Dana Larsen, the British Columbia man who calls himself a cannabis crusader, will be in St. John's this weekend spreading his message of cannabis freedom as part of his cross-country campaign. But the police officer heading this province's drug unit is warning the public to be leery of what Larsen has to say. RNC Supt. Marlene Jesso is concerned Larsen may send the wrong message to people when it comes to the legalization of marijuana. "It's not against the law for him to come down here and speak to people," said Jesso, who is in charge of the Newfoundland and Labrador combined forces special enforcement unit, a joint RCMP-RNC team. [continues 359 words]
A recent Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court decision tested the weight the justice system places on confidential police informants. The case revolved around a British Columbia man arrested and charged in Newfoundland with drug-related offences in February 2015. The accused applied to the court to have certain police evidence excluded from his case - particularly the police informant information - - stating that his rights under Section 9 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms were breached. He claimed police did not have reasonable grounds to make the arrest nor search his vehicle. [continues 866 words]
It is evident by recent cuts to our public sector that the provincial government's commitment to austerity measures will undoubtedly continue through the upcoming spring budget. However, as the rise of violent crime and introduction of dangerous new drugs to our province risks tearing apart our families and communities, it remains clear that we cannot afford further cuts to justice and public safety initiatives within our province. Appealing to relevant statistics about drug use and crime in our province brings only heartwrenching conclusions. Drug-related deaths within Newfoundland and Labrador increased 42 per cent from 2014 to 2015. Fentanyl, an extremely dangerous street drug, has been the subject of a recent public warning by the RCMP after the fatal opioid was spotted on the Burin Peninsula. Furthermore, this warning comes merely a month after a St. John's drug bust seized over 250 fentanyl pills that were manufactured to appear like OxyContin, an often abused prescription painkiller. [continues 296 words]
If there was ever a time that people needed to talk to their kids about drugs it would be now. The importance of education and communication were the key topics brought up during an information session on the drug fentanyl held at The Merge on Feb. 9. Staff Sgt. Dale Foote, of the Burin Peninsula detachment of the RCMP, was one of the invited speakers for the evening. "Everyone thinks that the overdose at the hospital is going to be the individual that is addicted to drugs, that's not (always) that case," said Foote during his presentation. [continues 796 words]
The Merge hosts fentanyl information session If there was ever a time that people needed to talk to their kids about drugs, it would be now. The importance of education and communication were the key topics brought up during an information session on the drug fentanyl held at The Merge on Feb. 9. Staff Sgt. Dale Foote, of the Burin Peninsula detachment of the RCMP, was one of the invited speakers for the evening. "Everyone thinks that the overdose at the hospital is going to be the individual that is addicted to drugs, that's not (always) that case," said Foote during his presentation. "We're living in a time right now where the types of drugs people are using are lethal if they're inhaled by anybody, they're lethal if some one comes in contact with them - that's very important for our teenagers to know." [continues 211 words]
Get ready for the worst, intervention counsellor warns province Andy Bhatti has spent the majority of his life surrounded by hard drugs. As an interventionist, he can talk to you eloquently about the dangers of drug use, quote Canadian statistics, and offer his ideas about what programs and services are needed in order to help drug users and stop overdoses. He can just as easily slip into the language of a drug user, calling drugs by their slang names, giving you a list of his acquaintances who have died, and talking like living in stolen cars and dirty motels while committing crimes in order to support an expensive addiction is a regular fact of life. [continues 950 words]
What can we expect with the legalization of marijuana? Proponents argue that legalization will reduce crime, lower criminal justice costs, improve public health, improve traffic safety and stimulate the economy. Opponents argue that legalization will spur marijuana and other drug and alcohol use, increase crime, diminish public safety and lower educational achievement. There is research available with some interesting results, but the most important point to be made is that at this stage research must be considered preliminary, since there has been insufficient time for conclusive evaluation and predictive results. [continues 449 words]
Part 3 in an occasional letter series exploring marijuana use and legalization What can we expect with the legalization of marijuana? Proponents argue that legalization will reduce crime, lower criminal justice costs, improve public health, improve traffic safety and stimulate the economy. Opponents argue that legalization will spur marijuana and other drug and alcohol use, increase crime, diminish public safety and lower educational achievement. There is research available with some interesting results, but the most important point to be made is that at this stage research must be considered preliminary, since there has been insufficient time for conclusive evaluation and predictive results. [continues 448 words]
Inside Newfoundland
