Weed the North. Queen's Park turned into a big puff of smoke Saturday afternoon as some 20,000 marijuana activists gathered near the King Edward VII statue, before rallying and walking in the 18th annual Global Marijuana March through the downtown core, spliffs in hand. While the federal Liberals made a campaign pledge to legalize marijuana, many of the parade-goers felt like the federal government was dragging its feet. "Thousands of people are still facing criminal charges," said event founder Neev, who refused to give his last name. "It should be legalized, it should be cheaper. It's so expensive because it's not legal yet. I appreciate the Liberals wanting to do it right, but the rollout is so slow." [continues 178 words]
Those Who Grow for Pain and Other Medicinal Purposes Fear They Must Go Without or Break the Law They might have a temporary reprieve, but pain stricken Canadians who grow their own medical marijuana say they could soon face a difficult choice: go without the weed they need or break the law to get it. A Federal Court judge recently granted an injunction that allows thousands of patients to continue cultivating their own marijuana at home, or designate someone to grow it for them - at least until their legal challenge of planned new rules can be argued more fully. [continues 684 words]
Many Pain-Stricken Users Say They Can't Afford Marijuana From Licensed Producers They might have a temporary reprieve, but pain-stricken Canadians who grow their own medical marijuana say they could soon face a difficult choice: go without the weed they need or break the law to get it. A Federal Court judge recently granted an injunction that allows thousands of patients to continue cultivating their own marijuana at home, or designate someone to grow it for them - at least until their legal challenge of planned new rules can be argued more fully. But the federal government is determined to change the system, even if Tuesday's full-fledged launch will be delayed. [continues 861 words]
OTTAWA - They might have a temporary reprieve, but pain-stricken Canadians who grow their own medical marijuana say they could soon face a difficult choice: go without the weed they need or break the law to get it. A Federal Court judge recently granted an injunction that allows thousands of patients to continue cultivating their own marijuana at home, or designate someone to grow it for them - at least until their legal challenge of planned new rules can be argued more fully. [continues 683 words]
Court injunction permits patients to keep growing marijuana despite new law VANCOUVER- Patients who are licensed to grow their own pot will be permitted to continue producing the drug despite regulations banning homegrown medical marijuana starting April 1, a Federal Court judge ruled Friday. Judge Michael Manson granted an application from a group of medical marijuana patients, who asked for a temporary injunction to preserve the status quo until a constitutional challenge of the new system can be heard. The decision represents a significant blow, at least in the short term, to the Conservative government's attempt to overhaul this country's medical-marijuana system, which it says is rife with problems ranging from unsafe grow-ops to infiltration by criminals. [continues 512 words]
Kudos to The Province and Neill Franklin for saying it the way it is about drug prohibition. Like Neil, I am also one of the most vocal speakers for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. I also use medical marijuana. Neil beautifully explained how leaving drugs in the hands of criminals is the most dangerous option. We must legalize and regulate all illegal drugs so that dealers are no longer in charge and so those of us who are suffering can have a decent, jail-free quality of life. Alison Myrden, Burlington, Ont. [end]
At Hot Box Cafe, heads smoke out Tory crime bill targeting reefer It wasn't the vaporizers at every table or the bong-wielding middle-aged women that stood out most at Saturday's (February 12) Bill S-10 forum at the Hot Box Cafe. It was when the weed-lovers' hangout lived up to its name, filling with enough pot smoke to trigger a visit from the fire department. Responding to an alarm at the Baldwin Street venue, three bashful firefighters seemed amused to find a smoky room of marijuana enthusiasts gathered for a panel on the bill that would require mandatory minimum sentences for drug offences. [continues 626 words]
Re "Pot biz no gamble" (Sept. 19): Kudos to the Toronto Sun. I couldn't agree more with Alan Shanoff on whether our Canadian government should legalize and regulate cannabis, the same way it has online gambling. As a retired Law Enforcement Officer and Speaker for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, I have been trying to convince law makers around the world of the necessity to legalize and regulate all drugs for almost two decades. I received my first "prescription" for medical cannabis in 1994 for the indication of chronic progressive multiple sclerosis and a violent pain in my face and head 24 hours a day associated with MS, called tic douloureux - "the worst pain known to medicine." My life has changed dramatically for the better in the last two decades, all thanks to limiting and reducing my prescription medication and consuming large amounts of cannabis in various forms from food to drink to smoking - all day every day. [continues 149 words]
GUELPH - Jeff Morrison doesn't know where he's going to get his medical marijuana anymore. "I've been making calls to try and find it, but I haven't had any luck so far," said Morrison, one of about 100 people who attended a protest and rally in St. George's Square Saturday in support of the Medical Cannabis Club of Guelph. Police raided the club and some related residences earlier this month. Four individuals face a variety of charges. [continues 497 words]
Speaking as a friend of Rade Kovecevic's, as a retired law enforcement officer and as one of Canada's first federally-licensed cannabis patients, I am shocked and saddened as to why the Guelph police service is bothering the people of the local marijuana compassion club who go out of their way to help people like me feel better. Can the police not see the good that these clubs do for society? Not only do the police have better things to do with their time and resources than to arrest and incarcerate those who are able to help those of us who are ill, but their time would be better spent on crimes that involve violence, abuse and real criminals. The Canadian government sure doesn't care what position our critically and chronically ill are placed in. That is obvious. It is high time police stop arresting and incarcerating the only people who actually care how we feel. Alison Myrden, Burlington [end]
GUELPH - People hoping to fill their prescription for legally prescribed marijuana at the Medical Cannabis Club of Guelph were out of luck Friday. A number of patrons arrived to find the club locked and a sign on the door that read Closed Friday, May 7, Family Emergency. There was no indication when it will reopen. The club at 62 Baker St. and other residences were raided Thursday and four people were charged with a variety of drug-related offences. Police seized more than 20 kilograms of dried marijuana, 258 marijuana plants and marijuana-laced baked goods. [continues 535 words]
Re: "Montreal North focus of drug enforcement" | News | March 15 Kudos to Montreal activist Jaggi Singh; Eugene Oscapella, my good friend and fellow advocate; and The McGill Daily for speaking about the need to stop targeting our ethnic youth for doing the same thing the white folks have been doing for decades. Speaking as a retired law enforcement officer and one of the first medical cannabis patients in Canada, I think that the sooner we realize our youth are nothing more than scapegoats in the War on Drugs the better. Legalize and regulate all drugs today to keep them out of the hands of our children, away from the criminals, and off the street for good. Alison Myrden Retired law enforcement officer Speaker for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) [end]
Re: Guns, Excess Pot Seized From Property Being Used To Grow Medical Marijuana, Feb. 11. Speaking as a retired law enforcement officer and one of the first medical marijuana patients in Canada, the problem is not whether or not people are selling their "prescriptions" (as has happened since drugs were first medically prescribed) but whether the prohibition of some of these drugs is causing more harm than good. Prohibition is the problem here. If we end prohibition on all illegal drugs including cannabis, there would be little if any reason left for people to sell them. As long as these commodities are kept in the street market, there will be more need for police, corrections and jail guards to arrest and incarcerate those who choose to use them. Convenient isn't it? Supporting a failed system of prohibition is not the way our country should continue. Legalize and regulate all drugs today. Alison Myrden, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, Burlington, Ont. [end]
************ Century of Lies - 09/20/09 - William Martin Professor William Martin, James A. Baker III Institute for Policy Studies with new column in Texas Monthly "Texas High" + Alison Myrden of Canada with Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/node/2584 Cultural Baggage Radio Show - 09/20/09 - Lew Rockwell Lew Rockwell presentation "Never Talk to the Police" + Corrupt Cop story with Phil Smith http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/node/2583 ************ Appellate court ruling protects collective cultivation and affirms civil actions by patients [continues 369 words]
Re: Legalizing and regulating drug use, Opinion June 3 Kudos to David Bratzer for his outstanding op-ed piece. I have been speaking publicly about this same issue for the last 10 years and really appreciate the help. Being on the front lines of the drug war while having worked in law enforcement, we tend to see things a little differently than the average soccer mom and dad. Of course we're worried about the children. That is why we are doing what we are doing. Locking people up for non-violent drug offences is not working. The U.S. has 4 per cent of the world's population and 25 per cent of those incarcerated. These are absolutely abhorrent problems and we have to change them! Alison Myrden, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition [end]
(CNS) - New federal regulations allowing designated medical marijuana producers to grow cannabis for two approved users of marijuana - up from one - are a "slap in the face," advocates said yesterday. The changes, to be announced today, come nearly 16 months after a Federal Court judge struck down the one-to-one ratio as unconstitutional and unnecessarily restrictive. Alison Myrden, who has been a vocal advocate for medical marijuana users, said the changes are an "outrage" and run contrary to the court's decision. [continues 175 words]
(CNS) - New federal regulations allowing designated medical marijuana producers to grow cannabis for two approved users of marijuana -- up from one -- are a "slap in the face," advocates said Tuesday. The changes, to be announced today, come nearly 16 months after a Federal Court judge struck down part of the old regulations as unconstitutional and unnecessarily restrictive. Alison Myrden, a vocal advocate for users of marijuana for medical purposes, said in Toronto that the changes were an "outrage" and ran contrary to the court's decision. The old regulations restricted designated producers to growing cannabis for no more than one approved user. [end]
'We'll Have to Go Back to Court Again': Advocate New federal regulations allowing designated medical marijuana producers to grow cannabis for two approved users of marijuana -- up from one -- are a "slap in the face," advocates said yesterday. The changes, to be announced today, come nearly 16 months after a Federal Court judge struck down part of the old regulations as unconstitutional and unnecessarily restrictive. Alison Myrden, an advocate for users of marijuana for medical purposes, said the changes are an "outrage" and run contrary to the court's decision. [continues 380 words]
Tom Fletcher couldn't have hit the target more on the head than he did by suggesting the buying and selling of street drugs was making the criminal element rich and stating that prohibition is a farce. Prohibition pushes the cost of these popular illegal substance to exorbitant prices. Prohibition entices our law enforcement to enter into lucrative criminal activity. Prohibition also fuels violence. Prohibition is the main reason criminals and gangs are rich. Legalize and regulate all drugs today so that our children don't have to live with this complete and total confusion! Alison Myrden Leading female speaker for LEAP Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Burlington, Ontario [end]
Dear Editor: Tom Fletcher couldn't have hit the target more on the head than he did by suggesting the buying and selling of street drugs was making the criminal element rich and stating that prohibition is a farce. Kudos and well said. Speaking as a retired law enforcement officer and a legal cannabis patient here in Canada, I am asking you to speak up and say your piece today. Mr. Fletcher and others who agree should stand up even more today and join our incredible organization known as LEAP - Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, based in the U.S.A. These law breakers found drugs were far more profitable because of prohibition. [continues 164 words]
