(Continued from page 20)

their New Zealand counterparts to learn more. And the New York-based nonprofit Drug Policy Alliance, which advocates legalizing marijuana, said this week that it wants to get a similar bill introduced in Congress.
• But while the new law is giving fuel to some politicians and lobbying groups, most countries are likely to adopt a wait-and-see approach. If anything, the U.S. has become more aggressive in prosecuting cases since President Barack Obama signed a federal law last year banning 26 new synthetic substances.
• Sold under street names such as "spice," and "bath salts," the drugs often mimic banned substances such as marijuana, ecstasy and methamphetamine. The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse says bath salts, a meth-like stimulant, can produce feelings of euphoria and increased sex drive and sociability, but also can have side-effects including paranoia, delirium and, in some cases, death.
• ___

• TOKYO (AP) -- Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso refused Friday to resign or

apologize over remarks suggesting Japan should follow the Nazi example of how to change the country's constitution stealthily and without public debate.
• Following protests by neighboring countries and human rights activists, he "retracted" the comments on Thursday but refused to go further.
• "I have no intention to step down" as Cabinet minister of lawmaker, Aso, who is also deputy prime minister, told reporters. The government also said it is not seeking Aso's resignation, which some opposition members have demanded.
• Aso, who is known for intemperate remarks, drew outrage for saying Japan should learn from how the Nazi party stealthily changed Germany's pre-World War II constitution before anyone realized it. He also suggested that Japanese politicians should make visits to Tokyo's Yasukuni war shrine quietly to avoid controversy. Such visits currently take place amid wide publicity and are a sore point for other Asian nations that suffered under Japanese occupation during World War II.
• Aso said Thursday he was misunderstood and only meant to say that loud debate over whether Japan should change its postwar constitution, and other issues is not helpful.
• ___