No cops getting high, veterans want MMJ access, mother of sick child pushes for legalization

Thailand’s police officers are not allowed to get high at work

Thailand recently became the first country in Asia to legalize marijuana, and it seems the police are benefiting too!

General Suwat Chaengyodsuk of the Royal Thai Police just issued an order banning all police officers from consuming weed or hemp in police stations. The Public Health Act will also prosecute anyone who smells or sells weed and these rules apply to any situation where people come into contact with government officials or the police as it would distract them from work.

“Do not smoke marijuana or hemp” signs are now required to be posted in police stations.

Mother of sick child sparks debate over legalization of medical marijuana in Indonesia

Santi Warastuti, a 43-year-old mother, recently went viral on social media after calling for legalization of medical marijuana in Jakarta. She took to the streets with her daughter, 13-year-old Pika Sasi Kirana, who suffers from cerebral palsy.

Little did she know that a famous local singer, Andien Aisyah, stopped by, took a picture of her and posted it on Twitter. “It exceeds my expectations. I went to Car Free Day because I was demanding a Constitutional Court ruling on our motion to review the Narcotics Act material,” Santi told This Week in Asia. “The court’s headquarters is in Jakarta, so I thought I had to go there, to open the hearts of the judges, to show them my daughter, to show that she needs medical marijuana,” she explained. “So that was my request for the court to announce a decision in my case soon,” she said.

Santi is one of other mothers whose children struggle with cerebral palsy; Together, in 2020, they filed a motion with the courts to review the country’s 2009 drug laws, which ban the use of all types of cannabis. The mothers are pleading for their children who have medical conditions that can be treated with medical marijuana, although unfortunately the herb is still a type 1 drug in Indonesia.

Germany continues efforts to legalize marijuana

Germany is on track to legalize medical marijuana. According to Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, a draft law should be available by the end of the year. The new law is “a long-awaited step for many,” he says, adding that the government will adopt a “safety first” approach. “The current, primarily repressive approach to cannabis has failed,” he said.

In the past, Lauterbach has opposed legalizing marijuana, saying it could have potential health risks. However, he has changed his position on it within the last two years, although he says many important details still need to be ironed out, particularly when it comes to preventing underage use, taxes, traffic laws and more. “Cannabis use is no small thing for young people, especially children, and it can destroy a life before it really begins,” he said.

He also recognizes the need for the public to have access to their medicines, saying they “need to be accepted and be part of modern society.”

The Minister of Health adds that around 4 million adults in the country are already using marijuana.

Veterans in Australia push for legalization of marijuana

Currently doctors in Australia can prescribe the use of cannabis as long as it is approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and the Territory or State’s Health Department. However, medical marijuana comes at a steep price: ranging from $150 to over $3,000 a month, many people Down Under simply can’t afford the drug.

Now an Iraqi war veteran launched a campaign for government subsidies for medicinal cannabis, saying people with PTSD only receive financial aid if they take antipsychotic drugs that make them suicidal. The campaign, dubbed No More Zombie Veterans, is being directed by Derek Pyrah and centers around a petition to get the attention of Matt Keogh, the Department of Veterans Affairs and a minister. According to Pyrah, many veterinarians complain that even when it can treat PTSD, they simply can’t afford to use medical cannabis, News.com.au reports.

Right now, veterans must either save up for the cost of medical marijuana or source their drugs from the black market, which can lead to criminal charges. Alternatively, vets may not need to do anything other than take current antipsychotic medications, which Pyrah says are “scientifically proven to be harmful to human health, are ineffective and can lead to suicidal thoughts.” With 25,000 signatures, it will hopefully reach both Mr. Keogh and the DVA.

Switzerland will soon launch the MMJ market

Late last month, the Swiss government announced that the existing ban on medical marijuana would be finally lifted due to changes to the Swiss Narcotics Act, passed by Parliament in March 2021. According to a report by Agence France Presse, the move “is intended to make it easier for patients to access cannabis for medical purposes”.

“The decision to use a cannabis-based drug for therapeutic purposes rests with the doctor in consultation with the patient,” the government said. From August 1, patients using medical marijuana in Switzerland will no longer need to obtain a permit from the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG), although recreational use will remain illegal. Currently, patients can only access medical marijuana with the approval of a doctor, and it must contain less than 1% THC.

Additionally, a study by the University of Geneva and consulting firm EBP found that since around 56 tons of marijuana is consumed in the country annually, this has the potential to generate around 582 million Swiss francs and around 4,400 if they regulate recreational cannabis full-time employment.

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