This mayor wants cannabis cafes; This country won't arrest marijuana users after all; Will Legal Missouri make the November ballot?

Brussels mayor wants to open Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes

The mayor of Brussels, Philippe Close, is keen to bring 'cannabis cafes' to Belgium, much like the ones Amsterdam citizens enjoy, reports The Brussels Times.

"I see a joint like I see a glass of whiskey," he said in a conversation with Dutch daily NRC Handelsblad, adding that coffee shops should be part of of the future of Brussels.

The cultivation, import, sale and possession of medical and recreational cannabis is currently not permitted under Belgian law. However, personal possession has been decriminalized since 2003.

Thailand's Ministry of Public Health withdraws recommendation ordering cannabis arrests

Thailand's Ministry of Public Health has withdrawn its guidance previously given to police regarding the prosecution of people who have committed any of the four offences, in violation of the country's law protecting the traditional Thai medicine wisdom, including traditional medicine formulas, traditional Thai medicine textbooks and Thai herbs, Thai PBS World reported.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Narong Saiwong and Dr. Yongyot Thammavudhi, Director General of Thailand's Department of Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM), announced at a conference Wednesday held their decision to rescind the letter recommending that police take legal action against those who are not authorized to search, export, sell or process marijuana for commercial purposes.

Legal Missouri 2022 seeks more signatures

According to the Missouri Independent, the Legal Missouri campaign has reached its signature goal in four of the six congressional districts needed to qualify for a November ballot.

The petition needs 1,131 signatures in the 6th congressional district, which includes Kansas City, and 1,144 signatures in the 7th congressional district, which includes southwestern Missouri around Springfield and Joplin.

Figures reported to Secretary of State John Ashcroft's office are unofficial.

The deadline for submitting signatures is August 9.

Alan Zagier, spokesperson for Legal Missouri 2022, is optimistic. "We are very confident that we will vote," Zagier recently told Benzinga.

Guam to launch cannabis rec application process in August

The recreational cannabis licensing process is set to launch in the US island territory of Guam next month, with the island's government beginning to accept applications of "responsible officials" on August 29, reported the Daily Pacific News.

The commercial license application process overseen by the Guam Cannabis Control Board is expected to begin shortly thereafter. However, the regulator has signaled that the timeframe for making trade licenses available will be extended.

Lou Leon Guerrero, governor of the US island territory of Guam, has signed a bill to legalize recreational cannabis in 2019.

The Malaysian Ministry of Health will consider applications for clinical trials on canna...