Entheogens

As a part of research on medicinal plants in Bergama, İzmir's historic district where Galen once resided, academics are investigating the contributions of the renowned ancient Roman physician's prescriptions over the years.

Police in Kilkis, northern Greece, seized over 43 kilograms of cannabis that was being smuggled into the country from the Balkans by car, according to an announcement on Thursday.

The car's driver was arrested following a chase, though no details have been released regarding his identity.

Greek Police arrested seven people believed to be members of a gang that cultivated cannabis seedlings in a house in the region of Attica and seized 275 kilograms of processed and raw cannabis.

The Albanian parliament has approved a draft law on the use of cannabis for medical and industrial purposes, Albanian media reported.

According to information from Albanian media, the draft law also specifies a series of criteria that must be met by those who want to obtain a permit to grow the plant, as well as sanctions in case of possible violations.

An increasing number of drug users in Greece are turning to cannabis and cocaine, according to the report of the Greek Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals (KETHEA) for 2022, a year in which the number of users rose again due to the decline of the pandemic.

Psychedelic therapy is on its way to becoming a mainstream medical treatment in mental health care.

Over three-quarters (76%) of Greek drivers talk on the phone and 84% of them use their smartphone for other purposes like watching videos while driving, according to an Ipsos survey for the Vinci Autoroutes Foundation, released last month.

Spearheaded by leading addiction specialist and government "drug czar" Jindrich Voboril, the expert group has been meeting regularly since December to prepare a draft law on the liberalisation and possible legalisation of recreational cannabis use, sale and production in the Czech Republic.

A joint operation between the police's drug unit in Athens and its security division in Kalamata, southern Greece, had led to the dismantling of a drug racket worth at least 350,000 euros, the Hellenic Police (ELAS) said in a press release on Tuesday.

It was not the only case of suspect capital in North Macedonia's medicinal cannabis industry, a BIRN investigation has found, suggesting that a determination to promote the sector has led to lapses in the vetting of potential investors.

Excerpt from the 2001 White Paper of the Serbian Ministry of Interior. Photo by BIRN