State Raking in Millions in Taxes From Legalized Marijuana Sales 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 508 words]
Mitch Reid may not be aware that he's actually supporting and enabling the devil law (Letter: Petition To Stop Marijuana Plans, Jan. 19, 2016); cannabis (marijuana) prohibition is the doctrine of demons. Cannabis prohibition separates people from receiving the "spirit of truth," which is available to those who "love one another," as described in John 14-16. You cannot love someone and cage him or her for using what God indicates He created and says is good on literally the very first page of the Bible, at the same time. Cannabis prohibition, persecution and discrimination are anti-Christian and clergy should be extra vigilant in protecting themselves from that public sin. Stan White Dillon, Colorado [end]
Methamphetamine the main focus of Prince District JFO Drug Unit At first glance, they look like candy. In a small plastic bag, there are almost 500 tablets, similar in size and shape to PEZ candy. But what's inside that bag, marked as evidence, is highly addictive, a drug that, said Cpl. Andy Cooke, the head of the Prince District Joint Forces Operation Drug Unit, has become its primary focus. "Almost 75 per cent of the targets we are working on right now are related to speed," said Cooke. "Almost every single person we are investigating is linked into these in some fashion." [continues 465 words]
Speed leaves its users emaciated, strung out and paranoid. And its growing presence often leads to an increase in violent crimes, said Cpl. Andy Cooke, head of the Prince District Joint Forces Operation Drug Unit. "Everyone (involved with speed) starts carrying weapons. They take it up a notch and become that much more violent," said the veteran drug enforcement officer. "We had reports of drug collections over $200, people getting beat up and beat up bad. That is part of the drug world to begin with, but I think this just magnifies it." [continues 124 words]
Author of Cannabis in Canada Sends Marijuana With Book to P.E.I. MPs Island MPs didn't even review the literature that a British Columbia pot activist mailed to their constituency offices. Dana Larsen claims to have sent a copy of his book, Cannabis in Canada: The Illustrated History, plus a one-gram marijuana sampling to all 184 MPs in the new Liberal government. Besides promoting his book, it was to serve as a reminder of the Liberal government's promise to decriminalize marijuana. [continues 221 words]
Illegal Drug Overtakes Prescription Narcotics As Drug of Choice in Prince County Dr. Don Ling calls it worrisome, a drug that quickly takes users into its grip. Speed. Crank. Ice. Methamphetamine. It's become the drug of choice of Prince County addicts. "As a stimulant, it accelerates everything. It will speed up your heart and give you a rush," said Ling. "It is a tough drug. It is so prevalent, so available. It is fairly cheap and it is a grabber, there is no doubt about that." [continues 366 words]
Take The First Step, a group from the Christian Reformed Church on Mt. Edward Rd. is starting a petition against making pot legal. Take The First Step is trying to spread the message of hope through Christ, to those who are suffering from addiction, and to their families. We are 100 per cent against making pot legal. I know if you ask 10 people about this topic, you would get 10 answers - - all would not be the same. I have talked to a number of people over the last few years who suffer from addiction and the common thread through all their lives - it started with pot. Making it easier for young people to have access to it is bad news. Seventeen per cent will take on an addictive lifestyle. [continues 83 words]
Author of 'Cannabis in Canada' Sends Marijuana With Book to MPs Members of Parliament from Egmont and Malpeque ridings didn't even review the literature that a British Columbia pot activist mailed to their constituency offices. Dana Larsen claims to have sent a copy of his book, "Cannabis in Canada: The Illustrated History," plus a one-gram marijuana sampling to all 184 MPs in the new Liberal government. Besides promoting his book, it was to serve as a reminder of the Liberal government's promise to decriminalize marijuana. [continues 229 words]
The federal government is wise to request a six-month extension to draft new legislation on doctor-assisted dying. Canadians have been waiting for legislation on this crucial issue for far too long already, but for the Liberal government to rush it through by the February deadline after inheriting it from the foot-dragging Conservatives, does not make sense. Last February, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the ban on medically-assisted suicide. The ruling gave the federal government 12 months to rewrite the Criminal Code, or ignore the ruling, essentially leaving the matter in legal limbo. [continues 365 words]
P.E.I. finance minister questioned on whether P.E.I. liquor stores could sell marijuana once it is legal P.E.I. Finance Minister Allen Roach says it's far too early to contemplate selling marijuana in Prince Edward Island liquor stores. "I'll be honest with you, marijuana being sold anywhere in P.E.I. is not on my agenda right now," he told The Guardian. "It's premature to say we're going to do it at the liquor stores or through any other way of selling it." [continues 361 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]
Lots for Governments to Ponder on the Road to Marijuana Legalization 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. Right across the country, provincial courts strain to deal with drinking and driving cases - and that's despite the fact the courts are only dealing with those who don't plead guilty quickly. Police news releases across the country are equally filled with drunk-driving charges.! There seem to be plenty of people committing an offence that we are all supposed to realize is both stupid, criminal and potentially fatal. [continues 394 words]
It's a question I often hear on World AIDS Day (December 1), when much of our attention turns to the global HIV epidemic. Many of us think of HIV/AIDS as an issue affecting other countries. But an HIV epidemic in Canada? More than 70,000 Canadians are living with HIV and on average seven to eight new infections happen every day. While these numbers are concerning, Canada's overall rate of new infections is still lower than the global average. What these numbers don't show, however, is that HIV has reached epidemic levels in key populations across the country. [continues 554 words]
As the dust settles following the recent Liberal election win, Canadians are anxious to see what changes lay in store. There are many polarizing issues on the table, and the pending legalization of marijuana is certainly one of them. Many think it is about time marijuana became legal, while others believe it will inevitably lead to extremely negative consequences, especially for our youth. Differing opinions are to be expected, and are in fact essential to effective discussions; as long as each party is relatively up to date with factual information, and not basing their opinions on outdated, morally charged and misinformed assumptions. To not agree with the potential legalization of marijuana is therefore perfectly reasonable, but only so long as people are accurately informed. [continues 177 words]
Mother always wonders what might have saved her son Petra Schulz is always wondering what might have saved her son. "Every day, every day,'' she says. "When a parent loses a child, there is a lot of blame attached because we are supposed to raise them, launch them.'' Much of the search into what could have been done differently, Schulz concedes, is futile. So there needs to be constructive focus. That is what "mumsDO", short for mums united and mandated to saving the lives of Drug Users, tries to do. The mothers, who have lost sons and daughters to overdose and other drugrelated harms, are determined to advance dialogue on harm reduction for substance users. [continues 397 words]
The "war on drugs" was intended to reduce psychoactive drug use. Its specific aim was to inhibit and destroy the international illicit drug trade - making drugs scarcer and costlier, and therefore making drug habits unaffordable. The data show just the opposite has occurred. Illicit drugs are more affordable and more readily available than ever. Criminologists generally agree that prohibition has had some downward effect on the supply and use of illicit drugs. The real question is whether it's been worth the effort, as we are left with a strained criminal justice system and a proliferation of drug-related violence. If the drug war has failed to significantly reduce drug production, use and trafficking then perhaps it doesn't justify the cost. [continues 459 words]
There must be a better way to manage serious problem of drug abuse, addiction The war on drugs was intended to reduce psychoactive drug use. It's specific aim was to inhibit and destroy the international illicit drug trade - making drugs scarcer and costlier, and therefore making drug habits unaffordable. The data show just the opposite has occurred. Illicit drugs are more affordable and more readily available than ever. Criminologists generally agree that prohibition has had some downward effect on the supply and use of illicit drugs. The real question is whether it's been worth the effort, as we are left with a strained criminal justice system and a proliferation of drug-related violence. If the drug war has failed to significantly reduce drug production, use and trafficking then perhaps it doesn't justify the cost. [continues 457 words]
Stephen Harper and Ron Jenkins believe that marijuana use is infinitely more dangerous than tobacco use. I wonder how they arrived at that conclusion? According to the World Health Organization, tobacco products are consumed by 1.3 billion people around the world and are directly responsible for 8.8 per cent of the deaths in the world while causing four per cent of total years of life lost. There are 147 million world marijuana users, out of 185 million illicit drug users. Illicit drugs cause 0.4 per cent of deaths in the world and are responsible for 0.8 per cent of years of life lost. Nicotine is the most highly addictive drug in the world (32 per cent addiction liability) while marijuana has an estimated nine per cent addiction potential. What is the argument for marijuana being infinitely more dangerous than tobacco? Des Colohan, MD, Charlottetown [end]
Lloyd Atkin's "Drug dealers to vote Tory" the Guardian Oct. 5, 2015 is one reason why I will vote for Stephen Harper, because marijuana is infinitely worse than tobacco. I do not want my grand children and great grand children having easy access to the drug. Harper does not take a pro-choice stand and I do not believe in killing babies like the Liberals have forced their members to support. World wide, most countries are bankrupt and they just do not realize it yet. Harper is the man to navigate our financial woes. [continues 82 words]
Recently Stephen Harper reiterated, in his typical supercilious manner, that marijuana would never be legalized by his government because it is - according to him - 'infinitely worse' than tobacco. In Harper's mind everything must be categorized as either 'good' or 'evil' and then exploited for political gain. How does his holier-than-thou stance on the pervasive use of pot address the associated problems? Why doesn't he take another step into his ideological fantasy world and try to reduce the number of unplanned teenage pregnancies by making pre-marital sex illegal? [continues 58 words]
Inside Prince Edward Island
