The people who want to walk the riverside trails in Galt without being confronted by the discarded syringes of drug addicts have every right to voice concern. I don't blame them one bit for wanting to reclaim their community and asking that it be cleaned up. Robin Thomas, who carries her dog in order to protect it from stepping on drug paraphernalia, often sees clothes and backpacks stowed in the underbrush. Sometimes she even sees people who are "almost comatose." [continues 489 words]
Cambridge mayor says group will offer solutions, but will take 'whole community to solve this problem' CAMBRIDGE - Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig says he's creating a city task force to find solutions to the fentanyl crisis plaguing his city. The city initiative has been in the works for three months, said Craig, and is not a "knee-jerk" reaction to recent comments made by Cambridge coroner Dr. Hank Nykamp. Nykamp, a coroner since 1985, said Cambridge is becoming the drug capital of Ontario with "drug houses" and "crystal meth factories." [continues 630 words]
CAMBRIDGE - Cambridge coroner Dr. Hank Nykamp is tired of political rhetoric and inaction as the local fentanyl crisis deepens. The longtime city doctor has been a Cambridge coroner since 1985. He has seen the best and worst of the city during his career. He loves this city, but believes more must be done to stem the growing number of opioid overdose cases crossing his examination table. "Five years ago it was oxycodone. Now it's fentanyl and carfentanil, which is even more powerful and used to knock out elephants," he said. "Something needs to be done and we can't wait on the politicians." [continues 836 words]
The national opioid crisis is spreading. Despite increased awareness of the dangers of abusing prescription drugs, the numbers of fatalities and overdoses continue to rise. That is too true in Bergen County. As Staff Writer Steve Janoski reports, despite the efforts of Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal, the county appears on track to surpass last year's totals of 320 overdoses; 259 of which were opioid related. Ninety-eight people died. That's an 11 percent increase in overdoses from 2015 and a 12.6 percent increase in fatalities. [continues 441 words]
Defence should have been present, judge conceded in granting request I ... mistakenly permitted him to bring the drug exhibits into my office where he remained with those exhibits for approximately 20 minutes. An Ottawa judge has declared a mistrial in a drug case after privately questioning an investigating officer in chambers violated an accused's right to be at his own trial. Paul Masilamany filed the mistrial application on May 12, 2017, the day the court was to decide on drug trafficking charges against him. [continues 960 words]
Rules he violated accused's rights to a fair trial by asking to meet with police officer An Ottawa judge has declared a mistrial in a drug case after privately questioning an investigating officer in chambers violated an accused's right to be at his own trial. Paul Masilamany filed the mistrial application on May 12, 2017, the day the court was to decide on drug trafficking charges against him. But just two days before, the lead drug officer, acting on a request from the judge himself, attended Superior Court Justice Paul Kane's office and brought drug exhibits for the judge's use in rendering his decision. [continues 928 words]
While Brandon's political representatives encourage the delay of the legalization of marijuana, local advocates of the plant are saying the day couldn't come soon enough. Picking up related paraphernalia at Growers N' Smokers on Friday, veteran Michael Gibson said that his "disrespect" for Premier Brian Pallister is "huge, right now." This week, Pallister publicly requested that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delay legalization for an extra year beyond the proposed date of July 1, 2018. With too many questions that still need answering, we're just not ready for legalization, Brandon East Progressive Conservative MLA Len Isleifson said, sharing in some of Pallister's concerns about marijuana, more accurately called cannabis. [continues 887 words]
Colby Wilde and Lacey Christenson welcomed their third child into the world on April 9 at Utah Valley Hospital. The doctors, nurses and medical staff eventually cleared out of the room, giving the parents a few moments alone with their new daughter. Unlike most new parents, they did not hold the newborn child, overcome with emotion. Instead, Wilde quickly crushed pills of Suboxone, an FDA-approved drug used to treat heroin addiction and withdrawal, police say. He moistened his finger and dipped it in the resulting powder. Then he stuck his finger in his daughter's mouth, smearing it along her tiny, tender gums. Though she had been in the world less than half a day, the baby, like thousands others in the United States, was already addicted to opioids. [continues 907 words]
Existing businesses will be asked to convert to 'wellness centres' After experimenting with marijuana dispensaries for seven months, Penticton city council voted Tuesday to ban the pot shops outright. And the two dispensaries to which council granted now-expired temporary use permits in December 2016 will now be asked to covert to so-called "wellness centres" dealing only in information and smoking accessories - not bud. The decision not to renew the TUPs was made by a 5-2 vote of council, with Max Picton and Tarik Sayeed in opposition. [continues 278 words]
Penticton city council has decided the experiment with medical marijuana dispensaries is over. By a count of 4-2, council voted to not extend the temporary use permits granted to Okanagan Cannabinoid Therapy and Green Essence in December, and instead work with them on a consent order that would see the businesses operate as wellness centres. A wellness centre would allow them to sell paraphernalia and related items, but not marijuana itself. They would also be able to guide people on obtaining legal, prescription access and lobby for the legalization. [continues 498 words]
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]
