'Sudbury is a lucrative market for the gangs to expand to' The first thing Greater Sudbury Police noticed was more fentanyl showing up on local people in their arrests. "Then we noticed there were more people being arrested with Southern Ontario addresses," Insp. Dan Despatie said Friday. Something wasn't adding up. One phone call to Toronto Police and not only did it become crystal clear what was happening, but Sudbury police were suddenly up to their neck in what we now know to be Project Kronic. [continues 488 words]
Noel Hershfield is incorrect. In fact, there is an abundance of studies dispelling the 'gateway' myth. Marijuana is like a gateway drug the same way an appetizer is a gateway to an entree. One generally occurs before the other. Further, many people mistakenly believe marijuana use precedes rather than follows other drug use. In fact, most drug use begins with alcohol and nicotine. And if the next argument is that cannabis introduces you to a dealer selling harder drugs, that's even more reason to legalize it. Consider the large number of people whom have used cannabis and not gone on to use other illicit drugs. Correlation is not causation! Chet Macklin (There appears to be little consensus on this issue.) [end]
VANCOUVER - Drug users are the solution to addressing overdose deaths and providing services to people before they die alone, says a woman who attended a meeting of health professionals in Vancouver trying to develop new strategies to deal with a growing crisis in B.C. Karen Ward, a board member of the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, was among about 20 drug users who joined doctors, including the provincial health officer, and the chief coroner at the all-day meeting Friday. [continues 600 words]
CARSON CITY, Nev. -- The Latest on the legal battle of the launch of Nevada's recreational pot sales The deputy director of Nevada's Department of Taxation says state regulators still intend to have the necessary licenses in place July 1 to start selling marijuana for recreational use despite an ongoing lawsuit over the regulations. Anna Thornley testified in Carson City District Court on Monday that the state has planned since February to have the "early start" program up and running by July to start bringing in tax revenue before a permanent system must be adopted on Jan. 1, 2018. [continues 630 words]
With pot legalization about a year away, we can conclude that the Ontario government is working on a plan. Or at least a plan for a plan. And yes, the "Legalization of Cannabis Secretariat" exists and, apparently, is busily holding meetings. With whom, it won't say. But not the public. Not yet, anyhow. This doesn't inspire much confidence. Other provinces are puffing along nicely: New Brunswick is holding public hearings this summer; Quebec's convening a meeting of experts this month, with draft legislation in hand by the fall. Alberta's got an entire website chock-full of information. In other words, many jurisdictions are talking openly to their citizens about pot. [continues 323 words]
THE Trudeau government is set on legalizing marijuana by the summer of 2018. While they will enjoy the political payoff of appearing progressive on this matter, all of the associated problems and the logistics of doing so will fall on the shoulders of the provincial governments and their civic counterparts. I suggest the Manitoba provincial government draw lessons from the last time an illegal substance was legalized following Prohibition in the late 1920s, as well as from the current public health efforts to eliminate tobacco use in Canada as a means to guide their policy on marijuana. [continues 927 words]
Citing an epidemic of opioid overdose deaths across the country, state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra said Friday that California is joining with more than 26 other states to investigate whether drugmakers have used illegal marketing and sales practices. Becerra said the probe would focus on whether drug manufacturers have played a role in creating or extending the opioid problem. Makers of opioids have been under heat in recent years as the addiction crisis has intensified. A 2016 Times investigation revealed that Purdue Pharma, which manufactures OxyContin, knew its drug's painkilling effects might not last as long as long as marketed, which could potentially promote addiction. The investigation also found Purdue Pharma collected extensive evidence of criminal trafficking of its drug but in many cases did not alert law enforcement. [continues 81 words]
Vancouver seems to have two seasons: Rain and tourists. Just as we make our way out of one, the other hits us full force. Nowhere is the throng of tourists thicker than Gastown, where they scramble for selfies with the steam clock. Trying to get away from those tourists while out for a quick post-lunch walk, I wandered further into the Downtown Eastside than I normally do and was surprised to see the camera-wielding crowd didn't stop there. In front of me were a man and woman - her stopping to snap photos of people lying on the street and him loudly explaining what he saw as the reason those addicted to drugs and living in the area didn't try to help themselves and turn their lives around. [continues 239 words]
Canada's law enforcement agencies, MADD Canada and other first responders took to the country's roads and highways recently in their annual campaign to promote safety on our highways over the summer holiday season. Adding to the complexity of addressing the issue of impaired driving is the steady increase in the numbers of drivers who have been stopped for drug impairment. Law enforcement is also concerned that the impending legalization of marijuana by the Trudeau Government will compound the problem. [continues 437 words]
Two questions: What drug is the most addictive and can give you a condition that can kill you? What other drug has the worse withdrawal effects and can destroy your brain? Answers! No. 1 is nicotine. It is so addictive because no matter how much you ingest your body still craves more and as it leaves your body the craving gets more intense. Over time it can cause lung disease. Answer No. 2 is alcohol/ Longtime excessive use can lead to brain damage. It even has a name - Korsakoff Syndrome. You can also die from the DTs if you go cold turkey and are not under a doctors care. [continues 291 words]
Regardless of whether one agrees with the decision to legalize marijuana, that train has left the station and is scheduled to roll down the track on July 1, 2018. The focus now must shift to how those changes will affect the rights of citizens, law enforcement and the courts. Once the smoke clears, there must be clarity and consistency in how police and the courts deal with offenders under the federal government's proposed new impaired-driving legislation. A ruling by Justice Nigel Kent on May 18 quashed a charge of impaired driving against a Vancouver man who, according to the police report, had "glassy red eyes," a "strong odour of marijuana" on him and pot grinders in plain sight in his vehicle. [continues 184 words]
With pot legalization about a year away, we can conclude that the Ontario government is working on a plan. Or at least a plan for a plan. And yes, the "Legalization of Cannabis Secretariat" exists and, apparently, is busily holding meetings. With whom, it won't say. But not the public. Not yet, anyhow. This doesn't inspire much confidence. Other provinces are puffing along nicely: New Brunswick is holding public hearings this summer; Quebec's convening a meeting of experts this month, with draft legislation in hand by the fall. Alberta's got an entire website chock-full of information. In other words, many jurisdictions are talking openly to their citizens about pot. [continues 339 words]
Some provinces already moving ahead with legal pot plans Several provinces are plowing full steam ahead with plans to ask the public how they should manage the introduction of legal recreational pot in Canada. But Ontario, it seems, isn't one of them. Or, if there are plans, the province's "Legalization of Cannabis Secretariat" is not ready to share them. Secretariat officials have been holding private meetings and promise to "engage with the public" later. The lack of information is surprising, says Jeffrey Lizotte, chief executive of NextWave Brands, a cannabis lobbying and consulting firm. [continues 738 words]
Legislation is only a year away, but public not yet being consulted Several provinces are plowing full-steam ahead with plans to ask the public how they should manage the introduction of legal recreational pot in Canada. But Ontario, it seems, isn't one of them. Or, if there are plans, the province's "Legalization of Cannabis Secretariat" is not ready to share them yet. Secretariat officials have been holding private meetings and promise to "engage with the public" later. The lack of information is surprising, says Jeffrey Lizotte, the CEO of NextWave Brands, a cannabis lobbying and consulting firm. [continues 732 words]
Documentary Gives Clear-eyed, Non-judgmental View Of Tough Life "Where's the happy ending? It's a good day. There's no good ending. The ending's when you're dead." So says Marty, one of a number of residents and workers interviewed at the Regent Park Community Health Centre in the east-of-downtown Toronto neighbourhood for this documentary. He's discussing the difficulties of recovering from addiction, something everyone in the film is dealing with to one degree or another. "Relapse is a part of recovery," says Roxanne, a former addict and sex-trade worker. "I just don't want it to be a part of mine." [continues 277 words]
Where there's smoke, there's a benefits claim. Turns out that's the case with a new Ontario Public Sector Employees Union policy that will see its members covered for medical marijuana. The new policy, announced Friday by OPSEU president Warren "Smokey" Thomas, will see union employees who have a doctor's prescription reimbursed for a valid medical marijuana prescription. "There are benefits to medical cannabis," Thomas said. "We've been working with the (insurance) carrier that we have, SSQ, and it took a bit... so for certain illnesses it's a hell of a lot better than every day drugs." [continues 127 words]
Educating teenagers about the safety of recreational drug use is an age-old conundrum for Canada, one at the forefront as the country pushes ahead with legalizing marijuana by next year The ad shows four pretty young women laughing as their convertible rips past the picturesque Rockies on a warm sunny day, the driver - eyes narrowed slightly - joyfully passing a doobie to her friend. In the next one, a hip young guy with high-top dreadlocks pinches a smouldering joint (backwards) in one hand and adjusts the car stereo with his other as his date leaves her house and approaches in a red party dress. [continues 1238 words]
Research suggests a safer alternative to powerful painkillers OTTAWA - Leading medical experts say legalizing cannabis may offer new hope to one day reduce the use of opioids -powerful drugs frequently prescribed for the treatment of pain. Dr. Mark Ware, a globally-recognized researcher and the vice-chair of the federal government's task force on legalizing marijuana, said a legal framework for cannabis will help to facilitate further research. He said published scientific research already suggests cannabinoid molecules interact with the brain in a way that has an important "synergy" with how opioids interact with receptors in the body. [continues 407 words]
Province hopes to open public health service by end of 2017 The Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre in the Beltline could soon be Calgary's first supervised consumption site, pending federal approval. Associate Minister of Health Brandy Payne confirmed on Thursday the province has applied to provide supervised consumption services in Calgary at the downtown health facility and will soon begin discussions with nearby residents. "It's our hope that we'll be able to open the doors by the end of this year," Payne said, speaking to a large crowd who gathered at the health facility's lobby for the announcement. [continues 377 words]
