Tag Archives: drugs

$15M fine levied against owner of unlicensed New York cannabis shops who claims he gave free samples

The owner of seven unlicensed cannabis shops in New York whose promotions included an Easter egg hunt has been fined more than $15 million after state officials complained he repeatedly ignored notices to stop operating without approval, authorities said. A state Supreme Court justice in Lyons, New York, imposed the fine against David Tulley on Wednesday. Acting Justice Richard Healy …

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Thai government to reclassify marijuana as a narcotic, require permits for use

Thailand plans to relist cannabis as a narcotic and issue permits only to those who grow and use it for medical purposes and research, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin said on social media on Thursday. The comments follow a stunning policy reversal this month by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who pledged to re-criminalize cannabis by the end of the year …

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4 arrested after Greek authorities dismantle international cocaine trafficking ring

Greek authorities have dismantled an international criminal group trafficking cocaine in shipping containers from Latin America to Europe, police said on Thursday. Two Albanians and two Greeks were arrested after a months-long investigation launched by Greek drugs and contraband enforcement authorities in cooperation with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Dozens of plastic bags containing more than 462 pounds of …

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Indiana beauty queen arrested in Mexican cartel bust that included one of feds' most wanted fugitives

An Indiana beauty queen was swept up in a sweeping drug bust with ties to a Mexican cartel that’s been years in the making. Glenis Zapata, 34, who was crowned Miss Indiana Latina in 2011, allegedly used her job as a flight attendant to move drug money from Chicago to the southern states and into Mexico, according to a federal …

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More Americans smoke marijuana daily than drink alcohol, study claims

Newly-released research argues that more Americans use marijuana daily than drink alcohol every day. The study, which was published in the journal Addiction on Wednesday, was authored by Carnegie Mellon University cannabis policy researcher Jonathan Caulkins. It relied on data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Though more Americans drink alcohol than smoke weed overall, the study …

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Daily marijuana use surpasses alcohol in the US for the first time, data shows

Millions of people in the U.S. report using marijuana daily or nearly every day, according to an analysis of national survey data, and those people now outnumber those who say they are daily or nearly-daily drinkers of alcohol. Alcohol is still more widely used, but 2022 was the first time this intensive level of marijuana use overtook daily and near-daily …

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North Carolina attorney general seeks funds to create fentanyl, cold case units

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein said Wednesday he wants additional staff for his office to combat fentanyl trafficking and to solve longstanding sexual assault crimes, as well as more funds to help law enforcement agencies recruit and retain officers. Stein, who is also the Democratic nominee for governor this fall, held a news conference with several police chiefs and …

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Drunk, pregnant Michigan mom of 4 smashes into 16 pedestrians, killing 2: police

A pregnant, heavily inebriated Michigan woman plowed into an extended family crossing the street on Saturday, injuring 14 and killing two before fleeing the scene, according to the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office. Ashley Monroe, 35, pleaded not guilty to six counts of operating under the influence, two of operating while intoxicated causing death and one count of failing to stop …

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'Most ruthless' Mexican cartels operate in all 50 states, bring turf wars to US: DEA

Mexico’s “most powerful and ruthless” cartels operate in all 50 states and clash in American cities, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said in a May report. The Jalisco and Sinaloa cartels have flooded major U.S. cities with meth and fentanyl and use violence to protect their turf, the report found. “The deadly reach of the Mexican Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels …

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Virginia teacher busted for drugs in 2nd grade classroom, husband arrested in parking lot

A second-grade teacher at a Virginia elementary school was arrested on Thursday after the school resource officer found her to be high on drugs in her classroom. The school resource officer at Spotswood Elementary School in Fredericksburg found that Candyce Leigh Carter, 35, appeared to be under the influence of drugs at school. Further investigation turned up suspected narcotics in …

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