Legalizing a drug like marijuana will not stop young people from using it, it will increase consumption.

Kevin Page, the Parliamentary budget officer, estimates 600,000 new users will start using marijuana if it becomes legal in Canada.

Marijuana is extremely dangerous for user aged 14-25 since the teenage brain is developing.

I love my family; we don't use drugs, I love my city, Charlottetown, I don't want the citizens using drugs.

Same goes for my province and great country Canada.

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UPEI engineering students have designed and developed a THC breathalyzer device

A group of UPEI engineering students has come up with a way to help detect levels of marijuana in drivers.

The students designed and developed a prototype, handheld THC detection device.

But before they consider taking the product or a technological aspect to market, they have some unfinished business to take care of.

"We're going to concentrate on graduating first. And then after that, we'll see what happens," said Bryce Stewart of Wood Islands.

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There's a dirty little secret about legalized marijuana, one that could become an issue in neighbourhoods across the country.

Well, maybe it would be better to describe it as a stinky little secret, but one that's likely to become very familiar - and maybe too familiar.

Weed, both smoked and unsmoked, is more pungent than it once was. It's gone through decades of horticultural experimentation to strengthen its kick. And there's likely to be a lot more of that pungent to go around once smoking a joint isn't a criminal offence anymore.

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The recent announcement by the provincial government that marijuana use will be restricted to private residences to help limit its impact on communities and public health ignores the rights of children to protection from second-hand smoke in their homes.

Marijuana smoke is a recognized carcinogen and as with exposure to tobacco smoke, can cause serious health risks for those involved. Nearly one-third of deaths from tobacco second-hand smoke exposure are children, many of whom are infants.

Pamela McColl,

Vancouver

[end]

The federal Liberal Trudeau government has been exposed as to why marijuana is being legalized, so called.

The feds and provinces have been busy "cutting up the cash" to pay for the new healthcare and policing expenses which will be generated by the "weed."

Why generate the need for new expenses by the indiscriminate use of marijuana? Governments have gone mad.

Garth E. Staples, Charlottetown

[end]

Opposition Tories press for details on rollout of government-run cannabis stores

The province appears to be keeping details of its business plans for selling legal pot in P.E.I. close to its chest for the time being, promising more specifics in the coming months. The Opposition Progressive Conservatives pressed for more details on government's plans, announced last week, to sell legal cannabis in government-run, standalone stores operated by the P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission.

On Friday, Finance critic Darlene Compton questioned Finance Minister Allen Roach on what the start-up costs would be for these stores. She also wanted to know how many stores will open in P.E.I. and what the projected revenues will be for the province?

[continues 490 words]

It's funny how quickly a criminal enterprise can turn into a legitimate business opportunity. As a federal Conservative politician, even as late as 2015, Julian Fantino was opposed to the legalization of marijuana.

In 2004, he even compared weed to murder in an interview with the Toronto Sun, saying, "I guess we can legalize murder too and then we won't have a murder case. We can't go that way."

Now, he's partnered with former RCMP deputy commissioner Raf Souccar to open a medical marijuana business, Aleafia Total Health Network.

[continues 407 words]

The P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission is a good choice for managing Prince Edward Island's new marijuana stores. The LCC is well equipped for developing policy and providing oversight.

It is also good that the provincial government has decided its pot sales will be conducted from different storefronts than its liquor sales.

It just gets the right message out there: If it is not good for the PEILCC to sell liquor and pot from the same premises, it's not good for a consumer to mix liquor and pot.

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Trudeau still "working with provinces" on legal pot

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is still working with the provinces when it comes to how legal marijuana administration costs will be funded.

During a visit to P.E.I. Thursday, Trudeau said discussions are ongoing on legal cannabis with the provinces after premiers were cool to the idea of splitting the revenue of a proposed excise tax 50-50 with Ottawa.

"We continue to work with all provinces and territories and municipalities to ensure we bring in a strong legalized framework around cannabis in order to protect our kids, in order to keep the criminal organizations and gangs from making the billions of dollars in profits that they are," Trudeau told reporters in P.E.I. Thursday.

[continues 151 words]

I am writing in response to the upcoming legalization of marijuana across Canada.

As a young adult who will experience the impact of this major decision, I do not agree and I hope the government comes to the realization that this will ruin lives.

Legalization of marijuana will result in easier access to the drug, causing an increase in usage.

If you consider the underage drinking problem with alcohol, we will have the same issues with underage marijuana usage.

This worries me specifically for minors, as studies have shown that marijuana usage can affect brain development as well as causing death in brain cells.

[continues 130 words]

Marijuana legalization opponents say long-term health and social costs will be significant

Legalize and tax marijuana and the budget will balance itself. Marijuana advocates from stoners to recreational users to the prime minister have tried to convince us of this for years. But they're all wrong.

It makes some sense that a product so commonly used should be regulated rather than criminalized, sending its newly enabled taxation revenues to the public coffers. Unfortunately, recent federal announcements and the examples of two American states tell us that a fiscal boon from legal pot is nothing more than reefer madness.

[continues 522 words]

In 1969, the Trudeau government removed abortion from the Criminal Code. This action has led to the deaths of over six million unborn Canadians. In 2016, the present Trudeau government legalized the killing (euthanasia) of the elderly, handicapped, depressed etc. and gave individual Canadians the legal right to assisted suicide.

In 2018, this same government will legalize marijuana, totally ignoring - among the other serious side effects - the research that shows the deadly side effects this drug has on the mental and physical health and development of young people. It is a proven fact the continued use of marijuana leads to the use of hard drugs.

[continues 84 words]

I thought about writing something a number of months ago about being against legal pot. The verbal abuse was crazy. I know anything I say or do will not change anyone's mind. You are for legal pot or you are not.

I never dreamed about our government ever being drug dealers. I know it makes sense for it to be legal - extra tax money, less people in jail, new revenue streams for many. Over the last number of years I have talked to a number of people who have been dealing with addiction, and their families trying to help them get past this time in their life. The common thread, however, talking with people dealing with addiction, has been it all started with pot. This isn't from a survey or study, it's from talking with the addict on the street.

[continues 57 words]

With regards to legalization of marijuana, a mind-altering substance, I wonder if our MP's are stunned or stoned? Do these people not see what this stuff is doing to people, families, court systems etc.?

There is a negative that comes out of almost everything associated with this stuff. We have seen it with liquor in the past, now some stoner in Ottawa wants easy access. If you doubt me on this, sit in a courtroom and see how many cases are alcohol/ drug related. Ask any police officers, doctor, judge, etc. what this is doing to people.

[continues 95 words]

The legalization of marijuana in Canada in July 2018 gives the federal government an opportunity to bring communities - including Indigenous ones - into this lucrative sector in a big way.

For example, Manitoba's Opaskwayak Cree Nation recently took a major stake in a medical marijuana company. OCN purchased $3 million in shares in National Access Cannabis, a privately-held company that recently traded publicly for the first time.

Private investors in medical and recreational marijuana are watching intently as the federal government unveils its plans for how pot will be legally grown and sold in Canada.

[continues 448 words]

For a government that likes to tout its commitment to openness and public engagement, the MacLauchlan Liberals' decision to forego public meetings on legalizing cannabis is disappointing.

After all, it was the province that issued a call for opinions from Islanders on how P.E.I. should adapt to federal legislation that will make marijuana legal by July 2018.

"Have your say on cannabis legislation," the P.E.I. government website proclaims. "Share your thoughts on what cannabis legislation should look like for Prince Edward Island."

[continues 430 words]

UPSE supports public model for marijuana

The federal government is set to legalize marijuana in July 2018.

The P.E.I. government indicated that it will introduce legislation to regulate the sale of the product in the spring. Recently, in Ontario the government has chosen to distribute the sale of marijuana through the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO). The government and the province's public sector union agree that having the LCBO regulate the sale of cannabis is the best way to protect minors from purchasing the product, and to ensure quality control and public safety.

[continues 316 words]

P.E.I. could see substantial economic impact through cannabis, says group

Annie MacEachern wants to see P.E.I. become Canada's green province.

MacEachern, a communications consultant, says the province has the opportunity to see a substantial economic impact through cannabis, which is expected to become a multibillion dollar industry once it's legalized across Canada next summer.

However, she said the province must first approach the issue with more education.

"I have a dream of Prince Edward Island becoming Canada's green Island. I really think that growing cannabis here and allowing cannabis tourism should be something that is highlighted on P.E.I.," MacEachern said during the second public discussion in Charlottetown on the upcoming legislative changes.

[continues 568 words]

Liberals election platform vowed to bring in changes to both pot and taxes

The federal Liberals are being castigated in some quarters over two promises they made in the last election. And no, they are not being hammered for breaking their vows. They're being pilloried for keeping them.

Well, pilloried might be too strong, but it is not for lack of trying on behalf of the opposition, especially on the Liberal promise to have some high-earners pay more taxes.

[continues 592 words]

Islander hosting public discussion on legal pot after government says no to public meetings

A local woman is taking matters into her own hands to speak openly about legalizing marijuana after her request to government for a public meeting was denied.

Annie MacEachern says she asked provincial officials about its plans for a public meeting after government released a public engagement survey asking

Islanders for their opinions on how the province should deal with impaired driving, education, taxation, public health and regulatory compliance in regards to legal cannabis.

[continues 414 words]