Cannabis News
Murderers Are Now Blaming Cannabis for Their Killings
As Predicted – Now Murderers are blaming weed for their killings!
THE RETURN OF REEFER MADNESS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
I knew this was going to happen, I wrote about it, I talked about it on a podcast recently – and like the stoner prophet I am…it happened! What you ask? Another killer used the “Weed made me do it” defense, but this time in Ireland.
Remember the Bryn Spejcher case I wrote about earlier? The California woman who violently stabbed her boyfriend and a dog over 100 times, then claimed “cannabis-induced psychosis” made her do it? She ended up getting just community service. I warned everyone then that by creating such a legal precedent, this “cannabis madness” defense would become increasingly common for violent criminals to exploit. It seems those warnings are now becoming a reality.
The latest case involves a man named Diego Costa Silva in Ireland. He decapitated his wife, claiming he believed she was possessed by a serpent due to “cannabis-induced psychosis” – and that he had to remove her head to kill the snake entity. Two psychiatrists backed up his insanity plea, testifying that Silva genuinely suffered delusions and hallucinations from heavy cannabis use, rendering him legally not guilty by reason of insanity for the grisly murder.
Both the prosecution and defense told the jury the evidence only points one way – that Silva cannot be held criminally responsible for his actions due to the cannabis-induced psychosis. It’s a carbon copy of the Spejcher case playbook of using supposed marijuana madness to justify heinous violence.
This is the disturbing trend I cautioned against. If we continue allowing such cannabis insanity defenses, where does it end? Schizophrenics, murderers, and other violent criminals will increasingly lean on this to ease their sentences or walk free altogether. And it provides ammunition for the government to further crack down on cannabis under the guise of public safety.
In this article, we’re going to explore these troubling cases in-depth and discuss what we as a society must do to stop this madness from spiraling out of control. The stakes are high – both for justice being served properly and the cannabis movement’s hard-fought progress staying on track. This budding legal loophole needs to go up in smoke before it’s too late.
Let’s first break down the disturbing Diego Costa Silva case in Ireland. Silva claimed he decapitated his wife Fabiola because he was suffering from “cannabis-induced psychosis” that made him believe she was possessed by a demonic serpent that he needed to kill by removing her head.
Two psychiatrists, Dr. Brenda Wright and Dr. Mark Joynt, testified that Silva’s heavy cannabis use caused him to develop a legitimate psychotic disorder involving delusions and hallucinations about his wife being a threat. They stated Silva did not understand the moral or legal wrongness of his grisly actions due to his impaired mental state.
Both the prosecution and defense agreed Silva could not be held criminally culpable due to this “cannabis-induced psychosis” – a convenient label that provided him with a legal insanity defense for literally beheading his wife.
The eerie parallels to the Bryn Spejcher case are overwhelming. Spejcher also relied on testimony from psychiatrists who claimed her history of cannabis use caused her to develop a “cannabis-induced psychosis” that compelled her to carry out the frenzied stabbing murders of her boyfriend and a dog over 100 times.
In both cases, psychiatrists were the determiners and enablers of these “weed madness” defenses being successfully deployed to secure enormously lenient treatment for horrific murders. Not behavioral psychologists who study abnormal patterns of thought and action. Not neuroscientists who investigate brain function and chemistry. But psychiatrists – the same professionals who have a financial incentive to legitimize loosely defined “disorders” to prescribe psychiatric drugs as treatment.
Does this sound like justice to you? Weed smokers, does this culture of unhinged violence fueled by the munchies sound familiar? Of course not! These are calculated legal defenses by criminals looking to play the system and get-out-of-jail-free cards enabled by pill-pushing psychiatrists.
The idea that smoking marijuana can induce temporary insanity so extreme that it causes otherwise normal people tolose touch with all moral reasoning and turn into deranged killing machines is patently absurd on its face. It perpetuates the discriminatory “Reefer Madness” myth that cannabis causes mental illness and violence – the exact opposite of mountains of medical evidence showing it is a safe substance for most people that does not induce psychosis or increase aggression.
There has been an influx lately of negative cannabis articles, alarmist “studies,” and other propaganda demonizing marijuana. Things that the government and anti-drug establishment have been pushing for over 50 years in some capacity, regurgitating the same old claims, but now trying to brand them as “new” problems with weed.
For those of us who have been writing and advocating in the cannabis space for over a decade, we can sense the steadily shifting tone and renewed pushback against legalization from the powerful entities that have existed to uphold prohibition – the UN, DEA, big pharma, law enforcement, and prison-industrial complex.
Dig into some of the foundational treaties that codified the global “War on Drugs,” and you’ll find suspicious linguistic choices like using the heading “Marijuana and Drugs” – subtly separating it from other substances as if it didn’t even belong grouped with them initially.
I’ve read accounts from historians and researchers speculating that cannabis was almost an afterthought addition to the Controlled Substances Act and UN drug conventions – a last-minute play to criminalize the most ubiquitously consumed “illegal” substance on earth.
This questionable legal status was then perversely exploited by governments worldwide to wage a militarized war on their own people under the patently false pretext of protecting us. Using the drug war as a thin veil to deprive citizens of bodily autonomy, personal freedom, and human rights, while enriching those in power: “You’re too idiotic to think for yourselves, you peasants!”
At least, that’s how this state-sanctioned oppression and plundering of communities can feel when you’re on the receiving end of a no-knock raid, watching families torn apart over a plant. We cannot allow this to go unchallenged yet again. We cannot afford to sit back complicit and silent like the generations before us who witnessed the most valuable crop on earth get insidiously stolen away.
Not this time. This latest resurrection of reefer madness propaganda and quietly escalating reversion to the failed policies of the past will be met with a fervent resistance. We will expose the motives and rigorously debunk the junk science being pushed by those threatened by the cannabis reformation.
It’s our duty as citizens to defy unjust laws. When tyranny appears, it never does so overtly with absolute force at first. That would spark an immediate and overwhelming backlash. Instead, it insidiously codifies itself into the legal system first, giving its oppression a veneer of legitimacy and “justification” for using force.
Those who engage in these authoritarian power grabs understand this well. They exploit the legal process to slowly tighten the vice of control over the populace. They commandeer institutions like the media to proliferate their narratives and propaganda. And they hijack law enforcement to criminalize competitors and dissenting voices, jailing them under the flimsiest of pretenses.
If the forces working to re-criminalize cannabis are successful at rolling back hard-won reforms through deceptive means like these “cannabis insanity” defenses, it will be a legal form of tyranny. One that strips us of our fundamental rights over our own consciousness and bodies under the guise of sham concerns like public safety.
We must resist this at all costs through peaceful, civic, and legal avenues first and foremost. Flooding the comments on every negative cannabis article. Calling out the fallacies and ulterior motives. Protesting unjust policies and laws. Using our voices, our voices, our wallets, and our votes to fight the injustice and rewrite the unjust laws in a credible way.
But if all that fails, and the tyranny persists in totalitarian fashion? Well, we must be willing to move beyond civility. Throughout history, unjust laws have required a form of mass civil disobedience to rectify grave injustices when the system becomes too corrupted to fix itself through proper channels alone.
I warned that the “cannabis made me do it” murder defense was going to become a disturbing trend, and unfortunately, I don’t think the Diego Costa Silva decapitation case will be the last grisly act pinned on the scapegoat of marijuana psychosis.
But now is the time for the cannabis community to get activated. To call out this bullshit for what it is – cynical manipulation of the legal system and public opinion. We cannot be passive spectators letting this theater of injustice play out unchallenged.
It’s time to claim our power as conscious consumers and citizens. If corporations support oppressive policies or peddle prohibitionist propaganda, we starve them of our money and find ethical alternatives. If politicians vote against our interests and freedoms, we vote them out.
We must draw a hard line in the sand and declare “Enough is enough!” We cannot buy into the lies and anti-cannabis hysteria anymore. Not after everything we’ve been through as a community to reform draconian marijuana laws through facts and truth.
Become free thinkers who scrutinize every claim and accusation. Build an unshakable personal understanding of this plant and its impacts grounded in objective research, not garbage inst-reefer scare tactics.
The future of cannabis legalization is ours to uphold, but only if we remain united, vocal, and defiant against any forces attempting to gaslight us back into the nightmarish days of reefer madness. This latest insanity plea loophole cannot be the spark that lets that smoldering $64 billion industry up in smoke.
MURDERING IN THE NAME OF WEED, READ ON…
MURDERING IN THE NAME OF CANNABIS – GET 100 DAYS COMMUNITY SERVICE!
People in the UK increasingly realize that CBD vaping is quite safe. Even NHS recommends CBD vaping as one of the relatively safer ways to quit smoking. Vaping is not without any harm, but it is much safer than tobacco smoking. Even more, CBD vaping is associated with some good health effects. However, now people are realizing that THC vape pens could be an even more potent way of enjoying CBD’s health benefits.
What is THC Vape?
If readers noticed that in the introduction of this text, we talked about CBD, there is a reason for that. THC vaping is different from CBD vaping, but not entirely. It has much in common with it.
The hemp plant is rich in many cannabinoids. Two major cannabinoids are THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol). It also has many minor cannabinoids in smaller amounts, like CBG, CBC, CBN, THCV and CBDV. CBD vape pens generally have all these compounds except THC.
However, THC vape differ in the way that they also contain small amounts of THC along with CBD, minor cannabinoids, and other beneficial organic compounds like terpenes for added flavour and enhanced vaping experience.
So, why do some of the vape pens have added THC in small amounts? After all, THC is known to be addictive and has mind-altering properties. Well, the explanation is simple: the secret is in the dosage. In smaller and legally permitted dosages, THC does not cause a high; it is safe and can have many health benefits.
When small amounts of THC are added to CBD, minor cannabinoids, and terpenes, it results in much more powerful health benefits. That is why some of the CBD-based clinically approved drugs also contain THC.
THC vape pens may also have some distinct benefits not experienced with CBD vape pens. This is due to “the entourage effect.” The entourage effect is a bit different from synergy. Synergy is like two-plus-two equal to five, meaning that using some compounds together results in a more potent effect, yet safety is not compromised. However, the entourage effect means combining two compounds may result in some unique health benefits not seen when those compounds are used in isolation. So, the entourage effect is more powerful and unique than synergy.
Therefore, using THC vape pens means some unique health benefits, although these vape pens contain THC in small amounts.
THC Vape: The Dangers
It is no secret that THC is the main compound responsible for all side effects of the cannabis plant. This substance is addictive and, at higher dosages, causes euphoria, has potent mind-altering properties, and may cause hallucinations.
However, there is one important thing to understand. All these effects of THC are seen at much higher dosages than those in legally produced THC vape pens.
Legally produced/sold vape pens in the UK, like those by CBDoilking, do not contain THC more than 0.2%. This is significantly lower than cannabis indica or marijuana, which may contain 25% or even more THC. So, there is no comparison between legal THC vape pens and marijuana. At these small dosages, THC does not cause euphoria or other side effects and has no addictive properties. It only has mild stress-relief properties at these dosages.
Secondly, THC vape pens sold by CBDoilking follow other important UK guidelines and legal requirements, which means that THC vape pens cannot contain more than 1 mg of THC. Hence, it is not just about low concentration but also about low amounts, thus ensuring its safety.
Safe and Potent THC vape pens
THC vape pens are for health-conscious individuals who would like to vape on a regular basis. It is safe and may have beneficial effects like reduced anxiety, improved mood, and enhanced sleep, and it may also help reduce pain sensation.
THC vape pen is even better than your regular CBD vape pen for quitting smoking. This is because it is better at reducing tobacco cravings.
CBDoilking sells one of the strongest THC vape pens in the market (75-80% CBD plus CBG along with THC in permitted amounts), and yet all pens sold on the platform follow strict legal guidelines. All the products undergo third-party testing and are proven to contain THC, CBD, and other minor cannabinoids within legally permitted and safe limits.
Another good thing about CBDoilking is that these excellent THC vape pens come in many flavours. These flavours are not due to some artificial substances but rather due to their content of terpenes. Terpenes are plant-based aromatic compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
CBDoilking offers vapes that are based on science, combining different natural compounds in the right ratio. This is both about safety and potency. So, these products are really good for those looking for something better, potent, and yet safe.
The Bottom Line
CBD vape pens have been around for some time, and their safety is well-established. They are an excellent way to quit smoking and also enjoy CBD’s health effects. However, some people are looking for something more potent. THC vape pens are good for such individuals. These contain all beneficial compounds present in the cannabis plant but in the right proportions.
THC vape pen is a new way to enjoy vaping. It is unlikely to cause any side effects as these products are made for regular use. Of course, one should not overdose on THC or CBD. It is important not to have more than a few puffs a day. Rare side effects like nausea or stomach issues might occur but are transient and short-lived. Such issues are rarely the cause of concern, except in a very small number of cases.
Thus, if you are looking for something better to reduce stress and overcome pain and anxiety, then a THC vape pen may be the right choice. Choosing something strong like the one offered by CBDoilking may be a good idea. Despite being strong, these vape pens contain THC only in legally permitted amounts and in concentrations proven to be safe and not cause euphoria.
To sum up, if you are already an experienced CBD vaper, it may be a good idea to give THC vaping a try.
CBD VAPE OIL SAFETY, READ ON…
Thailand To Change Weed Laws Soon?
It’s Still Weed Paradise Right Now, So Go If You Can
Sure, weed is already legal in most of the United States.
However, for people who are in need of a holiday and want nothing to do but relax on a tropical Asian beach while enjoying a joint, the best place is still Thailand. Or at least, for now. Last June 2022, Thailand became the first nation in Asia to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes, albeit due to some governmental loopholes that allowed adult-use dispensaries to pop up like weed around the country.
Just a few days after weed was legalized, budding (pun intended!) entrepreneurs put up all kinds of weed shops and dispensaries. The smell of marijuana was soon prevalent all over, whether you were walking down a street in Bangkok or sunbathing in Phuket. These days, weed shops are as common as ATM machines or bubble tea kiosks.
We aren’t sure how long this is going to last. Over the last 1.5 years, throngs of tourists have come from all over the world to enjoy the globe’s newest weed haven. And while many cannabis businesses and farmers are thriving economically from the weed boom, some government officials are against it. As of the time of writing, the Thai government is working on regulating the cannabis industry much more tightly, so much so that smoking weed may not be such a liberal act to enjoy anymore.
Could Thailand’s weed heydays be this short-lived?
According to the news, Thailand’s health minister is set to ban recreational marijuana use completely by year end. A new bill is forecast to be discussed to parliament before session ends in October. Anutin Charnivakul, the public health minister responsible for initially proposing cannabis legalization, didn’t intend for weed to be as widely sold and consumed as it was. Instead, he explained that he merely intended for it to be used medicinally, helping farmers and other industries earn from the economic benefits of cannabis legalization.
“We have always emphasized using cannabis extractions and raw materials for medicinal purposes and for health,” he disclosed to CNN back in July 2022. “There has never once been a moment that we would think about advocating people to use cannabis in terms of recreation – or use it in a way that it could irritate others,” he added.
They likely did not anticipate or foresee that the tourism sector would experience a massive boom due to the said loopholes in cannabis law. Nobody knew that thousands of tourists would be coming from all over to enjoy partaking, and, helping to boost the tourist economy which was much-needed after the pandemic.
In a Reuters interview with Public Health Minister Dr. Cholnan Srikaew, he says that marijuana will only be permitted for medical use. Recreational users and cannabis growers who do not have a permit can expect to be charged with heavy fines, if the new bill is passed. “Under the new law, cannabis will be a controlled plant, so growing it would require permission. We will support cannabis cultivation for the medical and health industry,” he told Reuters.
The fines they are discussing are certainly steep: in the draft bill, it states that penalties of up to $1,690 can be charged to recreational users. Meanwhile, individuals who are caught selling weed or advertising its use can face a file of as much as $2,770, jail time, or even both.
The news to change Thailand’s once-ideal regulations regarding cannabis use was announced a few months ago, leaving businesses and other industries that are reliant on it, afraid and unable to make any plans for the future.
Can Tourists Still Smoke Weed In Thailand?
Until the government announces final changes to the weed law, tourists are still welcome to smoke weed and partake of recreational marijuana in various forms throughout the country. I just came from spending a few days in Bangkok, the nation’s capital, where hundreds of weed shops are still flourishing throughout the massive city.
Dispensaries are designed in fun, colorful interiors using bright colors and world-class marketing to attract smokers and consumers. We’ve walked into several different kinds of dispensaries and had no problems buying flower, edibles, vapes, and a variety of paraphernalia to consume either in the dispensary or in our hotel room. However, you do have to keep in mind that there are still rules in place.
For one, vaping or smoking weed in public places is still prohibited. Don’t be tempted to light up on the streets even if you can smell weed, because getting caught by the cops can lead to a $700 fine. That said, there are certain areas in Thailand where the law is a bit more – uh, relaxed. For example, in the backpacker central of Khao San Road, it’s not uncommon to see tourists lighting up at night. In the tourist beach areas of Krabi and Samui, there have been reports of tourists being able to easily light up a joint on the street with no problem.
Again, there’s no timeline of how long this is going to last. So if you can go to Thailand before the year end, when the new laws are expected to be set in place, go!
THAILAND AND LEGAL CANNABIS, READ ON..
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