09/02/2008 00:00:00
UN Board Says Marijuana Machines Illegal
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VIENNA, Austria (AP) — Marijuana vending machines in Los Angeles violate
international treaties and should be shut down, the U.N.-affiliated drug
control board said Friday.
"The International Narcotics Control Board is deeply concerned about
reports that computerized vending machines to dispense cannabis
(marijuana) have been put into operation in Los Angeles," Philip O.
Emafo, president of the board, said in a statement.
At least three Los Angeles medical marijuana dispensaries have installed
vending machines to distribute the drug to people who carry cards
authorizing marijuana use. The drug is said to alleviate chronic pain,
loss of appetite and other ailments.
Supporters say the machines, which dispense 1/8th or 2/8th of an ounce
of marijuana at a time, offers users lower drug prices and increases
security.
Marijuana use is illegal under U.S. law, which does not recognize the
medical marijuana laws in California and 11 other states.
The Drug Enforcement Agency and other U.S. agencies have been shutting
down major medical marijuana dispensaries throughout California in the
last two years and charging their operators with felony distribution
charges.
"We know that the use of cannabis is illegal under federal law of the
United States and we trust the authorities will stop such activities,
which contravene the international drug control treaties," Emafo said.
In its statement, the Vienna-based drug board also said scientific
research about the therapeutic usefulness of cannabis or cannabis
extracts was still in progress and had not produced much evidence.
The board is an independent monitoring body for the implementation of
the United Nations international drug control conventions.
On the Net:
International Narcotics Control Board: http://www.incb.org/incb/index.html
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iVvi_NXC-JrAL_apLIsw_uUV_QTgD8UMCTRG1
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=13274
Author:
Associated press via UKCIA
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