In Newfoundland and Labrador, the latest budget brought huge debt, a two per cent increase in the HST and shutdowns of everything from seniors' dental programs to more than half the province's public libraries. In Prince Edward Island, the HST's up one per cent, while Nova Scotia has gone through public sector wages to eke out the barest slender slip of a balanced budget. New Brunswick? It also raised HST by two points to 15 per cent and is talking about public sector job cuts. [continues 473 words]
The long, unnecessary and monumentally stupid imposition of Prohibition 2 - pot prohibition - is finally coming to an end. This week a Federal Court judge in Vancouver ruled in favour of medical marijuana users, saying they should be allowed to grow their own pot, and federal laws preventing them from doing so are unconstitutional. Strangely enough, the judge's conclusions from the bench on high - so to speak - echo much of what hippies and potheads and rights activists have been saying about pot for half a century or so. [continues 543 words]
While there are many looking forward to the impending legalization of marijuana, some are less enthused. The executive director of the U-Turn Drop-In Centre in Carbonear worries that legalization of the drug will create problems for youth and lead to a wider acceptance of drug culture. Jeff Bourne knows a thing or two about the trouble caused by addiction. An admitted addict now several years sober, the executive director of Carbonear's U-Turn Drop-In Centre has put in a lot of time helping others find ways to overcome battles with drugs and alcohol. [continues 593 words]
See Liquor Stores As Viable Option for Distribution of Legalized Weed A couple of years from now, people preparing for the May 24 weekend could conceivably head to their local liquor store to pick up a case or two of beer and some sticky green buds. A couple of years from now, people preparing for the May 24 weekend could conceivably head to their local liquor store to pick up a case or two of beer and some sticky green buds. [continues 605 words]
A couple of years from now, people preparing for the May 24 weekend could conceivably head to their local liquor store to pick up a case or two of beer and some sticky green buds. Nobody knows how things will look when Justin Trudeau's Liberal government unveils its plan to legalize and regulate marijuana in Canada. But several labour unions representing public sector workers at liquor stores have spoken out in favour of having the drug sold by their members. [continues 542 words]
Medical marijuana user says doctors discouraged from prescribing; new clinic hopes to alleviate concerns As the country moves towards legalizing marijuana for recreational use, patients in Newfoundland and Labrador are still having trouble accessing the herb for medical use. It's not because of the fact that no licensed producers grow marijuana in the province; doctors here may be hesitant because the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador appears to discourage them from having anything to do with it. [continues 1098 words]
The Flat Bay Band Inc. is working on a project to develop a native addictions treatment centre in consultation with Memorial University and a local steering committee. The project got underway in November 2015 and is expected to wrap up in November of this year with a manuscript on the scope and nature of the treatment centre, recommendations on site locations and draft plans. Flat Bay Band Chief Liz LaSaga and the steering committee say there is insufficient research into native health statistics in the province. Along with Memorial, the research derived from this project will be a fundamental piece of evidence. The need for the Nujio'qonik Healing Center - named in recognition of the area in which it will be located, Bay St. George - has long been recognized. [continues 313 words]
Colorado Raking in Taxes From Legalized Weed A pall hangs over Denver, Colorado. Lawlessness stalks its streets, while stupefied potheads loll on every corner, stoned senseless on legal weed. Well, actually, no, it's not really like that at all. Really, it's just another day. Denver's like any other big American city: on the 16th Street Mall, there are vagrants on the corners, Broncos and Patriots fans spooling around while they wait for the start of the AFC final later in the day. Coffee shops are setting out chairs in the unseasonable warmth, and a robot street performer, painted entirely silver, is making plans with friends for after the game. [continues 509 words]
A pall hangs over Denver, Colorado. Lawlessness stalks its streets, while stupefied potheads loll on every corner, stoned senseless on legal weed. Well, actually, no, it's not really like that at all. Really, it's just another day. Denver's like any other big American city: on the 16th Street Mall, there are vagrants on the corners, Broncos and Patriots fans spooling around while they wait for the start of the AFC final later in the day. Coffee shops are setting out chairs in the unseasonable warmth, and a robot street performer, painted entirely silver, is making plans with friends for after the game. [continues 505 words]
A pall hangs over Denver, Colorado. Lawlessness stalks its streets, while stupefied potheads loll on every corner, stoned senseless on legal weed. Well, actually, no, it's not really like that at all. Really, it's just another day. Denver's like any other big American city: on the 16th Street Mall, there are vagrants on the corners, Broncos and Patriots fans spooling around while they wait for the start of the AFC final later in the day. Coffee shops are setting out chairs in the unseasonable warmth, and a robot street performer, painted entirely silver, is making plans with friends for after the game. [continues 510 words]
Lawyers Want to Know If Informant Used by Cops Was Also Involved in Their Case A probe into alleged criminal wrongdoing by Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) senior managers in connection with the use of an informant could affect a major drug case in this province. Lawyers representing three men facing trafficking charges want to know if the informant used by police in their case was the same person who is at the heart of the investigation into RNC senior managers. "We are not proceeding until we know if the source is the same source that's been (spotlighted) in the media," defence lawyer Randy Piercey said Monday when the drug case was called in Newfoundland Supreme Court in St. John's. [continues 619 words]
In British Columbia recently, the provincial government was told liquor store employees wanted to be the ones to sell legalized marijuana, should that legalization occur. (It was a federal Liberal election promise.) Their argument? "We believe this is an incredible opportunity for British Columbia," Stephanie Smith, president of the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union, said at a press conference. "We have an excellent track record for distributing and retailing alcohol." That track record, they argue, includes the responsible sale of alcohol. Interesting point. But despite all that responsibility at the point of sale, as a nation, we don't always do so well with personal responsibility. [continues 464 words]
In British Columbia this past week, the provincial government was told liquor store employees wanted to be the ones to sell legalized marijuana, should that legalization occur. (It was a federal Liberal election promise.) Their argument? "We believe this is an incredible opportunity for British Columbia," Stephanie Smith, president of the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union, said at a press conference. "We have an excellent track record for distributing and retailing alcohol." That track record, they argue, includes the responsible sale of alcohol. Interesting point. But despite all that responsibility at the point of sale, as a nation, we don't always do so well with personal responsibility. [continues 463 words]
Family, Friends Hope Death of Ron Hynes Draws Attention to Drug Addiction The death of one of Newfoundland's most beloved musicians should serve as a wake-up call to the worsening scourge of drug addiction in the province, say friends and family members who watched the artist struggle for years with the disease. Ron Hynes died at age 64 last week in St. John's following a return of cancer that was first diagnosed in 2012 and which recently spread to his lung and hip. [continues 561 words]
Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program Gives Kids the Tools to Make Healthy Decisions Gone are the days of preaching to children not to do drugs. Now when the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary presents the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program to students, the idea is to give them the tools necessary to take control and make healthy decisions. The key to doing that is keeping it real, said Const. Scott Mosher. Mosher, the RNC's media relations and community liaison officer, was the guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Corner Brook's weekly luncheon at the Glynmill Inn on Thursday. [continues 582 words]
Family Members of Addicts Tired of Being Blamed Note: Personal details have been changed to protect the identities of the families involved. Drug abuse affects many people, and not always as users. Whether you find prescription pills in your son's backpack or a baggie of cocaine in your sister's pocket, you are going through something many others are also experiencing. The hardest step for those who witness drug abuse in their family in the Trinity Conception region is walking through the front door of the U-Turn addictions centre in Carbonear for the first time to seek help, said Kerri, a relative of a drug addict. [continues 625 words]
Desperate mom trying to get son, 15, into addiction rehab program What do you argue with your 15-year-old about? Grades? Curfew? Dating? Mary would love to have your problems. She spends nights wondering where her 15-year-old is staying and how much cocaine, alcohol and marijuana he has going through his system. "I'm at my wit's end. I don't know what to do or who to call," she says. Mary - not her real name - says she's learning a hard lesson about what it's like to have a teen addicted to drugs and hellbent on living life whichever way he chooses. There may be help out there for a teenager who is willing to accept it, but it's a different story when you're trying to reel in one who is pulling further and further away, it seems. Mary feels like she has no rights as a mother. Instead of watching her boy grow up, she's watching him go down. [continues 441 words]
Mother of 17-year-old drug addict discusses problems with system * Names have been changed to protect the identity of the youth and his family. * This story deals with graphic subject matter and may not be suitable for all readers. It's a mother's worst nightmare, getting the call saying her child was severely injured, or worse, dead. That is what Cathy experienced earlier this month when her teenage son called her unexpectedly. "I knew something wasn't right because my phone was vibrating differently, not like a text message," Cathy told The Compass at her home last week. "It was Steven. He said, 'Mom I'm in trouble. I tried to off myself.'" [continues 969 words]
Paul Roche was a young constable 26 years ago when he first patrolled the streets of St. John's. A typical shift during those early years with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary might consist of a call of a domestic disturbance, an impaired driver, petty theft or simple possession of marijuana. In most cases, he and his partner could talk things through with the offenders, avoid the use of force and then lay charges without incident. At the end of the day, he'd go back to his desk to fill out the paperwork. [continues 792 words]
Inside Newfoundland
