Another RCMP DARE program graduation in the elementary schools and a warning again from the police about 'drug usage' among youth on the Burin Peninsula. Drugs with names like Percocets, Ecstasy, OxyContin, Crystal Meth and even prescription drugs - all obtained illegally - may sound foreign to many older people, but they're becoming a part of the regular jargon for young people. Another term which arose at the Jamieson Academy DARE graduation - 'The Pit'. It's an area near Pearce Junior High in Salt Pond where youth hang out, and strange and wild things can be found strewn around on the ground. [continues 302 words]
Every time the RNC or RCMP parade a haul of illicit drugs before the cameras to boast about the great job they are doing keeping Canadians safe from dope and dopers, we are reminded of the inanity, hypocrisy, foolishness, ineffectiveness and outright injustice of Canada's drug laws, even if the boastful displays of criminal loot reassure some people that the country's streets will never resemble those they see on TV cop shows. The police, of course, are just doing their jobs, according to the instructions of the laws and the lawmakers of the land. [continues 529 words]
Trinity Conception RCMP seize large quantity of marijuana in Heart's Delight-Islington Thanks to some good police work there's less marijuana being sold on the Trinity Shore these days and two accused dealers are facing drug charges. Last Wednesday, May 12, members of the Trinity Conception District RCMP seized a large quantity of marijuana in Heart's Delight-Islington. "We're talking several bags and several pounds of marijuana," says Corporal Dale Foote of the Trinity Conception RCMP. "The street value of that could range anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000." [continues 443 words]
An old Chinese proverb says, ""Laws control the lesser man; right conduct controls the greater one."" It is becoming harder and harder to distinguish who is the greater one. That old proverb needs to be turned on its head! Let's take the Harper government, for instance. They're always talking about law and order and pound their chests about getting tough on those who break the rules. If the government makes enough rules and punishes severely those who try to break them it won't be long before we will have a perfect society, is their mantra. [continues 781 words]
Don't Park Your Life 'At the End of a Marijuana Cigarette,' Ignatieff Tells Mount Pearl Students After encouraging O'Donel High students to vote and help create a better country, it was Michael Ignatieff's reply to a young man's question about legalizing marijuana that drew the loudest and longest applause. "If I had to tell you as a parent or as someone who has spent his whole life working with young people, the last darn thing I want you to be doing is smoking marijuana," the federal Liberal leader said. [continues 691 words]
Unproclaimed 2007 Act Targeted Bootleggers, Drug Dens And Brothels A controversial law targeting drug houses, brothels and bootleggers is dead in the water. The Williams administration passed the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, or SCAN, nearly three years ago. But the law was never proclaimed. And Justice Minister Felix Collins said Friday there are no plans to do so. "At this point in time, there's no inclination to proclaim it because our priorities now have changed," Collins said. "We've put significant investments into policing in the last couple of years, and that's where our priorities have gone." [continues 391 words]
That an RCMP officer would fire with his handgun at a suspected drug dealer in a store parking lot, during business hours, highlights starkly just how wrong the approach of governments to illegal drugs is. The police are permitted to engage in a "war on drugs" and they find this a lot more thrilling than dealing with complaints about a burglarized summer cabin, a barking dog, boys spraying graffiti. The police love drug cases and will say anything to keep the show going. In the 1960s, police claimed that there were hospital wards full of individuals whom the use of illegal drugs had reduced to "human vegetables." Now the police claim that marijuana is a "gateway drug" that pulls people toward the use of harder drugs which ultimately make derelicts out of the individuals. [continues 271 words]
The proroguing of Parliament has been all over the news lately and whether or not you believe that Mr. Harper has the right to use the option to prorogue parliament the way he has, one thing is certain: He has not been on vacation. With the appointment of five new senators, Mr. Harper has tipped the balance of the senate further towards the political right. Now, it's time to dust off some old plans. You see, conservatives (and I mean conservatives in general, not just the political party) are a lot like communists. They're both obsessed with undertaking courses of action that have been proven to be ineffective (often highly ineffective) in the past. [continues 1097 words]
Dear Editor: RE: Safety trumps privacy (Feb. 1, 2010 editorial) "Sure marijuana is not even in the ballpark with crack cocaine, but it does fall under the illegal category making it difficult to justify its use." I can think of about a dozen reasons to justify using cannabis. It has dozens of medical applications, and even when smoked, its benefits outweigh any dangers. Also, chronic daily users don't suffer anywhere near the impairment that a casual user would. By that I mean, there are people smoking 10 joints a day and you would never know it to look at them, while other people are visibly impaired by just a few tokes. [continues 52 words]
There's nothing black and white about whether mandatory drug testing should or should not be practiced in any workplace. When any drug significantly alters a person's physical and/or mental state, many would argue a user poses safety risks in many work environments. Every employer has a strict responsibility to eliminate any and all risks to safety. Not many would be shocked to learn a manager sent home an employee who showed up for work reeking of alcohol-whether it's stale or fresh. It's pretty well an acceptable assumption the individual is under the influence of the drug (alcohol) and poses a risk to him/herself and to coworkers as well. [continues 662 words]
I would like to take this opportunity to say hello to everyone and to introduce myself. I am the new drugs and organized crime awareness coordinator for Labrador. I come to this new position after serving 16 years in front-line policing. I have worked in many areas of the province including three communities along the Labrador coast. Having lived and worked in many different parts of the province I have come to realize that while every community is unique in its own way, every community also has its similarities. [continues 463 words]
Neither IOC nor the Steelworkers' Union are backing down when it comes to a new drug-testing policy announced in early December. A spokesman for IOC says it's a vital step in the company's continuing safety efforts. The president of the union says it's an unnecessary policy, and could further deteriorate an already-strained relationship between workers and management. "We don't condone alcohol and drugs in the workplace, but we want to confirm that everything is done in a respectful manner, and right now things aren't done in that way," said George Kean, president of United Steelworkers Local 5795. [continues 229 words]
RCMP Presentation Focuses On Drug Abuse Information presented at Lewisporte Intermediate on Dec. 3 by Lewisporte RCMP and guest presenters shocked many parents who attended. Corporal Ann Noel of Drug and Organized Crime Services spoke to those in attendance on various drugs in the community and expressed concerns relating to teenagers abusing over the counter and prescription medications. "The teens are gaining access to over the counter pills in stores, homes and at school," she said. "Normally, when we think about drugs we think about Johnny on the street corner selling a bag of marijuana or a bunch of pills, but unfortunately the whole thing is changing. It's our little Sarah or Johnny at home who are jumping into the medicine cabinet." [continues 844 words]
Inside Newfoundland
