US drug policy

Lifting the U.S. Ban on Federal Funding for Syringe  

In a major change to the country's drug policy, the United States Congress has reversed a ban on federal funding of needle exchange that was first enacted 21 years ago. Within days the legislation is expected to be signed into law by President Obama and will allow funding of needle exchange programmes domestically, as well as internationally through United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the world's largest single source of HIV/AIDS‐related funding.

    Cannabis Cafe opens in Portland

    The United States' first marijuana cafe opened its doors for the first time late last week in Portland, Oregon. It is considered as an early test of the Obama administration's move to relax policing of medical use of the drug.

    The news made headlines this week as the Cannabis Cafe is the first to give certified medical marijuana users a place to get hold of the drug and smoke it - as long as they are out of public view - despite a federal ban, Reuters reports.

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