Young people are being barraged with a variety of highly addictive drugs and they're being found in local schools. That's the finding of a 2008 health and addictions survey conducted by Dr. Bonnie Priest of Positive Heart Living. The study, carried out in association with the Fredericton Police Force, found that 37.7 per cent of respondents had tried drugs. The study involved 131 youths around 15 years of age with the average educational level of Grade 9. All participants were from Fredericton and its surrounding areas. [continues 553 words]
ST. ANDREWS - Bill Howatt has a simple question on the back of his business card: What's the cost of doing nothing? If you're talking about workers addicted to drugs and alcohol, that cost adds up to $40 billion in Canada, he said. But many employers haven't yet realized how employees with addictions affect the bottom line, he said Tuesday at a conference put on by Enterprise Charlotte and the Charlotte Drug Coalition at the Fairmont Algonquin Hotel. "The reality is if one in four people have an addictive disorder, one out of four people have a mental health issue, then we have a lot of concerns," he said in an interview after he lectured a room full of business professionals from Charlotte County and across the province. [continues 431 words]
To the editor, In actual fact, the Conservatives are trying to increase crime in an effort to increase jail attendance. Mandatory minimum sentences for pot growing, for example (Bill C-15), will do nothing to scare off the gangsters, but will do much to scare off the mom 'n pop growers who offer direct market competition to and better product than the gang growers. With these small-timers out of the picture, there will be more business, and thus more violence, within the gang community. [continues 187 words]
Here is how things work in real life: We send emails, letters, and phone calls to MP's offices. Their secretaries record it all, and at the end of each day (or week, depending), the MP might get an overview sheet that says something like "100 calls for this Marc Emery issue, 200 emails..." and so on. The MP might give it a cursory glance, at best, then get on with other business. It would also be safe to assume that all of these emails and phone calls from disgruntled pot-and-sovereignty lovers is actually making Nicholson and his cronies even more chuffed about his actions. [continues 92 words]
Our government is taking action to protect the safety and security of our communities. We are standing up for victims of crime and putting the rights of law-abiding citizens ahead of the rights of criminals. We passed the Tackling Violent Crime Act, which implemented measures to better protect youth from sexual predators, put serious penalties in place to fight impaired driving, and toughened sentencing and bail for those convicted of serious gun crimes. In addition, the government passed legislation to end conditional sentences for serious personal injury offences, including sexual assault, and we brought forth measures to increase penalties for those convicted of street racing. [continues 212 words]
This letter is addressed to Justice Minister Rob Nicholson. As a concerned Canadian citizen, I feel that an explanation is in order from the Conservative government as to how they can justify collecting taxes on Marc Emery's marijuana seed selling business, then have him sent to a U.S. prison to serve a five year sentence for a crime which would have otherwise landed him a fine here in Canada. It is my understanding that an offer was made by U.S. authorities that would see Mr. Emery serve his sentence in a Canadian facility; however, the Minister of Justice has opted to deny him this opportunity. I believe the failure of this government to keep Mr. Emery in Canada - where he belongs - sets a dangerous precedent in which our very sovereignty is called into question. [continues 120 words]
Dear editor, Regarding the story "RCMP take 15,000 pot plants out of circulation" published in the Sept. 23 issue of the Victoria Star. Guess who is most pleased about this eradication policy. The 90-95 per cent of growers who will never be caught! This colossal waste of time and money is not only failing to fix things, it is, in fact, outrageously counterproductive. Think about it: if the police busted twice as many grows this year as last year, they would still only get about 20 per cent of them. And every time they bust one grow - indoor, outdoor, small or big - all they do is make the ones they don't catch that much more valuable. [continues 219 words]
Over the past month, as part of the RCMP's ongoing marijuana eradication efforts, nearly 15,000 outdoor marijuana plants have been seized. That amount of marijuana has the potential to create up to 7.5 million joints, which will no longer hit the streets. The seizures were made from more than 150 outdoor sites throughout New Brunswick. "Preventing and deterring marijuana production and trafficking are things we take very seriously," said RCMP Sgt. Claude Tremblay. "Marijuana is currently the most frequently abused drug by young people in New Brunswick, many of whom may be under the false impression that it is a soft, or harmless, drug. That's simply not true. Marijuana is a dangerous, illegal substance with the potential to cause serious impairment, and create lasting physical and psychological problems." [continues 84 words]
Enforcement Police Putting Officers Aboard Grand Manan Ferry GRAND MANAN - Drug couriers should be careful talking to strangers on their way to Grand Manan this fall. The RCMP intends to put both plain-clothed and uniformed officers on the ferries to interrupt drug traffic to the island, Cpl. Andy Cook said in an interview Wednesday. "We're going to change our times so they won't get used to our schedule," Cook said. "They won't know." RCMP officers do know "certain characteristics" to watch for looking for drug couriers, especially with help from Grand Manan residents who provide information, Cook said. [continues 462 words]
Busy Season | Pot Party Spokesman Says 'We Live In A Crime Factory Of Fear' The RCMP in New Brunswick is making no apologies for targeting marijuana grow operations. Sgt. Claude Tremblay said he doesn't agree with "illegal drug advocates" who say Mounties have better things to do with their time than busting marijuana growers. "We invite anyone who has a problem with that, (who) feels we have seized their marijuana, to call us and make a complaint." Marijuana is a huge issue in New Brunswick - one that affects everyone, Tremblay said Wednesday. [continues 488 words]
15,000 marijuana plants been seized across N.B. to date, compared to 13,500 plants by late September last year FREDERICTON - New Brunswick's harvest of seized marijuana has already topped the entire amount netted by RCMP last year, and police aren't yet finished with this year's hunt. Provincial Mounties estimate that 15,000 pot plants have been seized over the past four-weeks across New Brunswick. This is compared to 13,500 plants seized in 2008 between mid-August and late-September, the prime time to harvest. [continues 248 words]
Regarding the news articles RCMP seize over 1,800 marijuana plants, published in the Sept. 2 issue of the Victoria Star I would like to ask what difference did this bust make? The answer is none. The recent outdoor marijuana "eradication" efforts by police are glaring examples of the futility of prohibition. Law enforcement efforts are not "stemming the tide" or "taking a bite out" of drugs, nor will they ever do so. It is all just an expensive show at taxpayer expense to give the public the illusion that something is being accomplished. [continues 192 words]
Re: Story published Aug. 29 called RCMP taking a bite out of outdoor grow-ops Law enforcement efforts "taking a bite out of" the cannabis supply is hyperbole. This annual eradication effort is costly public theatre, giving the illusion that something is being accomplished. However, 80-95 per cent of grow-ops escape the RCMP. Instead it provides job security for police and gives their unions more resources with which to influence policy makers away from cannabis law reform, fibbing that "it sends the wrong message." [continues 141 words]
Re: RCMP seize over 1,800 marijuana plants, Sept. 4 What difference did this bust make? The recent outdoor marijuana "eradication" efforts by police are glaring examples of the futility of prohibition. Law enforcement efforts are not "stemming the tide" (or "taking a bite out") of drugs, nor will they ever do so. It is all just an expensive show at the taxpayer's expense to give the public the illusion that something is being accomplished. Why aren't journalists asking important questions, like: [continues 183 words]
Re: America's longest war by Gwynne Dyer, Sept. 8 Nice of Gwynne Dyer to tell the story about many countries decriminalizing drugs. But how could he miss the fact that Canada is going in the opposite direction by bringing in mandatory minimums for drug offenses. Why is (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper bringing them in to Canada? Brian Kerr, Scarborough, Ont. [end]
It's too early to say that there is a general revolt against the "war on drugs" that the United States has been waging for the past 39 years, but something significant is happening. European countries have been quietly defecting from the war for years, decriminalizing personal consumption of some or all of the banned drugs in order to minimize harm to their own people, but it's different when countries like Argentina and Mexico do it. Latin American countries are much more in the firing line. The United States can hurt them a lot if it is angered by their actions, and it has a long history of doing just that. [continues 701 words]
It's too early to say there is a general revolt against the "war on drugs" the United States has been waging for the past 39 years, but something significant is happening. European countries have been quietly defecting from the war for years, decriminalizing personal consumption of some or all of the banned drugs in order to minimize harm to their own people, but it's different when countries like Argentina and Mexico do it. Latin American countries are much more in the firing line. The United States can hurt them a lot if it is angered by their actions, and it has a long history of doing just that. But from Argentina to Mexico, they are fed up to the back teeth with the violent and dogmatic U.S. policy on drugs, and they are starting to do something about it. [continues 792 words]
Re: Man jailed for six months for pot grow-op, beating girlfriend If Bill C-15 passes (it won't if there is an election), this guy in the court case would get a mandatory stretch of jail time for growing pot. Not surprisingly, there is no mandatory minimum sentencing for assault, sexual assault or rape. Once again our government gets its priorities right. Russell Barth Ottawa, Ont. Federally licensed medical marijuana user Patients Against Ignorance and Discrimination on Cannabis www.paidoc.org [end]
Re: Story by reporter Michael Staples published Aug. 29 called RCMP taking a bite out of outdoor grow-ops Interesting and telling article, Mr. Staples. On one hand you have an educated knowledgeable person speaking intelligently on the subject of marijuana prohibition. On the other you have a biased person spewing unscientifically proven jibber jabber. Which one would you believe? Carl Anderson Kamloops, B.C. [end]
Re: Recent marijuana grow-op busts The people happiest about these marijuana grow-op busts are the 90-95 per cent of growers who will never be caught. Think about that: If the police busted twice as many grow-ops every year, they would still only get about 20 per cent of them. A fifth - or probably even less than that. And every time they bust one grow-op - indoor, outdoor, small or big - - all they do is make the ones they don't catch that much more valuable. [continues 187 words]
Inside New Brunswick
