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‘WADA should remove cannabis from banned list of drugs’

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OTTAWA: With Canada about to legalise marijuana on Wednesday, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) should remove cannabis from its banned list of drugs, says Canadian Ross Rebagliati, whose Olympic snowboard gold medal was taken away after he tested positive for the drug then subsequently returned on a technicality.

WADA, which fights the use of drugs in sport, is based in Montreal where 12 marijuana shops are due to open on Wednesday. WADA continues to ban the recreational drug while Canadians are preparing to light up without fear of breaking the law.

For athletes the dread of being busted for smoking a joint remains, with cannabinoids such as cannabis, hashish and marijuana prohibited from in-competition use.

“I think it’s time, it’s overdue actually,” Rebagliati, who won gold at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, told Reuters, referring to removing cannabis from WADA’s banned list. “If athletes are allowed to consume alcohol and tobacco let them have weed. It is the only thing that is good for you of those three things.”

Rebagliati, 47, now runs a company called Legacy Brands, a cannabis company focusing on cannabidiol consumables (CBD), nutrients and home growing kits. Cannabidiol is the marijuana extract used for medicinal purposes.

In 1998, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), anxious to attract a younger audience, introduced snowboarding for the Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, and the first gold went to Rebagliati.

He was disqualified and stripped of his medal when testers found traces of cannabis, then reinstated on the technicality that marijuana was not at that time on the banned list.

“My medal was the only medal in Olympic history that has ever been given back,” said Rebagliati.

“I always found it interesting that cannabis wasn’t on the list of banned substances when I was at the Olympics and [that] was why I got to keep it in the end.”

Twenty years later, and with marijuana about to become legal in Canada, if the Olympics were held today Rebagliati would not get his medal back with the drug now on WADA’s banned list.

WADA DILEMMA
Cannabis has always posed a dilemma for WADA, with marijuana illegal in many countries and medical opinion divided on whether it is performance-enhancing or not.

In 2013, WADA raised the allowable in-competition threshold to 150 nanograms per milliliter of urine from 15 nanograms per milliliter and has taken cannabidiol (CBD) off the banned list.

“It is important to note that the list is not static but evolves based on new scientific evidence,” WADA said in a statement to Reuters. “While the change in legal status of cannabis in some areas of the world may be one of many factors addressed during deliberations, legal status is not one of the criteria to be fulfilled for inclusion of a substance in the list.”

WADA noted that there has not been any recent discussion by the List Expert Group on the status of cannabis.

Beyond WADA, cannabis has generated extensive discussion in Canada.

With seven National Hockey League franchises across the country and Toronto being home to Major League Baseball’s Blue Jays and the National Basketball Association’s Raptors, as Wednesday approached there was discussion about what impact, if any, the cannabis legalisation would bring.

All the major sports leagues in North America — National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, National Football League and National Hockey League — conduct drug testing.

“I am not sure if the IOC was looking at it from a social standpoint or because it was against the law, but I think now the responsible thing to do is look at if from a non-idealogical standpoint and realise the benefits,” said Rebagliati.

“The NFL has been talking about using it for head injuries and recovery and other athletes from other sports, high impact sports, we’re finding more and more athletes leaning towards cannabis and individual extracts of cannabis to avoid the pitfalls of opioid use for pain-killing and other sorts of things.”

https://www.dawn.com/news/1439659/wada-should-remove-cannabis-from-banned-list-of-drugs
 
Finally some common sense. There are billions to be made from such measures.
 
Finally some common sense. There are billions to be made from such measures.

From reading the article, the athlete wants it removed from banned substances for athletes, its already legal in his home nation.

Alcohol is too common for it to be banned for athletes but all other drugs should not be allowed. A sportsman should represent the highest order of physical and mental fitness imo.
 
From reading the article, the athlete wants it removed from banned substances for athletes, its already legal in his home nation.

Alcohol is too common for it to be banned for athletes but all other drugs should not be allowed. A sportsman should represent the highest order of physical and mental fitness imo.

A sportsman can do whatever the hell he wants, he doesn't owe you or the public jack. He is a working man just like me, after a long day of work I don't mind a nice toke.

Drugs should be only banned for performance enhancement as this would be considered cheating the sport.
 
The German parliament is about to vote on a new law to allow the recreational use of cannabis.

If MPs vote yes, over 18s in Germany will be allowed to possess substantial amounts of cannabis, but strict rules will make it difficult to buy the drug.

Smoking cannabis in many public spaces would then become legal from 1 April.

Possession of up to 25g, or almost an ounce, would be allowed in public spaces, and in private homes the legal upper limit would be 50g.

Already police in some parts of Germany, such as Berlin, often turn a blind eye to smoking in public, although possession of the drug for recreational use is illegal and can be prosecuted. 

Use of the drug among young people has been soaring for years despite the existing law, says Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, who is instigating the reforms.

He wants to undermine the black market, protect smokers from contaminated cannabis and cut revenue streams for organised crime gangs.

But legal cannabis cafes will not suddenly spring up all over the country.

A ferocious debate about decriminalising cannabis has been raging for years in Germany, with doctors' groups expressing concerns for young people and conservatives saying that liberalisation will fuel drug use.

As so often in Germany, the resulting bill being voted on by MPs is complicated.

Smoking cannabis in some areas, such as near schools and sports grounds, will still be illegal. Crucially, the market will be strictly regulated so buying the drug will not be easy.

Original plans to allow licensed shops and pharmacies to sell cannabis have been scrapped over EU concerns that this could lead to a surge in drug exports.

Instead, non-commercial members' clubs, dubbed "cannabis social clubs", will grow and distribute a limited amount of the drug.

Each club will have an upper limit of 500 members, consuming cannabis onsite will not be allowed, and membership will only be available to German residents.

Growing your own cannabis will also be permitted, with up to three marijuana plants allowed per household.

This means that Germany could be in the paradoxical position of allowing possession of rather large amounts of the drug - 25g is the equivalent of dozens of strong joints - while at the same time making it difficult to purchase.

Regular smokers would benefit, but occasional users would struggle to buy it legally and tourists would be excluded. Critics say this will simply fuel the black market.

Over the next few years, the government wants to assess the impact of the new law, and eventually introduce the licensed sale of cannabis.

But given how tortuous the debate has been so far, nothing is certain.

Meanwhile, opposition conservatives say that if they get into government next year, they will scrap the law entirely. Germany is unlikely to become Europe's new Amsterdam anytime soon.

BBC

 
We are going to see more and more countries legalizing cannabis in the future.
 
Many such drugs have medicinal properties but they are too addictive to be legalized for normal people. They are going to misuse it for sure. All these drugs should be monitored rather than allowing everyone to carry it freely everywhere.
 
Pakistan also following the steps of Germany to legalize Cannabis?

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Cannabis regulatory authority established

President Dr Arif Alvi has officially promulgated an ordinance paving the way for the establishment of the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority (CCRA).

The primary objective of the newly established authority is to oversee and regulate the cultivation, extraction, medical and industrial use, as well as the sale of the cannabis plant.

Under its governance, a 13-member board of governors will administer control, with the chairmanship held by the secretary of the defence division.

The Board will consist of members such as the cabinet secretary, the secretary of law and justice, and the secretary of national food security and research.

Additionally, the board will include the chief secretaries of the four provinces, two members from the private sector, representatives from ISI, IB, AINF, and DRAP.

The board will advise the federal government on cannabis-related matters, including policy decisions, amendments, or omissions. It will also have the authority to issue licenses.At the local level, the government will formulate a national policy governing the cultivation, sale, and production of cannabis plants. Licenses will be issued for five years under this ordinance.

Furthermore, the authority has been tasked with various functions including policy-making, advising the government, formulating procedures for fund utilisation, specifying fees and charges, issuing licenses and quality controls.

The regulator will coordinate with provincial governments and international counterparts, conducting research and development, ensuring security standards, issuing certifications, maintaining lists of violators, and operating laboratories and testing facilities.

The board of governors, appointed by the prime minister, will oversee the authority's operations and make policy decisions subject to government approval.

The ordinance also outlines the procedures for board meetings, including quorum and decision-making processes.

Additionally, it mandates the appointment of a director general, who may be an officer in the service of Pakistan, to oversee the authority's day-to-day functions. The DG of the authority will hold a rank not below BPS-21 or its equivalent.

Meanwhile, legal immunity is also provided to the director general, members, and employees for actions performed in good faith under the ordinance.

A national cannabis policy will also be formulated by the federal government, addressing the cultivation, production, sale, and import/export of cannabis derivatives, with input from relevant bodies.A fund will be established for the authority's operation, consisting of various revenue sources including government grants and fees.

Auditors, appointed by the authority with the approval of the federal government, will conduct an audit of the authority's accounts annually.

The authority must publish its annual accounts and auditors' reports in the official gazette and present them to the parliament.

The authority has been allowed to invest its surplus funds and maintain bank accounts in rupees or foreign currencies.

A committee will be established to consider license applications for pharmaceutical, herbal, and nutraceutical purposes from cannabis plant derivatives.

License holders will have various duties, including compliance with licensing conditions and contributing to the Authority's fund. The authority will also set safety and performance standards for regulated activities with consultation from relevant agencies.

The authority has also been empowered to conduct inspections of licensees' premises and investigate violations, with penalties for non-compliance.

The Control of Narcotic Substances Act, 1997, and other relevant laws will apply for the trial of criminal offences under this ordinance.

Individuals or companies contravening the ordinance or its regulations may face fines ranging from Rs1 million to Rs10 million for individuals and Rs10,000,000 to Rs200,000,000 for companies. Additional fines may apply for continuing defaults.Persons dissatisfied with authority decisions may appeal to the high court within thirty days. Appeals against decisions by authority officers must be made to the authority itself within thirty days.

Moreover, the authority may prohibit individuals from engaging in regulated activities or require them to cease dealings with violators. Prohibitions or requirements may be rescinded or varied by the authority if violations cease to exist.

The authority may suspend or revoke licenses for consistent non-compliance, following a show cause notice and opportunity to rectify the omission.

The authority will cooperate with the Anti-Narcotics Force in cases of suspected offences under relevant laws.

The federal government can make rules regarding various aspects of the ordinance, subject to public opinion and response publication requirements. The authority can make regulations to facilitate ordinance implementation, subject to similar public opinion and response publication requirements.

The ordinance does not diminish the powers of the Anti-Narcotics Force or other relevant laws unless otherwise specified.

The federal government can issue orders to resolve difficulties in implementing the ordinance, provided they align with its provisions and rules.

SOURCE: EXPRESS TRIBUNE
 
Keep it banned. Don’t need to listen to the hippie liberals and junkies.

No need to profit off of this drug either.

Far more important issues to tackle for Pakistan.
 
Keep it banned. Don’t need to listen to the hippie liberals and junkies.

No need to profit off of this drug either.

Far more important issues to tackle for Pakistan.

They should legalise it, so Jon Jones can claim Pakistani Citizenship and declare himself the greatest Pakistani sportsman of all time.
 
They should legalise it, so Jon Jones can claim Pakistani Citizenship and declare himself the greatest Pakistani sportsman of all time.
Nah that’s Nate Diaz. Jon Jones will go for a hit of that Afghani opioids.
 
Pakistan is more influenced by the western culture rather than promoting and trusting their own and trying to follow everything the western countries are doing. No sense of right direction is found here.
 

Medical cannabis could soon get the green light in France after unprecedented trial​


Patience is a virtue. But when faced with indescribable pain on a daily basis, being virtuous is not the priority. At least it isn't for Valérie Vedere, who was diagnosed with HIV in 1992 and then throat cancer in 2012.

“To appease the burning sensation I get from radiotherapy, I use cannabis therapeutically,” the 58-year-old living in Bordeaux says. “But I also experience pain from antiretroviral treatments for HIV.”

“It’s as if my hands and feet are being squeezed in a vice, which can lead to extreme burning and tingling sensations. “I also have muscle spasms that generally take place at the end of the day,” Vedere explains. Her chronic pain is something that can’t be treated with painkillers like tramadol or other opioids. “It’s not suitable for the long-term,” she says.

When France launched a national experiment to test the use of medical cannabis for patients with serious illnesses three years ago, Vedere was determined to participate.

“I had already been using cannabis to ease my symptoms illegally. Now, I would be able to use it legally and have consistent follow-ups with my doctor,” she says. After persuading her doctor that she was a perfect candidate for the trial, she finally became a participant in May 2021 – two months after the experiment was launched.

The first results of the trial came trickling in two years later, in 2023. Patients felt their symptoms had improved significantly, with no unexpected side effects. No cases of substance abuse or addiction had been reported.

“Our evaluations show that between 30 and 40 percent of symptoms like pain, spasms, quality of life or epileptic seizures for example, have improved significantly,” says Nicolas Authier, a doctor specialised in pharmacology, addiction and pain who is also the president of the scientific committee tasked with monitoring the medical cannabis trial.

Preparations to make prescribed cannabis-based medicines more readily available, including in pharmacies, are now under way for 2025.

“Cannabis-based medicines are currently dispensed in hospitals or in hospital pharmacies, but in the long-run, most of them will become available in regular pharmacies much like any other drug,” says Authier.

The French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) has until the end of the year to authorise approved cannabis-based products for medicinal use. Those products will then be granted temporary approval for five years – with scope for them be renewed indefinitely – pending a decision by European authorities to market the drugs.

Until then, the patients who were part of the trial will continue to have access to cannabis-based medicines. But as of Wednesday March 27, no new participants are able to join the trial.

A total of 3,035 people took part in the unprecedented experiment and 1,842 are still receiving treatment today.

Before the trial was first launched across 275 health facilities in the country, a committee of interdisciplinary scientists – consisting mostly of healthcare professionals and patients – was set up. Together, they defined the conditions under which the experiment would be rolled out, what medicines would be used, the training pharmacists and doctors would receive, how patients would be monitored and the information they would receive.

Health authorities then allowed limited prescriptions for people suffering from five specific conditions: neuropathic pain, some drug-resistant forms of epilepsy, intense oncology symptoms related to cancer or cancer treatment, palliative situations and pathologies that affect the nervous system, like multiple sclerosis.

Patients were only prescribed cannabis-based medicines if available treatment was found to be insufficient, or if they were presented an aversion to existing drugs.

Mylène, who is 26 and lives in Paris, has tried a cocktail of medications to combat her cephalgia – a condition that results in recurring and extremely painful headaches. “They are brutal. The pain is permanent, seven days a week. “I haven’t had a break since they started in 2014,” she says. “And sometimes I get a particularly painful attack, and it’s as if two cinder blocks are being pressed against my head.”

“I tried all kinds of treatment. Paracetamol, ibuprofen, opioids like tramadol and even morphine. Either the medicine wouldn’t have an effect on me or the side effects were too intense,” the young radiologist explains. “I joined the trial in late December 2023 and started taking medical cannabis droplets morning and night. It’s almost been three months and I am already starting to feel relief. I feel a change that’s really starting to take effect.”

Depending on their condition, patients were given medical cannabis either in oil or dried flower form. Oil droplets were generally taken orally, while dried flowers were inhaled in vaporisers to prevent the potential health risks from burning the plant.

Cannabis-based medicines can have varying degrees of THC and CBD, the two main compounds unique to the cannabis plant, known as cannabinoids. While THC is its primary psychoactive compound, responsible for the typical weed high consumers can feel, it is most efficient in tackling pain. CBD, the second most prevalent compound in cannabis or cannabinoid, is still psychoactive but doesn’t have the same intoxicating effect as THC.

“The majority of patients were given cannabis-based medicines in oil form, which is the treatment that has the longest lasting effect,” Authier explains. “But oil droplets don’t prevent peaks of severe pain that can only be relieved by fast-acting medication… so sometimes we added dried cannabis flowers that patients could inhale using a vape. The effects don’t last very long but are very rapid.”

However, in February 2024 the ANSM decided to stop prescribing medical cannabis in flower form.

“I wasn’t at the mediation meeting when the decision was taken so I can’t say for certain why,” says Authier. “It seems that the medical cannabis flower looks too similar to the illicit cannabis flower consumed for [recreational] purposes. So that could cause confusion and perhaps spark fears of a potential black market.”

“It’s all very debatable,” Authier adds, unconvinced.

For Vedere, both the oils and flowers are “indispensable”. Angered with the decision to stop prescribing medical cannabis in this form, she wrote an open letter to the French health ministry demanding an explanation.

“I don't want to take opioids. And when I have sudden attacks of pain, the flowers are the only thing that relieves me,” says Vedere. “So I will just have to continue using the oil that I’m prescribed.” As for the flowers, I’ll buy them illegally.”

Based on the five medical conditions that warrant this type of treatment, Authier estimates that between 150,000 and 300,000 people in France could be prescribed cannabis-based medicines, meaning that an entire industry has been holding its breath for the roll-out of the drugs.

While suppliers of the cannabis-based medicines used in the years-long trial were Israeli, Australian and German companies – those tasked with distribution were French.

Along with Germany, France could become the biggest market for medical cannabis in Europe, according to French daily Le Monde.

But despite the promise of a booming market, introducing these drugs to the French market and even getting the trial off the ground has been anything but a bed of roses.

A few days ago, while attending a Senate hearing on the impact of drug trafficking in France, Finance Minister Bruno le Maire reiterated his position that the decriminalization of cannabis was a no-go.

“Cannabis is cool and cocaine is chic. That is the social representation of drugs,” he said. “But in reality, the two are poisons. They are both destructive and contribute to the undermining of French society as a whole.”

Despite France being one of the biggest cannabis consumers in Europe, it also has some of the toughest laws against the drug. THC is still classified as a narcotic in France, with the maximum level permitted in any cannabis plant limited to 0.3 percent. CBD is legal as long as the cannabis plant does not exceed the permitted levels of THC.

There is still a lot of stigma around cannabis in France, even though public opinion on its medical use is hugely encouraging. According to a 2019 survey by the national Observatory for Drugs and Addictive Tendencies, 91 percent of French people say they are in favor of doctors prescribing cannabis-based medicines “for certain serious or chronic illnesses.”

Still, attitudes around the plant are difficult to shift. “It’s impossible to completely shake off the stigma attached to the word cannabis, which is associated with narcotics. So we had to make a real effort to reassure [the medical community] throughout the experiment,” says Authier.

When it comes to medicinal cannabis, politicians and public health officials in France have expressed their concerns through two key arguments. First, that the roll-out of these medicines would be too expensive. And second, that the legalisation of medicinal cannabis will inevitably lead to the legalisation of its recreational use.

“Our objective has always been accessibility. Ensuring that patients have access to these medicines and that doctors prescribe them,” Authier counters. “It was never, as some like to believe, a Trojan horse move to then legalise recreational cannabis. That has absolutely nothing to do with our trial. Opium-based medicines exist without heroin being legalised.”

“We had to deal with some rather dogmatic opinions and deconstruct a lot of beliefs or language to be taken seriously,” he confesses.

The first place to ever legalize medical cannabis was California, in 1996. Colorado followed suit four years later in 2000, then Canada in 2001, the Netherlands in 2003, Israel in 2006, Italy in 2013 and Germany in 2017. To date, around 20 countries in Europe have joined the list, each with their own set of rules and restrictions.

In France, it wasn’t until 2018 that serious discussions around medical cannabis emerged in the public sphere. And it took another three years before the trial began, in 2021.

Now that it looks like medical cannabis is here to stay in France, at least for the next five years, Mylène feels relieved.

“When I was accepted as a participant a few months ago, I thought ‘finally’,” she sighs. “I can see a real step forward and I hope it continues. I hope that it can become more readily available so that as many people as possible can be treated.”

 

Police arrest international gang in $686 mln medicinal cannabis scam​

MADRID, April 13 (Reuters) - Police forces led by Spain have arrested a gang which allegedly defrauded 645 million euros ($686.41 million) from victims in 35 countries in a scam centred around cannabis plants for medicinal use.

The gang mounted a marketing system and attended international cannabis fairs to convince victims to invest in the system, the Spanish National Police said in a statement.

It led the operation with the help of Europol and police forces in five other countries.

Nine suspects, who have not been named, were detained on April 11 on suspicion of fraud in Spain, Britain, Germany, Latvia, Poland, Italy and the Dominican Republic.

"The business model offered by this organization consisted of using the capital transferred from investors to develop partnerships to finance the cultivation of cannabis plants," Silvia Garrido, Spanish police spokeswoman said.

"With this system, they promised victims profits of between 70% and 168% per year, depending on the species of cannabis in which they invested."

The British National Crime Agency (NCA), which took part in the operation, said 180,000 people invested funds in “JuicyFields” which it called "a notorious and elaborate Ponzi fraud scheme".

The NCA also said that a 42-year-old man appeared in a London court on April 11 for the start of extradition proceedings.
Luxury cars, hotel parties and music videos were used in an advertising campaign to promote the scheme, police said, and victims were taken to legal cannabis plantations which were involved in the scam.

Police carried out raids in 2022 but did not say if any suspects have been charged with any offences.

Police blocked bank accounts containing 58,600.00 euros and 116,300.00 euros in crypto currencies, and 106,000 euros in cash was recovered. Properties worth 2.6 billion euros were seized.
($1 = 0.9397 euros)

Source: Reuters
 

Biden administration takes step to make marijuana use a less serious crime​

WASHINGTON, April 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday moved to make marijuana use a less serious federal crime, taking a step to reclassify the drug out of a category that includes heroin in a shift that, once completed, would shake up cannabis policy nationwide.

Shares of cannabis firms surged following the news. Stocks of pot companies such as Tilray (TLRY.O), opens new tab, Trulieve Cannabis Corp (TRUL.CD), opens new tab, Green thumb Industries (GTII.CD), opens new tab were up over 20% in late afternoon trading.

The Department of Justice, which oversees the Drug Enforcement Administration, recommended that cannabis be classified as a so-called schedule three drug, with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence, instead of schedule one, which is reserved for drugs with a high potential for abuse, two sources confirmed to Reuters.

Penalties for use of schedule three drugs are less severe under federal law.

The proposal is being sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review and finalization, the sources said, while cautioning that there would still be a public comment period and a regulatory process to come.

President Joe Biden, a Democrat who is running for re-election in November, initiated a review of the drug's classification in 2022, fulfilling a campaign promise that was important to left-leaning members of his political base.

Currently, the drug falls under the DEA's class that includes heroin and LSD. It would be moved to a group that contains Tylenol with codeine and ketamine.

GAP BETWEEN STATE, FEDERAL LAWS

Reclassifying marijuana represents a first step toward narrowing the chasm between state and federal cannabis laws. The drug is legal in some form in nearly 40 states.

While rescheduling the drug does not make it legal, it would open up the doors for more research and medical use, resulting in lighter criminal penalties and increased investments in the cannabis space.

The DEA declined to comment.

The Justice Department's move came after the Health and Human Services Department in August recommended rescheduling cannabis as part of Biden's ordered review.

Public support for marijuana legalization in the United States has risen significantly over the past few decades, reflecting growing acceptance of recreational and medicinal cannabis use.

Colorado and Washington became the first states to allow recreational marijuana in 2012.

If marijuana classification were to ease at the federal level, that could allow major stock exchanges to list businesses that are in the cannabis trade and potentially allow foreign companies to begin selling their products in the United States.

While many states have legalized the medical or recreational use of cannabis, its illegal status under U.S. federal law has forced most major banks to deny their services to cannabis-related businesses.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are seeking to bolster support from the Black community for their re-election bid against former President Donald Trump, a Republican.

Black Americans and communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by marijuana drug enforcement for decades, with Black people 3.6 times more likely than white people to be arrested for marijuana possession, despite similar usage rates, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

According to data from the Pew Research Center, Black and white Americans used marijuana at roughly comparable rates in 2020, yet Black people accounted for 39% of all marijuana possession arrests in the U.S. despite being only 12% of the U.S. population then.

 
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