Mary Jones has been a lifelong resident of Ward 4.

She loves her comfortable old house.

She loves her neighbourhood because she's close to everything she needs at this point in life, her children, her friends, her church, her corner store and her doctor.

She likes almost all her neighbours. Except one.

That's the guy in the house across the street she suspects is selling drugs.

Jones - who requested her real name not be used because of fear of retaliation - said at certain times of the month the house in question is like a drive-thru.

[continues 368 words]

It's a tragic ending to a tragic yet not uncommon story. Monday, RCMP Cpl. Ron Francis, whose battle with post-traumatic stress disorder made headlines across this country, ended his life.

Francis, a 21-year veteran of the Mounties, was on medical leave from his job with the RCMP's J Division in New Brunswick when his death occurred.

Sadly, his death comes during a week when the spotlight is squarely on mental illness in Canada.

Oct. 5 to 11 in Canada is Mental Illness Awareness Week, an annual national public education campaign designed to help Canadians open their eyes to the reality of mental illness.

[continues 336 words]

With clever names like Peace of Mind, Girl Scout Cookies, Train Wreck and Tsunami, it's a good bet that the marketers of legal marijuana finished high school. That's less certain for their younger customers.

New research shows daily marijuana use before the age of 17 cuts your chances of graduating from high school or getting a college degree by 60 per cent.

And that info's just the tip of the joint. Now that marijuana is legal for recreational use in Washington and Colorado, and for medical purposes in 19 other states plus the District of Columbia, scientists are able to study the drug more closely.

[continues 161 words]

Editor: I am writing with regard to MP Sean Casey's recently announced stance in favour of decriminalizing marijuana.

The interview on Compass last week was lawyer-like in content, stressing only one side of an argument, namely the early results of Colorado's recent legalization, $77 million in tax revenues and the seeming disappearance of criminal gang involvement in the marijuana portion of the drug trade.

As an MP I feel you had an obligation to also have stressed, but utterly failed to do so, that of course a substantial portion of that $77 million in taxes as well as the cost of the marijuana would have come from individuals dependent on the drug to the point that the welfare of their families in terms of food, rent and mortgages may have suffered; that many of the now more numerous 'users' would go on to harder drugs in which the criminal element "would" be involved, and that no doubt as the health-care system on P.E.I. has found, many of these users would become addicts who seek the help of expensive counseling and medicinal drugs in recovery attempts.

[continues 66 words]

To the Editor,

Island Liberal MP Sean Casey's interview on CBC last week was lawyer-like in content, stressing only one side of an argument, namely the early results of Colorado's recent legalization, $77 million in tax revenues and the seeming disappearance of criminal gang involvement in the marijuana portion of the drug trade.

As an MP I feel he had an obligation to also have stressed, but utterly failed to do so, that of course a substantial portion of that $77 million in taxes as well as the cost of the marijuana would have come from individuals dependant on the drug to the point that the welfare of their families in terms of food, rent and mortgages may have suffered; that many of the now more numerous "users" would go on to harder drugs in which the criminal element "would" be involved, and that no doubt as the health care system on P.E.I. has found, many of these users would become addicts who seek the help of expensive counselling and medicinal drugs in recovery attempts.

[continues 66 words]

Editor:

The debate rages, once again, on the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana. There are good arguments from both sides. But waving the promise of millions of tax dollars in front of cash-strapped governments (as a commentary in your paper today does) seems like the top of a long and slippery slope.

What's next? Legalized brothels such as the state of Nevada? If marijuana becomes a staple of income under government control, it will only be a matter of time before that income levels off. Similar to VLTs, now they allow them to be operated on Sundays as well because the cash flow peaked. When I bartended years ago, they kept shutting down our one VLT. Then some wizard in government said 'what are we doing? Let's legalize it and tax it.'

[continues 60 words]

Tax revenue alone will overcome any reluctance from cash-strapped governments

The Harper government's response to Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau's plan to legalize marijuana has been predictably dismissive and partisan. Unfortunately for the government, public support for the young Liberal leader's plan is growing. Despite obvious reservations, is there a conservative case for the legalization of marijuana?

I'll admit, right off the bat, that as a non-smoker (and allergic) I find the prospect of more smoke in the air (marijuana or otherwise) appalling. And, clearly, like conventional cigarettes, there are serious health problems associated with pot. Increased pot use will create victims of vulnerable young people and undermine the health of the nation. It will also compound the problem of driver impairment; driving under the influence of drugs is no less hazardous than with alcohol.

[continues 628 words]

Editor:

The present debate on legalization of marijuana is important, interesting and was held about 100 years ago with regard to liquor; those in favour of wide-open liquor availability winning the fight. So what's the big deal now with marijuana?

There are those who would quibble and point out that alcohol causes thousands of alcohol-related deaths annually in North America; many of those killed being innocent and sober victims of the drinkers. These same quibblers would no doubt also point out that health problems related to alcohol abuse cost our health systems dearly and that the societal cost to families affected by an alcoholic member is incalculable.

[continues 257 words]

Marc Emery a powerful force for liberty in Canada

It's not often that I disagree with Globe and Mail columnist Margaret Wente, but her recent column on Marc Emery (Pot still fails the sniff test) triggered one of those rare occasions.

Unlike the "Prince of Pot", I don't use marijuana. I never have, and probably never will, even if it were to become legal for recreational use.

But then, I don't use alcohol either. Slowing down my brain just isn't my cup of tea.

[continues 679 words]

Can armageddon be far off, Prime Minister Stephen Harper must wonder today? The New York Times took the extraordinary position earlier this week of calling on the U.S. government to repeal the ban on marijuana. The Times said, "It took 13 years for the United States to come to its senses and end Prohibition, 13 years in which people kept drinking, otherwise law-abiding citizens became criminals and crime syndicates arose and flourished. It has been more than 40 years since Congress passed the current ban on marijuana, inflicting great harm on society just to prohibit a substance far less dangerous than alcohol. The federal government should repeal the ban on marijuana." Federal Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, who has called for a similar change in Canada, has his chest puffed out just a little bit more today.

[continues 106 words]

First off, let's get one thing straight: in the debate over immigration policy in the United States, people toss around phrases such as "illegal immigrants" or "undocumented immigrants."

You're not an immigrant unless you've legally entered a country. The Latin Americans crossing the Mexican-American border are, depending on the case, either economic migrants or refugees.

Also, the immigration discussion in the U.S. revolves around the issue of national identity. Few Americans, including right-wing Republicans, are opposed to people arriving from Asia, the Caribbean, or Europe, no matter their ethnicity or colour.

[continues 667 words]

When Cheech and Chong lit up the movie screens with their marijuana-fogged dialogue - "Hey man, how's my driving?" "I think we're parked, man" - they probably never imagined cannabis would become legal.

But today more than 20 states have authorized medical marijuana, while Colorado and Washington have legalized it for personal use.

So we say it's time to back up (carefully) and take a look at the health risks associated with recreational use (addressing medical use is for another column).

[continues 191 words]

Mayor stays silent on meeting with residents of Brows Lane

Charlottetown residents left shocked by last week's murder have banded together in wake of the tragedy to tackle the issues of drugs, safety and security in the city.

Residents living close to the scene of last weekend's murder at 182 Brows Lane, as well as the mayor, two city councillors and at least one MLA, met at an undisclosed location Sunday night to discuss the incident.

However, exactly what was discussed in the closed meeting is still unclear.

[continues 492 words]

Minister Defends His Record On Actions Taken To Address Addiction Epidemic

Less than 24 hours after 100 Islanders held a tearful rally for more addictions services, Health Minister Doug Currie faced questions about why he left $ 1 million unspent in his addictions and mental health budget last year.

Opposition MLA James Aylward asked Currie Wednesday how he would explain this unspent money to family members of addicted Islanders who shared their difficult and painful stories on the steps of Province House Wednesday evening.

[continues 558 words]

Premier Commits To Building Addictions Facility If Recommended By Mental Health And Addictions Officer

"People are dying - there's no treatment here for people that are suffering with mental illness and addiction," a mother told a crowd of supporters during a protest at Province House Tuesday.

Dianne Young organized the protest in an attempt to push lawmakers in P. E. I. into doing more to provide services for Islanders struggling with addictions.

Young's son, Lennon Waterman, is believed to have taken his own life in November as a result of an addiction to prescription drugs.

[continues 577 words]

The mother of a man believed to have taken his own life as a result of drug addiction will stage a protest Tuesday in the hopes of getting government to provide more services for addicted Islanders.

Dianne Young's son Lennon Waterman would have turned 30 on Monday. He has been missing since early November.

Young believes he took his own life by leaping into the cold North River. RCMP found his clothes on the North River causeway after receiving reports of a man on the causeway the night of Nov. 8, 2013.

[continues 297 words]

Editor: (Re: Wayne Young column -- Fine, decriminalize or legalize marijuana etc.).

There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and protecting children from drugs. Decriminalization acknowledges the social reality of marijuana and spares users lifelong criminal records. What's really needed is a legally regulated market with age controls. Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical.

As long as organized crime controls marijuana distribution, consumers will come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like cocaine, meth and heroin. Marijuana prohibition is a gateway drug policy. It makes no sense to waste tax dollars on failed marijuana policies that finance organized crime and facilitate the use of hard drugs.

Robert Sharpe, Policy Analyst,

Common Sense for Drug Policy,

Washington, D.C.

[end]

Ever since Liberal leader Justin Trudeau told students - and the national media - in Charlottetown he supports its legalization, marijuana has been dominating news headlines here.

In an interview with Huffington Post a few months later, Trudeau said he smoked marijuana several times, most recently three years ago after he was elected to the House of Commons.

Then everyone wanted to know what other MPs might have sampled the mood- altering drug that's currently illegal to use in Canada - other than for medicinal purposes.

[continues 704 words]

Investors Hope to Open by Fall

The P. E. I. BioCommons will soon get a new tenant after a local business owner confirmed plans to open a medical marijuana production facility in Charlottetown.

Edwin Jewell, owner of Jewell's Country Market in York, confirmed Monday he is one of 10 investors in the new operation that he hopes will be inspected and running by the fall.

Jewell said he was interested in the business because at the heart of the operation, it was about growing plants, which is something he has been doing for most of his life, and providing an alternative to some medications.

[continues 303 words]

Prince Edward Island RCMP have decided to take an international drug education program and tailor it to suit the needs of Island youth. The move makes a lot of sense because the one currently being offered in Island schools is based in the United States.

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) is a comprehensive school-based drug prevention program taught by police officers to children at the Grade 5 level. The DARE officers partner with classroom teachers to build protective factors for children by providing information and social skills needed to live drug- and violence-free.

[continues 384 words]