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 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]
A veteran cop's perspective on how offences, policing have shifted over the years 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. [continues 795 words]
Founder says doctors who refuse to prescribe cannabis contribute to crime Fabian Henry hasn't been able to find a single doctor in Newfoundland and Labrador who will prescribe medical marijuana - the drug that saved his life. Henry is the founder Marijuana For Trauma (MFT), a veteran-owned and - -operated company that helps veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) find relief with cannabinoid therapy. MFT recently expanded into Newfoundland, opening a clinic on Peet Street in St. John's in May. But so far, he said, the group has had to rely on a clinic in Barrie, Ont., to help clients obtain prescriptions. [continues 871 words]
Founder Says Doctors WHO Refuse to Prescribe Cannabis Contribute to Crime Fabian Henry hasn't been able to find a single doctor in Newfoundland and Labrador who will prescribe medical marijuana - the drug that saved his life. Henry is the founder Marijuana For Trauma (MFT), a veteran-owned and - -operated company that helps veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) find relief with cannabinoid therapy. MFT recently expanded into Newfoundland, opening a clinic on Peet Street in St. John's in May. But so far, he said, the group has had to rely on a clinic in Barrie, Ont., to help clients obtain prescriptions. [continues 515 words]
Charges laid after RNC-RCMP team seizes cocaine, marijuana, MDMA and shatter Among a huge amount of illegal drugs seized last week in St. John's by a joint RNC-RCMP drug team is a drug known as "shatter," a derivative of marijuana, but much more toxic. It is believed to be the first significant seizure of shatter in the province and police are warning of the potential dangers of its use. One man has been charged thus far in the operation, known as "Project Titan" by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-NL). [continues 498 words]
Yes, the crime was always here. The murders, the forcible confinement, the drugs, the abductions. But can anyone really argue the frequency hasn't changed? That we, as a province, are not seeing more of it more often? Over the weekend in St. John's there was a six hour standoff with police. Jason Power, a 40-year-old Newfoundland man, is being accused of a few charges as a result, including having a knife for a purpose dangerous to the public peace, threatening to cause death or bodily harm to a member of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and breaching his probation. [continues 272 words]
Bishop's Falls council determines program unnecessary After reviewing the pros and cons, Bishop's Falls council won't be instituting a drug and alcohol-testing program for employees. "It was just a discussion we held about whether we should we be doing testing like some companies do," said Mayor Bob Hobbs when asked about the decision made at the March council meeting. "It's the Alberta syndrome. All the people that go away are tested and we discussed whether we needed it for the protection of our workers. We did look at and for a whole bunch of reasons it didn't make sense." [continues 130 words]
On Aug. 4, 2011, two men were handcuffed and made to sit on a rock alongside the highway for an hour and a half while RCMP officers searched their rental vehicle based on a suspicion there may be drugs inside. The reasons for the officer's suspicions were this: The two men had fishing gear, but limited knowledge of Newfoundland and Labrador's fishing practices; the car was rented in a third party's name; they were travelling from Ontario, a supposed known source for drug importation; contents inside the car indicated the men's trip was for a longer time than they had indicated to the officer; and the presence of hand sanitizer, sometimes used to mask drug scents. [continues 342 words]
Supreme Court Justice Admonishes RCMP for Handling of Roadside Drug Bust Four months after being involved in a court decision that took note of how the police had violated a man's Charter rights during a drug bust, one of the officers breached the rights of two more men in a similar roadside investigation. This time, though, it is likely the case will be tossed out of court. Const. Leon Sheppard of the RCMP Traffic Services West was one of two officers who pulled over Philip Jordy Blanchard in 2008. [continues 683 words]
A St. John's man who is convinced marijuana oil cured his cancer is still hoping to convince health authorities to do informal clinical trials. In 2013 and 2014, The Telegram told the story of Paul Morrissey, now 66, who credits marijuana oil treatment with putting him on the mend from prostate cancer. Since then, Morrissey has abandoned medical treatment and said the response he got from some specialists was off putting. "I didn't feel much support at any stage for the marijuana oil and its potential," Morrissey said Tuesday, adding he feels good physically. [continues 287 words]
Inside Newfoundland
