historic center, a judicial official said the justices decided to delay the debate until next week or a later date.

The case was brought by the Mexican Society for Responsible and Tolerant Personal Use, whose Spanish acronym spells "SMART," which is seeking permission to grow and consume its own pot.

Mexico's Supreme Court will debate on Wednesday a citizen group's bid to legally consume marijuana, an effort that activists hope will break pot prohibition in a country beset by drug violence.

The legal battle is being waged by the Mexican Society for Responsible and Tolerant Personal Use, whose Spanish acronym spells "SMART" and which argues that federal laws violate their fundamental right to smoke weed.

While the court's ruling would only apply to SMART, a decision in favor of the cannabis club could open the floodgates for others seeking to legally smoke marijuana in Mexico.

A UN agency censored an official paper calling for drug use decriminalization. But its message is here to stay

Cannabis is legal for recreational use in several countries around the world (Source: Getty)

High hopes for the legalisation movement: Mexico could be close to legalising marijuana, as the country’s supreme court gears up to discuss the issue later this month.

The supreme court will be discussing a proposal that would legalise consumption and production of marijuana for recreational use.

Mexico has already approved medical use of the drug, as a lower court in the country granted a couple the right to import marijuana-based medicine to treat their daughter’s epilepsy in August.

Since recreational use of the drug has been made legal in several US states, political pressure has been mounting on Mexico to follow suit.

Prohibition builds empires of criminals and outlaws the world's most ancient medicine, writes Labour MP Paul Flynn