WASHINGTON, D.C. – A 2013 survey in the New England Journal of Medicine found that nearly 8-in-10 doctors approved the use of medical marijuana. Now, a wide-ranging survey in the U.S. state of California finds that medical marijuana patients agree: 92 percent said that medical marijuana alleviated symptoms of their serious medical conditions, including chronic pain, arthritis, migraine and cancer.
The argument goes like this: A small country like Costa Rica cannot protect itself from highly armed drug lords without the help of the United States. We need to train police at places like the U.S. Army’s Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), formerly known as the School of the Americas.
BOGOTÁ, Colombia – President Juan Manuel Santos signaled his support Thursday for a bill that would allow the medical use of marijuana in Colombia. The ruling Liberal Party proposed the measure for a vote in the current session of the Colombian Congress, which opened July 20.
Citizen Action Party lawmaker Marvin Atencio wants to make Costa Rica the first country in Central America to legalize medical marijuana and generate millions of dollars for public institutions along the way.
In its most recent National Drug Control Strategy, released last week, U.S. officials promised a more humane and sympathetic approach to drug users and addiction. Out, the report suggests, are "tough on crime" policies.
The store, one of 25 licensed statewide this week, had 11 pounds (4,990 grams) of pot when it opened July 8 and sold out about 5 p.m. local time Thursday, owner James Lathrop said. With taxes, 2-gram bags sold for $46.77, he said.
GUATEMALA CITY – On the first day of a tour of Central America and the Dominican Republic, the president-elect of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solís, said Tuesday his administration would not promote initiatives to decriminalize illicit drugs, and that the topic should be subject to public debate.
With last year behind us, it's time to look forward to some of our picks for the top stories to watch out for in Costa Rica this year. We're pretty sure it's going to be an exciting year.
U.S. President Barack Obama says smoking pot is no more dangerous than drinking but calls it a "bad idea," amid a push for legalization in several states.
