Just give the people what they want already…

Here’s an article written by a friend named Cam Phillips on a topic I’m pretty passionate about, the legalisation and regulation of drugs.

In what could easily be the next international crime thriller for the digital age, authorities have made arrests in three continents as part of an online drug racket take-down operation.

An online narcotics marketplace, known as ‘The Farmer’s Market’ sold illegal drugs to 3,000 people across 34 countries, including every single state in the US, according to a federal indictment released yesterday in Los Angeles.

The Farmer’s Market processed over $1 million in sales in less than three years. The website’s offering included Ecstasy, psychotropic mushrooms, LSD and high-end marijuana. In order to remain anonymous, the site’s operators utilised a network called Tor, which allows users to mask their IP address with encryption. They also screened and vetted suppliers, offered a delivery guarantee and took a commission on each sale. At least in that sense, The Farmer’s Market was operated just like any other virtual marketplace.

The lead defendant, Marc Willems, a Dutch national, was arrested by local police at his home in Lelystad, Netherlands. Another defendant, this time a US man living in Argentina, was arrested as he was leaving Bogota, Colombia. Six others were also arrested from various places in the US for acting as suppliers or ‘cash drops’ for laundering profits. Payments to the site had been made using services like Western Union or PayPal and were routed through overseas locations.

The defendants face charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to launder money. If found guilty of distribution, the defendants could face a maximum of life in prison.

For those innovative entrepreneur’s that might be eyeing off this recently vacated niche, the fate of The Farmer’s Market’s operators should serve as enough of a deterrence. We can admire them for their e-commerce knack, but everyone in online retail knows that you can’t make a long-term business by selling dodgy product, right?

By Cam Phillips

Read Full Post »

Curiosity: Your Body on Drugs

Currently watching this documentary on Discovery, and I thought I’d share it with you. Luckily I found the whole thing up on YouTube, win!

It illustrates the effects of four illicit drugs, cannabis, heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine, on your body. They have a person who uses each of these substances pretty much daily to take part and do specific tasks prior to and after having used their substance of choice. The results are interesting, not to mention surprising, in a lot of the cases. What’s even more surprising is Robbin Williams hosting it and controlling his epic sense of humour. I don’t think he’s made a single joke yet… Probably not the best place to I guess haha.

Read Full Post »

50% of Americans pro cannabis legalisation

Easily one of the most compelling short videos/speeches on why cannabis should be legalised, whether in the US or Australia. 

It’s brilliant to see that as the scientific evidence piles up and more and more people are seeing the light with regards to the prohibition on drugs, specifically cannabis, fewer and fewer people believe it should continue to be prohibited. Undoubtedly a good sign considering this terrible prohibition has lead to the arrest and incarceration of more than 22 million American citizens since 1965.

At the end of last year, during the Obama Administration’s attempt to shortchange the American public’s most population action petition (cannabis legalisation), and was effectively declaring war on medicinal cannabis through DOJ, IRS, etc. the Gallup polls showed 50% of Americans now think cannabis should be legal. The highest percentage since the first Gallup poll was held on the issue in 1969.

Below is a video reacting to the news of this Gallup poll outcome at the end of last year with MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell’s giving a 4 minute condemning speech of those who are for the war on drugs and anti-cannabis legalisation, specifically politics (many of whom have admittedly partaken in said indulgences).

Hopefully this sort of clear logic illuminates the hypocrisy surrounding drug prohibition that has lead to the ruining of countless millions of peoples’ lives world wide, which has lead to much more devastating harm to individuals than any illicit substance ever could.

In my opinion, anyone who is against the legalisation and proper regulation of illicit substances like cannabis are at best completely ignorant of the science and facts, and are at worst complete and utter hypocrites who know the science and facts but still believe they should be prohibited (unlike more harmful substances, alcohol/cigarettes).

Read Full Post »

Illicit drugs not tied to middle-age mental decline

A new study carried out by British scientists has found further evidence supporting the absence of a connection between mental decline in later life from previous drug use.

I’m not too surprised to be honest… Cannabis was shown to be the most commonly used illicit drug by the 9000 participants in this study. People were surveyed at 42 years of age and then had their cognitive abilities tested 8 years later at age 50. 12 illicit drugs were included in the study comprising substances like cocaine, LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, amphetamines and ecstasy.

The authors of the study state these findings and implications in the abstract that:

At the population level, it does not appear that current illicit drug use is associated with impaired cognitive functioning in early middle age. However, the authors cannot exclude the possibility that some individuals and groups, such as those with heavier or more prolonged use, could be harmed.

However, the authors cannot exclude the possibility that some individuals and groups, such as those with heavier or more prolonged use, could be harmed.

Although, aforementioned substances such as cannabis and cocaine have short term effects on ones cognitive abilities if used periodically, this study is further evidence for ones mental capacities returning to normal soon after use has stopped.

That said, it would be best to look at longer studies from earlier ages to really clarify things. As raised in one of the below comments by Ian, why would you expect to see a difference between the ages of 42 and 50. More interesting would be examining different degrees of usage of these drugs in much younger people, from their teens, through their adult life in order to examine long term effects of drug usage of cognitive abilities. Use at a younger age is probably much more detrimental to the mind, when it is still developing, than say at at 42 when it has long since matured.

More info here

Read Full Post »