The amount the federal government overcharges patients legally using medical marijuana is deplorable, say the Conservative and Liberal candidates for Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca. "Outrageous," says Conservative candidate Troy DeSouza. Sitting Liberal MP Keith Martin described the new charges as "usurous." Ottawa charges patients 15 times more for the bulk, certified medical marijuana than Health Canada pays its official supplier, newly released documents show. But sympathy for sick patients who have been prescribed marijuana by doctors is the only thing Martin, a medical doctor, and DeSouza agree on. [continues 254 words]
Tomorrow seems like just another day to the average person, but to a number of people, tomorrow's date marks a special occasion where all responsibilities and worries go up in smoke. Why is there such a fuss about April 20? Why do all the slackers always seem to hype this date? When April 20 finally comes around they are nowhere to be found. What are they doing? Perhaps they are just taking a day of rest to stay inside, take it easy and study. [continues 513 words]
As the Brunswick Board of Education prepares to vote on a policy to require all the school system's employees to undergo drug testing, it may want students to head in the same direction. During a meeting held Tuesday at the county government complex, staff and board members discussed this and other policy and curriculum issues. Another hot topic was the most recent county data showing a substantial gap between black and white students' test scores: 27.6 percentage points in math and 13.4 points in reading, for grades three through eight. Although the school system has adopted customized learning programs and seen some improvement since the 2004-05 school year, it's still seeking reasons for the gap, schools spokesman Adam Henning said. [continues 258 words]
It all seemed tremendously urgent back in January when concerns about the needle exchange's effects on the Cormorant Street neighbourhood came to the boil. Everyone -- health officials, police, city council, the business community, AIDS Vancouver Island -- came together and agreed the location was unsuitable and something had to be done. Everyone professed a great desire to fix the problem. Or almost everyone. The Vancouver Island Health Authority, responsible for addiction services, was conspicuously absent. Moving the needle exchange to a more appropriate location and facility would cost more money. VIHA was in fact proposing to cut funding for AIDS services in the capital region by one-third. [continues 206 words]
Kula Schools' Vice Principal and a Science Teacher Face Marijuana Charges MOLOAA, Kauai ; A science teacher and the athletic director of an expensive private North Shore school were arrested last week for allegedly growing marijuana at their home. Alan Bertolino, 43, the science teacher at Kula Intermediate and High School, was charged with second-degree commercial production of marijuana, among other charges. He worked at the school for about two months. Bertolino, who is being held in lieu of bail, was fired Monday, Kula High Principal David Mireles said. [continues 258 words]
A former all-star New Westminster Salmonbellie has been arrested after police found a marijuana grow operation in his North Delta home last week. The 44-year-old man, who can't be named because he hasn't been charged, was a Western Lacrosse Association all-star for three years during his career as a men's senior A box lacrosse player. He played with the Salmonbellies for seven full seasons in the 1990s. Charges are expected by the end of the week, although police hadn't submitted their report to Crown counsel as of Monday afternoon. [continues 396 words]
Town's Advisory Group Set to Discuss the Proposed Dispensary Thursday Community and business leaders in Templeton say they'll fight a proposal for a medical marijuana dispensary on the town's north side. Templeton schools Superintendent Deborah Bowers and others argue that allowing a dispensary in an industrial park at 3850 Ramada Drive would undermine Templeton's anti-drug efforts and thrust the community into an ongoing legal battle over medical marijuana. Property owner and applicant Kent Connella has proposed a 1,450-square-foot medical marijuana co-op in the single-story complex. [continues 671 words]
Crack Explosion Overwhelming Downtown It's a disturbing sight Gord Diamond sees too often when he takes his dog for a walk around his downtown neighbourhood. It's a young woman who's "freaked out," stumbling down the sidewalk, scouring the streets for a fix of crack cocaine. For Diamond, who's lived with his wife at their George St. condo for six years, he sees the stumbling, strung-out woman and thinks of his two daughters -- women in their mid-30s who've had the good fortune of a loving and supportive home. [continues 368 words]
Jesus Ran a Gang. "Hey, I had a Grade 5 education," Serge LeClerc said, a little apologetically, to the hundreds assembled Wednesday for the annual Saskatchewan Prayer Breakfast. "I had to put it into terms that I understood." What LeClerc understood back in 1985 was crime and surviving on the street. Born to a Cree mother who'd been raped in Toronto's seamy core, he grew up in that city's housing projects, was sent to a religious reform school (where he was cruelly beaten) and by 15 was carrying a gun. [continues 352 words]
Re: Police powerless as psychedelic herb remains legal (SP, April 9). After another ridiculous article on salvia, I thought it was time to write. I am not trying to promote or support use of salvia, but the last two SP stories on it have been unnecessary and biased. In Legal hallucinogen concerns police (SP, Dec. 16), Saskatoon police admitted to not having any recorded issues with salvia use yet they apparently consider it a major problem in the city. It's highly confusing that people are choosing to attack this little-known substance with few documented incidents of danger. Meanwhile, alcohol kills people daily in multiple forms, be it from drunk driving, related physical abuse, fetal alcohol syndrome, alcohol poisoning or liver disease. [continues 58 words]
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- A federal appeals court has been asked to reinstate a lawsuit that seeks to strike down a law denying federal financial aid to students convicted of drug offenses. The lawsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of students who lost their eligibility for college loans, argues that the federal law violates the constitutional ban on double jeopardy by subjecting students to a second criminal punishment after they have already served a court-imposed sentence. [continues 514 words]
