Legality of cannabis
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| - | '''Jack Herer''' (born June 18, 1939, in [[New York City]], [[New York]], died April 15, 2010 in [[Eugene]], [[Oregon]]) was an American [[cannabis]] [[activist]] and the [[author]] of ''[[The Emperor Wears No Clothes]]'', a book which has been used in efforts to [[Legality of cannabis|decriminalize cannabis]]. | + | The '''legality of cannabis''' varies from country to country. [[drug possession|Possession]] of [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] is illegal in most countries and has been since the beginning of widespread cannabis prohibition in the late 1930s. However, possession of the plant in small quantities has been [[decriminalization|decriminalized]] in many countries and sub-national entities in several parts of the world. For example, [[cannabis in Canada]] will be legal for recreational use if legislation is passed in spring 2017. On 10 December 2013, [[Uruguay]] became the first country in the world to legalize the sale, cultivation, and distribution of cannabis. Open sales are "illegal, but not punishable", at [[Coffeeshop (Netherlands)|"coffeeshops"]] in the [[Netherlands]] if certain rules are followed. In the United States, federal law prohibits possession or sale of marijuana for any purpose, but the [[Obama Administration]] has refrained from prosecuting users and dealers operating in compliance with state (see [[Legality of cannabis by U.S. jurisdiction]]), territory, and Indian reservation laws which permit medical or recreational marijuana. |
| - | A former [[Barry Goldwater|Goldwater]] [[United States Republican Party|Republican]], Herer is now a pro-[[marijuana]] and [[hemp]] activist. He has written two books, the aforementioned ''The Emperor Wears No Clothes'' and ''Grass''. There has also been a [[Documentary film|documentary]] made about his life called, ''The Emperor of Hemp''. He believes that the [[cannabis sativa]] plant should be decriminalized because it has been shown to be a renewable source of [[fuel]], [[Cannabis foods|food]], and [[Medical cannabis|medicine]], and can be grown in virtually any part of the world, and that the [[U.S. government]] deliberately hides the proof of this. He has devoted his life to the support of cannabis, hemp and marijuana. | + | The [[Medical cannabis|medicinal use of cannabis]] is legal in a number of countries, including [[Canada]], the [[Czech Republic]] and [[Israel]]. [[Medical cannabis in the United States]] is legal in 29 states as of December 2016. |
| - | A specific [[Jack Herer (cannabis)|strain of cannabis]] has been named after Jack Herer in honour of his work. The strain has won several awards, including the 7th High Times Cannabis Cup. Jack Herer was also introduced to the [[Counterculture Hall of Fame]] at the 16th Cannabis Cup in recognition of his first book. | + | Some countries have laws which are not as vigorously prosecuted as others, but apart from the countries which offer access to medical marijuana, most countries have penalties ranging from lenient to very severe. Some infractions are taken more seriously in some countries than others in regard to the cultivation, use, possession or transfer of cannabis for recreational use. A few jurisdictions have lessened penalties for possession of small quantities of cannabis, making it punishable by [[confiscation]] and a [[Fine (penalty)|fine]], rather than [[imprisonment]]. Some jurisdictions/[[drug court]]s use mandatory treatment programs for young or frequent users, with freedom from narcotic drugs as the goal and a few jurisdictions permit cannabis use for medicinal purposes. Routine [[drug test]]s to detect cannabis are most common in the [[United States]], and have resulted in jail sentences and loss of employment even for medical use. In most European countries, privacy and [[labor law]]s prevent such testing for job applicants. Simple possession can carry long jail sentences in some countries, particularly in parts of [[East Asia]] and [[Southeast Asia]], where the sale of cannabis may lead to life imprisonment or execution. |
| - | Herer ran for [[United States President]] twice, in [[United States presidential election, 1988|1988]] (1,949 votes) and [[United States presidential election, 1992|1992]] (3,875 votes) as the [[Grassroots Party]] candidate. | + | ==See also== |
| - | + | *[[Adult lifetime cannabis use by country]] | |
| - | In [[July 2000]], Herer suffered a minor [[heart attack]] and a major [[stroke]], resulting in difficulties speaking and moving the right side of his body. Herer mostly recovered, and claimed in [[May 2004]] that treatment with the [[psychoactive]] [[mushroom]] [[amanita muscaria]] was the "[[secret]]". | + | *[[Annual cannabis use by country]] |
| - | + | *[[Cannabis reform at the international level]] | |
| - | On September 12, 2009 it was reported on the internet, mostly by way of [[Twitter]], [[Facebook]], [[Blogs]] and [[.com]], that Herer had suffered another heart attack, backstage at an event during the [[Portland Hempstalk Festival|Hempstalk Festival]] in [[Portland, Oregon]]. Contrary to web rumors that he had died, Herer spent nearly a month in critical condition in a Portland hospital, including several days in a medically induced coma. It was reported on October 13, 2009, that he had been discharged to another facility. He is "waking up and gazing appropriately when someone is talking... but he is not really communicating in any way." | + | *[[Health issues and the effects of cannabis]] |
| + | *[[Illegal drug trade]] | ||
| + | *[[Legal and medical status of cannabis]] | ||
| + | *[[Legality of cannabis by country]] | ||
| + | *[[Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs]] | ||
| + | *[[Cannabis Social Club]] | ||
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The legality of cannabis varies from country to country. Possession of cannabis is illegal in most countries and has been since the beginning of widespread cannabis prohibition in the late 1930s. However, possession of the plant in small quantities has been decriminalized in many countries and sub-national entities in several parts of the world. For example, cannabis in Canada will be legal for recreational use if legislation is passed in spring 2017. On 10 December 2013, Uruguay became the first country in the world to legalize the sale, cultivation, and distribution of cannabis. Open sales are "illegal, but not punishable", at "coffeeshops" in the Netherlands if certain rules are followed. In the United States, federal law prohibits possession or sale of marijuana for any purpose, but the Obama Administration has refrained from prosecuting users and dealers operating in compliance with state (see Legality of cannabis by U.S. jurisdiction), territory, and Indian reservation laws which permit medical or recreational marijuana.
The medicinal use of cannabis is legal in a number of countries, including Canada, the Czech Republic and Israel. Medical cannabis in the United States is legal in 29 states as of December 2016.
Some countries have laws which are not as vigorously prosecuted as others, but apart from the countries which offer access to medical marijuana, most countries have penalties ranging from lenient to very severe. Some infractions are taken more seriously in some countries than others in regard to the cultivation, use, possession or transfer of cannabis for recreational use. A few jurisdictions have lessened penalties for possession of small quantities of cannabis, making it punishable by confiscation and a fine, rather than imprisonment. Some jurisdictions/drug courts use mandatory treatment programs for young or frequent users, with freedom from narcotic drugs as the goal and a few jurisdictions permit cannabis use for medicinal purposes. Routine drug tests to detect cannabis are most common in the United States, and have resulted in jail sentences and loss of employment even for medical use. In most European countries, privacy and labor laws prevent such testing for job applicants. Simple possession can carry long jail sentences in some countries, particularly in parts of East Asia and Southeast Asia, where the sale of cannabis may lead to life imprisonment or execution.
See also
- Adult lifetime cannabis use by country
- Annual cannabis use by country
- Cannabis reform at the international level
- Health issues and the effects of cannabis
- Illegal drug trade
- Legal and medical status of cannabis
- Legality of cannabis by country
- Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs
- Cannabis Social Club
