Cannabis stigma disappearing as legalization nears, insiders say Ottawa entrepreneur Chuck Rifici dove in to the medical marijuana business with trepidation five years ago. "When I was first looking for investors and researching the creation of Tweed, you would whisper 'marijuana' in a Starbucks, talking to people," he recalls. "Mainstream discussion of being involved in the cannabis industry carried the fear of reputational risk." If the plan to grow medical marijuana in an old chocolate factory in Smiths Falls failed, Rifici figured he would be labelled as "just the pot guy." [continues 1343 words]
Until Governor David Ige approved the new law, possession of drug paraphernalia ranging from marijuana pipes to plastic bags and needles was a felony that carried a penalty of up to five years in prison and fines of up to $10,000. Now, people caught with drug paraphernalia would face no jail time and could be fined no more than $500. Gov. David Ige has quietly signed a new law that dramatically reduces the penalties for possession of all kinds of drug paraphernalia - a proposal that was opposed by Attorney General Douglas Chin as well as prosecutors on Hawaii island, Maui and in Honolulu. [continues 962 words]
Some local residents against proposed facility, fear impact on property values Maintenance staff and volunteers at First Baptist have gotten used to finding needles and other drug paraphernalia while tidying the flower beds belonging to the historic Beltline church. "All the time. We have a lot of needles. Now we've got special devices to pick them up because it's not safe," said Jose Gongora, head of maintenance for the church. "Our volunteers are very worried and concerned because these guys use needles and just drop it everywhere." [continues 688 words]
Officers lay 45 charges and seize weapons and drugs in swoop on Applewood home Police are crediting tips from the public in shutting down a suspected Applewood drug house that resulted in 45 criminal charges against two people. A search warrant executed June 22 at a home on Applecroft Road S.E. yielded drugs, weapons and cash - and, according to Sgt. Nick Wilsher, a return to normalcy for area residents. "It affects the community itself so much," Wilsher said Wednesday, speaking to media at police headquarters. [continues 285 words]
Denyse Doran is what you might call a pot pro. For more than 20 years, she and her family have owned and operated the Jupiter Cannabis Shop on Whyte Avenue. The business has been so successful, they've franchised, with five shops now around Edmonton, and others in British Columbia and Saskatchewan. At the moment, they sell primarily marijuana "paraphernalia" - pipes, vaporizers, rolling papers, grinders, and such. But no actual cannabis. "If I sold pot, I'd be in jail," she laughs. "We're in this weird in-between period." [continues 687 words]
Man tied to Creba killing busted - a day before parole Jane Creba was 15 when she was shot dead on a busy downtown Toronto street while shopping with her sister on Boxing Day in 2005. Creba wasn't a dope dealer, nor had she disrespected anyone. She was just an average teen whose promising young life was snuffed out by a stray bullet on Yonge St. Now, Louis Raphael Woodcock, 30, convicted of manslaughter in connection with Creba's murder, has been charged by cops in Kingston for drug trafficking - with one day left on his parole. [continues 342 words]
High school students in North Bay are vaping marijuana juice and crushed Oxycontin before and during school. The startling news came in March when Almaguin Highlands Secondary School principal Donna Breault made a presentation to the Near North District School Board about vaping and its dangers. Board chairman David Thompson says parents need to be aware of what their kids are doing. "I think parents would be shocked," Thompson says. "Students are vaping marijuana juice, crushed Oxycontin and sharing filters, which is putting them at risk of some serious health concerns like hepatitis." [continues 386 words]
Students vaping marijuana juice, crushed Oxycontin, says principal High school students are vaping marijuana juice and crushed Oxycontin before and during school. The startling news came in March when Almaguin Highlands Secondary School principal Donna Breault made a presentation to the Near North District School Board about vaping and its dangers. Board chairman David Thompson says parents need to be aware of what their kids are doing. "I think parents would be shocked," Thompson says. "Students are vaping marijuana juice, crushed Oxycontin and sharing filters, which is putting them at risk of some serious health concerns like hepatitis." [continues 386 words]
A Town That Cares group to host more town hall meetings The fight against the local drug crisis is being expanded. Buddy Penney, a founder of the A Town That Cares group, says town hall meetings will be held in communities across the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. "We want people to see it's a problem for every community, not just New Waterford," he said. "We will be working on gathering support to see a mental health/drug addiction facility built in the CBRM. Strength comes in numbers." [continues 474 words]
Barb Desjardins is the lone non-Green candidate on the South Island to get the endorsement of local cannabis businesses. The choice of Desjardins, running for the B.C. Liberals in Esquimalt-Metchosin, is somewhat odd, concedes Trees Dispensary spokesman Alex Robb, especially given her history as mayor of Esquimalt. The municipality chased a "bong" mascot out of town and has refused to allow cannabis retailers to set up shop. Members of a group calling itself the B.C. Independent Cannabis Alliance on Vancouver Island jointly issued a statement endorsing Desjardins, who is running in Esquimalt-Metchosin, and six Green Party candidates: Andrew Weaver in Oak Bay-Gordon Head, Kalen Harris in Victoria-Beacon Hill, Chris Maxwell in Victoria-Swan Lake, Sonia Furstenau in Cowichan Valley, Adam Olsen in Saanich North and the Islands, and Mark Neufeld in Saanich South. [continues 584 words]
Today is April 20, or 4/20 for short, the day marijuana activists use for protest, public displays of defiance and a call to action to legalize pot. The times are certainly about to change as Ottawa and the provinces consider the implications of the Liberal government's plan to make marijuana legal. Concerns about decriminalizing pot, however, have many recreational smokers increasingly leery about receiving what they wished for. Those are the people who should benefit most from the bill, which is posed as a measure to avoid criminal records and fines for possession of the drug that is extremely common, if one is being honest. [continues 522 words]
Medical marijuana shops in the Sea to Sky are gearing up for a future of legalized weed. When you walk into Grass Roots Medicinal in Squamish you only get access to the waiting room. There, a small counter offers bongs and other glassware for sale. All the good stuff - the grass the store gets its name from - is locked up behind a second door, out of reach. To get there, you have to sign up to become a member, which means providing some proof of an ailment that cannabis might help you with. [continues 3513 words]
'Prince' and 'Princess of Pot' face several drug-related charges after Toronto arrest Marc and Jodie Emery, Vancouver's first couple of cannabis, have been arrested, as police across the country raided seven of the couple's Cannabis Culture marijuana dispensaries, including a shop on West Hastings and a residence in Vancouver. The Emerys were charged Thursday with drug-related offences in Toronto, after raids in Toronto, Hamilton and Vancouver. They are due back in Toronto court this morning. The self-styled "Princess of Pot" were arrested Wednesday as they went to board a plane at Toronto's Pearson International Airport for a cannabis expo in Spain. [continues 665 words]
Marc and Jodie Emery face drug charges after latest crackdown A dozen Vancouver police officers raided Marc Emery's Cannabis Culture headquarters on West Hastings Street on Thursday morning. Marc and Jodie Emery were charged with drug-related offences in Toronto on Thursday after police also raided seven of the couple's Cannabis Culture marijuana dispensaries. The self-styled "Prince" and "Princess of Pot" were arrested Wednesday evening as they were about to board a plane to Spain at Pearson International Airport. They were heading to Barcelona to attend the Spannabis marijuana expo. [continues 551 words]
Emerys out on $30Gs bail in wake of pot shop cop raids The "Prince" and "Princess" of pot scored bail of $30,000 each on Friday. Marc and Jodie Emery - who own the Cannabis Culture brand - were arrested at Toronto International Airport Wednesday while travelling to a pot festival in Spain. Police seized $250,000 in cash in several currencies, 65 kilos of marijuana and 2.4 kilos of cannabis extract and other drug paraphernalia after searching seven Cannabis Culture stores - five in Toronto - and several homes Thursday, Toronto Police said. [continues 264 words]
The mission of the Vancouver park board is to provide, preserve, and advocate for parks and recreation services to benefit all people, communities, and the environment. Its purpose is not to provide a venue at taxpayers' expense for a special interest group that intends to break city bylaws and to sell or otherwise distribute what is still an illegal product. The 4-3 decision by the park board commissioners not to grant a permit to the organizers of the 4/20 event was the only reasonable position it could take. Indeed, one wonders what the three dissenters were smoking. [continues 336 words]
The owners of three London pot shops are among eight people charged in a crackdown on marijuana dispensaries. But a critic said he doubts the charges announced Friday by London police will hold up in court with Canada set to legalize the drug. Five men and three women face a combined 24 counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking following police searches of five marijuana dispensaries across London on March 2. Those charged include Mal McMeekin, 34, the Tasty Budd's franchise founder; Kara Barber, 30, owner of Healing Health; and Charles Colvin, 28, chief executive of the Chronic Hub. [continues 324 words]
A downtown marijuana dispensary that opened earlier this week was raided by Kingston Police on Thursday night. Sgt. Brad Brooker of the police's street crime unit said the investigation into CannaGreen started on Thursday and a Controlled Substances Act search warrant was executed at approximately 9:30 p.m. Six employees were arrested at the scene: four currently live in Kingston and two hail from Ottawa. All are facing charges from police. Three customers filling out paperwork in the store were also present when the unit arrived, but were released. [continues 381 words]
Mayor says the district is 'dealing with it' Agassiz has a new resident. The Weemedical Dispensary Society has a storefront on Pioneer Avenue and they claim to provide, quality, legal medical marijuana products to patients in the communities of Agassiz and Harrison. On their promotional sites, The Society states that they are in the business of easing the suffering of the chronically ill. But, is the store legal? If the store is selling paraphernalia only, it could be in compliance of legal business laws, but if it's selling marijuana of any kind, it's illegal according to Staff Sergeant Darren Rennie. [continues 214 words]
Patrol group hopes similar fate awaits other notorious buildings There have been many sombre walks through North Central for White Pony Lodge members in recent times, but on Thursday the neighbourhood patrol group was celebrating as a notorious local building was torn down. With the city sending in a contractor to demolish the multi-unit dwelling at 1454 Angus St., Jan Morier and Shawna Oochoo met at the site and embraced as the longtime drug den was reduced to nothing. "The number of times we have come to this property to try and clean it up? It's all worthwhile now to see that finally it's going to be cleaned up for good," Morier said. [continues 328 words]
