Man bags 6 months imprisonment for displaying Cannabis in public

A Magistrate Court in Osogbo, the Osun state capital, has convicted a 41-years-old man identified as Waidi Adelabu, for displaying cannabis publicly.

The accused was charged for possession and public display of cannabis popularly known as “weed” on two count charge.

The Prosecutor, Mr Elisha Olusegun said Adelabu committed the offence on January 9, 2017, at about 2:00 pm at Oke-Baale area, Osogbo.

He said: “Without lawful authority he had in his possession two wraps of weed suspected to be Indian Hemp otherwise known as cannabis sativa”.

The Prosecutor added that the offence contravenes Section 430 (1) and 249(D) of the criminal code cap 34 vol. II laws of Osun-State of Nigeria 2002.

The accused on the other hand, pleaded guilty to the two count charge preferred against him.

Mr Elisha tendered the statement of the accused person which was admitted by the court as exhibit ‘A’ and two wraps of weeds which was also admitted as exhibit ‘B’.

Before the Magistrate handed down the sentence, the defendant, Mr Badmus Kazim, giving allocutus plea, said the accused person saved the time of the court and showed remorse in conducting himself in good manner and doesn’t have any record of previous conviction.

He said: “I plead with the court to make use of section 430 by providing an option of fine to the convict”.

subsequently, the Chief Magistrate, Mr Olushola Aluko, in his ruling, sentenced Waidi Adelabu to six month imprisonment or pay a fine of 10,000 Naira.

 

Source: Channels TV

NDLEA arrests police inspector conveying drugs with Police staff bus

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Lokoja, Kogi State, yesterday paraded a police inspector, Abali Zagi, with the Nigeria Police Force headquarters’ welfare bus loaded with 818.2kg of Cannabis Sativa.

The NDLEA Commander, Muhammad Idris Bello, while parading the suspects, indicated that the police officer and two other accomplices were arrested along Lokoja-Okene road on their way from Okpeila.

He said his patrol team had earlier allowed him a free pass but perceived the smell of weeds and decided to pursue the bus and arrested them. After a thorough search, the exhibits were found.

The commander indicated that drug peddlers were fond of using the ploy of carrying little children to draw sympathy so that by the time they were arrested, they could be left off the hook. “We have sent for their people to come and take away the boy because he is innocent. He has nothing to do with NDLEA.”

Meanwhile, Justice B.O. Quadri of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has sentenced a 55-year-old female pilgrim, Binuyo Basirat Iyabo, to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour. She was caught last September while smuggling 76 pellets of cocaine weighing 931 grammes to Medina, Saudi Arabia.

In his judgment delivered yesterday, Quadri said the sentence would serve as a deterrent to others. Besides, he said the hard labour was added to the sentence because the convict failed to reveal the identity of her sponsors.

Binuyo tested positive to narcotic ingestion at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja while on pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia last September. She was immediately placed under observation by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), where she excreted seventy-six (76) pellets of substances found to be cocaine.

NDLEA commander at the Abuja airport, Hamisu Lawan, said the convict, married with three children and a trader at Dosumu market in Lagos, in her statement, agreed to smuggle the drugs for a fee.

“I wanted to expand my cosmetic business but I have no money. My sponsor offered to foot my expenses to Saudi on pilgrimage. I was excited until I was asked to take drugs along. I wanted to decline but considering the offer of a million naira, I accepted. I swallowed the drugs in Lagos and took a flight to Abuja on my way to Medina,” she stated.

 

Source: The Guardian

HEALTH: Comprehensive health benefits, risks of cannabis use.

With cannabis legalisation on the rise across the world especially in the United States (U.S.), it is more important than ever to get a clear understanding of the drug’s health benefits and risks. In a new report from the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, researchers analysed more than 10,000 scientific studies on cannabis and cannabis-derived products in order to help meet this need, and they came to some interesting conclusions.

The researchers conclude that cannabis could be beneficial for chronic pain, but it may increase the risk of mental health problems.

Cannabis is a drug derived from the plant Cannabis sativa. It is most commonly used in the form of marijuana, which is produced from the dried leaves of the cannabis plant.

Marie McCormick, chair of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee told Medical News Today that the increased legalization of cannabis and its derivatives is making the drug more accepted and accessible. This has led to increased use, which has “raised important public health concerns.”

Cannabis: How does it impact health?
With this in mind, McCormick and colleagues from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee analyzed the data of more than 10,000 scientific studies on the health effects of cannabis and cannabis-derived products – including marijuana and cannabinoids, the active components of cannabis – that had been published since 1999.

Specifically, the researchers looked at the therapeutic potential of cannabis and its derivatives, as well as the health risks associated with its use. Medical News Today takes a look at some of the key findings.

The researchers recently published their results in a report titled “The health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: The current state of evidence and recommendations for research (2017).”

‘Substantial evidence’ that cannabis treats chronic pain
Chronic pain is estimated to affect more than 25 million U.S. adults, and it is a leading cause of disability.

When it comes to medicinal cannabis, one of its key uses is for the treatment of chronic pain. In the new report, researchers found that patients with chronic pain who were treated with cannabis or products containing cannabinoids were more likely to report significant pain relief than untreated patients. Based on their analysis, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine conclude: “There is substantial evidence that cannabis is an effective treatment for chronic pain in adults.”

Cannabis use may harm mental health
A number of studies have suggested that cannabis use can have negative implications for mental health, and from their scientific review, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine conclude that this is the case.

Additionally, “moderate evidence” suggests that frequent users of cannabis may be more likely to report suicidal thoughts and that regular use of the drug could increase the risk of social anxiety disorder. Cannabis use may also pose a “small increased risk” for the development of depressive disorders.

However, the researchers conclude that there is “limited evidence” of a statistical link between cannabis use and the development of bipolar disorder, and there is “no evidence” to either support or refute a statistical link between cannabis use and the development of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Cannabis and cancer risk
It is well established that smoking tobacco can increase the risk of lung, head, and neck cancers, and some studies have suggested that smoking cannabis can do the same. The new report, however, concludes that there is no evidence of a statistical link between cannabis use and the risk of lung cancer and head and neck cancers.

The researchers uncovered “moderate evidence” of a link between cannabis use and one subtype of testicular cancer – seminoma testicular cancer, a slow-growing form of the disease.

Furthermore, the team found no evidence of a link between marijuana use in pregnancy and cancer risk in offspring.

In relation to nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, the researchers found that the use of cannabinoids may help to treat or prevent these symptoms.

Recommendations for future cannabis research
While the new report helps to clarify some of the benefits and risks of using cannabis and its derivatives, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine say that further research is warranted.

The organization makes a number of recommendations for future studies into the health effects of cannabis use. These include:
*Researchers should assess the health effects of cannabis use in children and adolescents, as this population is understudied
*Well-controlled studies that investigate the possible benefits and harms of different forms of cannabis, such as oral cannabis and inhaled whole cannabis, should be conducted
*Studies should assess the potential benefits and risks of currently understudied cannabis products, such as edible and topical cannabis.

Additionally, the authors of the report say that efforts should be made to break down the barriers currently preventing more advanced research into the health effects of cannabis use, such as cannabis being classified as a Schedule I substance. This classification states that the drug has a high potential for abuse and has no accepted medical use.

“To ensure that policymakers are better informed to make decisions on cannabis research and policy, and to explore and characterize the full scope of political and non-political strategies for resolving regulatory barriers to cannabis research, an objective and evidence-based analysis of cannabis policy is necessary,” say the report authors.

Meanwhile, a 44-year-old cancer patient claims cannabis oil helped to reduce the size of a hole in his cheek caused by the disease. The unnamed man was diagnosed with oral cancer in 2013 and underwent treatment to remove the deadly cells.

Despite initially working, the disease returned three years later and had even eroded a hole in his cheek. But after using cannabis oil directly on his wound, it helped stop it from expanding and even shrank it by around 5 per cent, it is reported. While each of his four daily doses also helped to give him around two hours of pain relief, according to a case report.

Published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, it explains how the patient visited a palliative-care clinic in Toronto in 2016.

But after it had returned he had decided he would no longer seek further treatment to treat the disease.

Complaining of pain, he was given opiod-based medications. However, these proved to be unsuccessful.

Does cannabis oil work? Cannabis oil is made up of THC and CBD – the two primary ingredients in the plant. It can either be orally ingested, vapourised or applied directly to the skin.

CBD is considered a medicine by the United Kingdom’s (UK’s) regulatory body, the MHRA, after it was found to have a ‘restoring, correcting or modifying’ effect when given to humans.

While THC – which is responsible for the high – was found to help relieve pain in patients in a study by University of California researchers in 2012.

Dr. Kat Arney, from Cancer Research UK, previously said: “We know that cannabinoids can have a range of different effects on cancer cells grown in the lab and animal tumours.

“But at the moment there isn’t good evidence from clinical trials to prove that they can safely and effectively treat cancer in patients.”

Causing him to become drowsy, the main then asked Dr. Vincent Maida, who helps to run the end-of-life unit at the University of Toronto for medical marijuana to alleviate his discomfort.

Using it in his vapourised form, he was forced to stop inhaling it when the disease created a hole in his cheek. Seeking pain relief, the man then asked for a prescription to use medical cannabis oil.

Applying it directly to his wound, it was found to relieve his pain and helped to shrink the hole. However, his condition deteriorated and he was admitted to hospital before passing away three weeks later.

Cannabis oil is made up of both cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the two main extracts from the plant.

Despite the latter often being overlooked in terms of its health benefits, the former is deemed a medicine in the UK.

In October, the regulatory body found CBD had a ‘restoring, correcting or modifying’ effect on physiological functions when administered to humans.

But the Class B drug itself was not recognised as having any benefits and is still illegal to possess.

Nigerian Customs Intercepts Trucks Smuggling Foreign Rice, Cannabis, Petroleum Products

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone C Owerri has interecepted trucks loaded with smuggled foreign rice, adulterated petroleum products, cannabis among other prohibited items.

Confirming the development at a media briefing, the Customs Area Controller, Mohammed Uba Garba said a trailer truck with registration number GBB 85 XA suspected to be carrying adulterated diesel petroleum product was intercepted by the Nigeria Customs along Aba-Owerri road.

He said: “The exhibit was discovered to have been hidden in a specially constructed tank for illegal bunkering and also concealed with 256 sacks of expired animal feeds to evade arrest.

“The seized adulterated petroleum product causes blockages of heavy duty machines and generators, which equally emit hazardous carbon monoxide, that are detrimental to the health.”

Comptroller Mohammed said that a suspect who gave his name as Chibuzor Njoku was arrested in connection with the crime and would be handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil defense corps for prosecution.

Comptroller Mohammed also disclosed that a 1 X 40” container with marks numbers MRKU 254564 loaded with 1,017 sacks of 50kg cannabis (Indian hemp) estimated at over #16,000,000 was intercepted on the Benin-Shagamu road.

According to him, the only suspect – James idoko who claimed to be a student upon interrogation attempted to deceive the Customs men by fraudulently presenting copies of suspected fake customs processed document on importation which was contrary to what was contained in the container.

The controller added that “the suspect offered a bribe of #350,000.00 in an attempt to avoid arrest. He is currently in custody with the bribe money which now serves as an exhibit along with the container load of cannabis awaiting the estimated value from the relevant agency – NDLEA.”

“The increasing tempo of criminality, violence and juvenile delinquency among the youth is traceable to the rampant consumption of hard drugs such as marijuana hence the clamp down on those involved in the illicit business.

“Consumption of cannabis also affects family relationship and we must fight it to the last so as to have a better society,” he stated.

The Customs Controller who subsequently handed over the seized items and the suspect to the Principal Staff Officer (Operation and Intelligence) of the NDLEA Edo State Command Timothy Adewole for further investigation assured that the NCS would continue to collaborate and work in synergy with sister organizations such as NDLEA, NSCDC, NAFDAC to smoothen its operations.

Furthermore, Comptroller Mohammed said that a MAN diesel truck with registration number KRV 238 XB carrying 725 different brand of 50 kg foreign rice with Duty Paid Value of #24,650,000. 00 suspected to have been smuggled into the country through the numerous creeks in Calabar/Cameroun border was similarly intercepted by his men this month.

He said that a suspect who gave his name as Mr. Fredrick Eze and claimed to be a representative of the owners of the exhibit was arrested.

The Customs Area Controller regretted that the penchant for foreign products by some Nigerians has continued to deal a devastating blow to the nation and her economy while many families have been thrown into agony as a result of the ceaseless unpatriotic activities of smugglers.

He noted that while the nation has continued to lose huge revenue, many lives have been lost consequent upon the unabated practice of smuggling.

He therefore advised Nigerians to imbibe a greater sense of patriotism in line with “the change begins with me” mantra recently launched by Mr. President by eschewing all acts and conducts inimical to the nation.

Ifeoma Onuigbo
Public Relations Officer
Federal Operations Unit
Zone C,  Owerri

Singapore: Execution of Chijoke Obioha violates international law – Amnesty International

Reacting to the executions of Chijioke Stephen Obioha, a Nigerian national, and Devendran Supramaniam, a Malaysian national, by the Singapore authorities, Josef Benedict, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said:

“The Singapore authorities have brazenly violated international law with these shameful executions. The death penalty is a cruel and irreversible punishment that most of the world has turned its back on. Singapore continues to remain an outlier, executing people for crimes that do not meet the ‘most serious’ threshold to which the death penalty must be restricted under international law.

“The executions took place secretively, with some details only emerging at the eleventh hour. When a person’s life is involved, the authorities must be fully transparent about their actions, to ensure that everyone has a right to a fair trial and due process is followed, allowing the families and the public at large can have easily access to all information on the case.

The death penalty is never a solution. It will not rid Singapore of drugs or serve as an effective deterrent.”

NDLEA seizes 5,000kg of cannabis in Abuja.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Friday said it had seized 5,000kg of a substance suspected to be cannabis sativa.

 

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Peter Adegbe, who spoke to newsmen in Abuja said the seizure was made in Abaji.

 

Agbede also said some traffickers and two trucks conveying the substance were also arrested.

 

He said the traffickers and the trucks were heading to Kano and Jos through Abuja when they were arrested on Tuesday.

 

According to Adegbe one Ubale Hashim, driver of one of the trucks and Sanusi Ibrahim, his conductor were arrested with 80 bags of sativa cannabis popularly called Indan hemp, weighing about 734.7 kilogrammes.

 

The second truck laden with about 3,750 compressed sativ?a cannabis weighing about 3,934 kilogrammes was impounded after the occupants abandoned on sighting the agency’s officials.

 

He said that about 872.7 kilogrammes of the substance was also been seized by the command’s team at Gwagwalada in October as part of the onslaught on drug traffickers, especially at this time of the year.

NDLEA Seizes Over 2,000kg Of Cocaine, Cannabis In FCT

The National Drug Law enforcement Agency (NDLEA), FCT Command, seized over 2,000kg of cannabis sativa, cocaine and other illicit drugs in October. The NDLEA, FCT Commander, Mrs Chinyere Obijuru, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at a media briefing.

She said that the seizures were made possible by the agency’s intensified fight against drug trafficking in and around the FCT.

“The NDLEA under the leadership of Col. Mustapha Abdallah (rtd) remains committed to its mandate of eradicating drug- related crimes in the nation,’’ she said.

Mr Peter Adegbe, the command’s Public Relations Officer, who took journalists on an inspection of the seized drugs, said that most of the drugs were seized at Abaji, FCT. He said that the agency seized 1,799kg of cannabis sativa concealed in a compartment of a truck on Oct. 27 at Abaji. Adegbe said that the truck, heading for Yola from Edo, was intercepted in the FCT through the vigilance and professionalism of NDLEA officers on duty.

He said that the NDLEA also arrested a suspect with 76.2g of cocaine worth over two million naira on Abaji while the suspect was trying to smuggle the substance into the FCT.

The spokesperson said the agency equally arrested two men each with 49kg of cannabis sativa on the same route while trying to smuggle the banned drug into the FCT. He said collaboration of NDLEA with other agencies had begun to yield fruits, with the Nigerian Army Brigade of Guards intercepting a Toyota Corolla Vehicle with 16 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 156.5kg on Oct. 31.

Adegbe added that the agency also seized cartons and bottles of cough syrups with codeine and tramadol during raids in FCT in October. He said that the agency would continue to carry out anti-narcotics offensive in a bid to rid the FCT of drug trafficking and barons.

He called on FCT residents to be vigilant and report any drug activity in their neighbourhood to the nearest NDLEA office.

Credit:

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/ndlea-seizes-2000kg-cocaine-cannabis-fct/

Shakespeare Was Probably High On Drugs When He Wrote His Works… – Research Claims

He is known as one of the greatest writers that ever lived .However,researchers claims William Shakespeare could have written his plays under the influence of drugs. They claim to have identified traces of cannabis in pipes found in the author’s garden.

According to Daily Mail ,South African scientists carried out a chemical analysis on broken pieces of pipe found in Shakespeare’s garden in Stratford-upon-Avon, as well as in the grounds of his neighbours’ homes.They discovered that four of the pipes from the playwright’s house had traces of cannabis on them – implying that Shakespeare himself may have enjoyed the drug.

Two pipes found nearby had apparently been used to smoke coca leaves, but the researchers suggest that the great writer deliberately rejected the more potent narcotic.
Cannabis had been known in Europe for centuries by Shakespeare’s time, while coca is native to South America and came to the Old World thanks to explorers such as Francis Drake.

Writing in the South African Journal of Science, Professor Thackeray describes how he obtained the pipe fragments from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and submitted them to scientific analysis.

He used a technique called gas chromatography mass spectrometry, which involves separating out different chemicals to discern the make-up of a particular residue.