Fears legalization may 'normalize' use of marijuana

Teenagers who go from occasional pot smoking to weekly or daily use are two-and-a-half times more likely to have recurrent psychotic-like experiences, a new Montreal study says.

And with legalization of recreational marijuana in Canada less than a year away, the study's senior author says governments are ill-prepared for the fact that adolescents will interpret the policy change as proof it's OK to smoke pot.

"Our data show that transitioning to daily or weekly use of cannabis very significantly increases adolescents' risk of having more exaggerated and more frequent psychotic-like experiences," Patricia Conrod, a professor at the Universite de Montreal's psychiatry department, said in an interview.

[continues 411 words]

On school corridor and feared too close to Marguerite-Bourgeoys elementary

Parents at a downtown Montreal elementary school say a safe-injection site in their neighbourhood should be moved.

In September, Spectre de rue, an intervention centre for drug users, will begin operating a supervised injection site. The centre is on the corner of Ontario St. and Visitation Ave., about 200 metres from the Marguerite-Bourgeoys elementary school.

The parents are circulating a petition calling for the site to be moved to a location outside of the school corridor, a route designated by the city for children to walk safely to school.

[continues 440 words]

After years of lobbying for safe injection sites, outreach workers at Cactus Montreal have opened a facility that will allow people to use intravenous drugs under medical supervision.

Drugs users began entering the site on Berger St. in downtown Montreal on Monday afternoon, injecting drugs in the presence of a nurse and staff member.

"This is an important tool to reduce deaths and avoid infections," said Sandhia Vadlamudy, the executive director of Cactus. "We have been waiting for this for a long time."

[continues 432 words]

Montrealers have a well-earned reputation as a society of bon vivants with our abundant terrasses, fun festivals and depanneurs stocked with beer.

But with the countdown on to the legalization of marijuana in Canada, which is scheduled to happen just over a year from now, on July 1, 2018, Quebecers are raining on the parade.

It started with the Quebec government, expressing skepticism about the social costs versus the anticipated windfalls. Quebec's public health institute has raised red flags about potential harm from stoned driving or the effects of cannabis on developing brains. And now the concern apparently extends to ordinary citizens, who have expressed serious reservations about the implications of permitting recreational pot use compared to other Canadians.

[continues 699 words]

Drug use in jail is a reality and reducing harm is vital, say Richard Elliott and Rick Lines.

Almost one-third of federal prisoners reported using drugs during the past six months.

In December 2016, federal Health Minister Jane Philpott committed her government to a new national drug strategy that reinstates harm reduction as a non-negotiable pillar. It was a welcome announcement, signalling a modest shift away from the last decade's emphasis on prohibition and punishment - policies that continue to kill people who use drugs in Canada.

[continues 590 words]

If all goes according to the Liberal government's recently announced plan, marijuana will be legal for adults in Canada as of July 1, 2018. This is a welcome reversal of Canada's 80-year prohibition on pot, which has never managed to control the demand for the recreational drug and left a black market in the hands of organized crime. But while the necessary legislative and practical preparations are undertaken, it remains a crime for Canadians to possess even small amounts for personal consumption. This creates unnecessary problems. It is senseless to go ahead with criminal charges for an offence that will no longer be a crime in a matter of months, wasting precious court resources in a justice system already struggling to handle more serious cases in a timely manner. It is also grossly unfair. Saddling people with criminal records for something legislators are the process of legitimizing has devastating consequences. Yet that's exactly what's been happening for years. Prime! Minister Justin Trudeau has cited this injustice as one of the reasons for finally legalizing pot.

[continues 263 words]

Far from putting Canadians at risk, the move will be beneficial, Jerry Golick says.

I would prefer to have a child experimenting with cannabis rather than with booze or tobacco.

Far from putting Canadians at higher risk, as Benjamin Anson suggested in his opinion article earlier this week ("Legalization of marijuana is courting disaster" April 18), the national legalization of cannabis will provide a much safer society, as well as innumerable other benefits.

The experience of jurisdictions that have legalized cannabis suggests there is little change in consumption rates post-legalization. Generally speaking, anyone wishing access to cannabis in a pre-legalization landscape can easily obtain it today. All we are changing is from whom it is purchased.

[continues 565 words]

Re: "City will ensure it gets share of taxes" (Montreal Gazette, April 20)

The ink is not even dry on the legislation to legalize marijuana and already Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre has plans to demand his share. It is time to send a clear message to all levels of government that we are all adults and do not need advice from self-serving politicians.

Let the government pass the legislation and then see how it is received. I suggest using the restaurant model. A permit is issued to sell the legal product and allowing the government to do spot inspections, to ensure the vendor is in full compliance with the law. Why Quebec has to complicate a simple situation is unbelievable.

[continues 82 words]

When young Justin Trudeau announced during has election campaign that a Liberal government would legalize the personal possession of marijuana for recreational purposes, the overall political impact could best be described as a collective response somewhere between indifference to "it's about time." For most, the issue of marijuana legalization was pretty low on totem pole of concerns, given more pressing issues. At most, the proposal helped solidify young Justin's reputation as a hip, modern alternative to the depressing crankiness of his predecessor.

[continues 978 words]

So, you've decided you're going to start smoking pot again. Congratulations! First, though, stop calling it "pot." These days, the cool kids call it "weed," and that's 30 percent the point of this entire exercise, right? To be cool again, just like you were in your twenties when you wore a bandana and regularly smoking doobies.

Don't say "doobies." Or wear a bandana.

Getting the lingo down is just one of the many things you'll have to relearn after these many, many years since you last smoked the ganja. (Do not say "the ganja.")

[continues 661 words]

"Far out, man!" That's likely what teenaged me would have said if a visitor from the future had said Prime Minister Trudeau had legalized marijuana in 2018. Then I might have said "What? Trudeau is still prime minister?" Then, "Wow, this is some boss weed if I'm talking to some dude from the future." I might have added "Hey, visitor, when did the Leafs win their next Cup?"

Truth be told, your scribe was not much of stoner in his youth, though he effected some of the look and lifestyle. Long hair. Check. Tie-dyed shirts. Check. Bare-foot summers. Check. But a regular consumer of marijuana products? Pas a mon gout. Didn't really have the mental constitution for it. In fact, it's always been a mystery, and the subject of mountains of research, how people react differently when tetrahydrocannabinol hits their bloodstream.

[continues 555 words]

Tweets take aim at Ottawa

Quebec Health Minister Gaetan Barrette took to social media on Sunday to complain that Ottawa's marijuana legalization drops plenty of responsibilities on the provinces but little in the way of money.

Barrette, who has been decidedly cool to the Trudeau government's plan to legalize recreational marijuana use, wrote on his Twitter account that "Fed Libs political anthem: High visibility, low cost (to them). Always. Latest example? Pot legalization."

The minister then went on to muse over whether the provinces should get a share of any federal tax revenue generated by legal marijuana sales, writing "Pot: all consequences and responsibilities being imposed on PTs shoulders shouldn't fed taxes also be transferred to PTs!"

[continues 123 words]

As an employer and father, Benjamin Anson is alarmed

As an employer and father to three young children, I am alarmed by the federal government's plan to legalize marijuana.

There is already a deadly opioid crisis underway, but the government remains fixated on making marijuana freely available. The legalization of marijuana is a far more drastic, normalizing step than decriminalization would ever be.

Legalization will encourage marijuana use, thereby putting all Canadians at risk.

Marijuana is already being openly marketed in anticipation of legalization. If this statement sounds far-fetched, then look out for the billboards that already loom over Montreal streets advertising a website that indicates where marijuana can be bought.

[continues 555 words]

Longtime advocate says legalization process puts 'fox in charge of hen house'

Jodie Emery fought the law and the law won.

At least, that's the short version of how things went down when Emery and her husband Marc tried to open five illegal marijuana dispensaries in Montreal last December.

Hours after the dispensaries' carnival-like grand opening, the Emerys were in handcuffs and police shut down all of their storefronts. Though Emery had escaped the initial crackdown, undercover officers caught up to her at a downtown hotel.

[continues 844 words]

Will you be able to pick up a bag of pot at a Societe du cannabis du Quebec, run by the same people who sell you wine and scotch?

Employees of the province's liquor stores - the Societe des alcools du Quebec (SAQ) - hope so.

But Montreal's public-health system is dead set against that idea, suggesting the SAQ should not be a model because it promotes the use of alcohol to fill government coffers.

On Thursday, Ottawa announced its long-awaited legalization plan, saying it wants to provide regulated access to recreational cannabis no later than July 2018.

[continues 509 words]

Province wants cash to implement new policing, prevention responsibilities

Show us the money. The Quebec government said Thursday it is disappointed in the federal government's long awaited plan to legalize recreational marijuana.

Not only is Ottawa's plan vague and full of holes, it off-loads a whole new series of responsibilities and problems - from the need for more policing to the creation of prevention programs - onto the provinces, said Public Health Minister Lucie Charlebois.

Worse, it fails to pledge the money to cover the enormous cost of applying the plan.

[continues 528 words]

Re: "Trudeau's pot legalization a headache for Quebec" (Montreal Gazette, April 13)

Certain politicians seem not to be in touch with their constituents, or even reality, on the subject of marijuana legalization.

Some are saying legalizing pot would not reduce the effect of organized crime on this industry.

Are they for real?

If the federal government goes ahead with what's proposed and prices this product properly, the black market for pot will simply dry up.

It seems it's popular these days for politicians to say outlandish things so they can appear on TV instead of proposing reasonable ideas that are less sensationalistic.

Let's listen to our candidates - and vote them out of office when need be.

Alex Wilson, Montreal

[end]

Logistics are complicated, but province fears the social costs

The province will table its own legislation in response to Ottawa's plans to legalize recreational marijuana and is forming a common front with Ontario to draft an action plan to deal with the expected sweeping negative social consequences.

Emerging from a meeting of cabinet where the federal government's plan was analyzed at length, Public Health and Youth Protection Minister Lucie Charlebois said Quebec is moving rapidly to respond to deepening concerns - inside government and out - about the increased availability of pot.

[continues 1031 words]

Tomorrow, the Liberal Government of Justin Trudeau is expected to fulfill one of its most well-publicised campaign promises and present its much anticipated legislation to legalize the possession and use of cannabis for recreational purposes. Why they couldn't wait another week until April 20 (420) is a question worth pondering, but then again, that might have required a sense of humour.

The history of drug prohibition in Canada goes back to the early 20th Century when authorities became concerned about the use of certain substances among Asian immigrant communities. Marijuana was added to the ever-increasing list of banned substances in the 1920s and once again, race was an integral component. Drug use became associated with decadence, jazz, racial mixing, and sexual license - all things designed to send shivers through middle-class society and its concept of propriety.

[continues 951 words]

Federal, provincial governments could earn $675M in 2018: study

What we want is a rigorous legislative framework so we can protect the population and especially our youth.

Unhappy that it could become more of a problem than it's worth, the Quebec government is encouraging Ottawa to tread lightly and with caution with its plans to legalize marijuana.

On the other hand, a new C.D. Howe study shows the federal and provincial government could rake in huge revenues - $675 million in 2018 alone - as long as they don't get greedy on taxes and drive buyers to the black market.

[continues 658 words]

With the federal government expected to legalize recreational marijuana use by 2018, Indigenous people across Turtle Island are trying to stay one jump ahead of the competition.

The National Indigenous Medical Cannabis Association (NIMCA) was officially launched on Saturday in Tyendinaga, with the goal to promote and defend Indigenous peoples relationship with cannabis.

"We are not allowing the Canadian government to regulate the Indigenous medical cannabis industry. You know who is going to regulate that? Indians," said Brian Marquis, who was elected at the president of NIMCA's Ontario chapter.

[continues 806 words]

Task force recommendations on marketing of marijuana are too restrictive, Marc Solby says.

Spring has sprung and along with crocus blooms, Canadians are eagerly awaiting the legislation to create and govern the recreational cannabis market. In April 2016, Health Minister Jane Philpott announced a deadline of spring 2017 to bring in legislation. That time is now.

We hope that the government is developing legislation that is bolder and more practical than the cautious and naive recommendations issued nearly four months ago by its task force looking at the issue. The task force, with its emphasis on law enforcement, failed to imagine and embrace a legal, recreational market. Instead, it chose an approach that is needlessly restricting and controlling. It seeks to create a market to sell cannabis, but wants to sell the least amount possible, essentially trying to suck and blow at the same time.

[continues 535 words]

The Liberal government's plan to move ahead on marijuana legalization is up in smoke, NDP leadership candidates suggested during Sunday's leadership debate in Montreal while they also addressed a range of issues affecting youth including student debt and precarious work.

B.C. MP Peter Julian, one of four contenders in the race to replace Tom Mulcair as NDP leader, said the federal government has failed to keep its 2015 campaign pledge to legalize and regulate pot for recreational purposes.

[continues 493 words]

A large number of Canadians let out a cough of relief this week as the Trudeau government announced that it will finally reveal its intentions with regard to legalization of the recreational use of marijuana within the next few weeks that will come into effect on July 1, 2018 (Cannabis Day?).

Although final details of the plan have yet to be released, informed sources are saying that the Bill will reflect the recommendations of a Parliamentary committee headed by former Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair and will allow (force?) provincial governments to set up the kind of regimes they want in order to comply with the law.

[continues 929 words]

Dr. Mark Ware has been studying the safe and effective use of medical marijuana for 16 years. His research is done at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). Last June, Ware was named vice-chair of the federal task force studying the recreational use of marijuana. So he has studied the subject of cannabis from both ends of the spectrum.

When told that a 40,000-square-foot medical marijuana production facility was poised to open in Pointe-Claire, he put on his research cap.

[continues 204 words]

The mother of a teenage girl who was subjected to a strip search at l'Ecole secondaire de Neufchatel has dropped a lawsuit requesting damages of $383,000 against the Quebec City school board and the school's administration.

A settlement was reached between the parties early this month, Le Soleil reports. The civil court case was scheduled to begin Feb. 20 before Judge Daniel Dumais of the Superior Court.

The girl's mother obtained the consent of the school board to drop the case without being subjected to any fees after two years and multiple judiciary procedures. The lawyers of both parties confirmed the settlement, but were unwilling to provide reasons.

[continues 65 words]

Health Canada has given Montreal approval to open three supervised drug injection sites, making it only the second city in the country to have the facilities on its territory.

Canada's health ministry made the decision partly in an effort to stem the opioid overdose crisis racking British Columbia and several regions of the United States.

Montreal's public health authorities, drug counselling organizations and its mayor have been lobbying for the sites for years, arguing they save lives and reduce drug consumption in public spaces, making communities safer. They have been stymied by critics, including the previous Conservative government, who argued the sites would increase crime rates and promote drug use. The Liberal government of Justin Trudeau has voiced its support for the sites, and in December eased strict restrictions against opening them imposed by the previous administration.

[continues 621 words]

Health Canada has approved three supervised consumption sites for Montreal - the first federal approvals for the harm-reduction facilities outside of Vancouver as Ottawa presses forward in its response to Canada's overdose crisis.

Montreal has waited two years for federal sign-off on the sites, during which fatal overdoses linked to illicit fentanyl have surged in parts of Canada, notably British Columbia and Alberta. The federal department announced the approvals on Monday, noting that such sites have shown positive results in Canada and other countries.

[continues 525 words]

Clinic involved in one-year study of marijuana in managing chronic pain

Gilles Richard doesn't harbour any illusions about his disease.

It has latched itself to his lungs, his bones and he fears it will eventually seep its way into his brain. Over time, he says, the sickness will prevail.

"I like to say I just want five good years," says Richard, a retired physicist. "But it could be three, it could be two . ... I won't take anything for granted."

[continues 1044 words]

A new chain of Montreal-area medicinal marijuana clinics hasn't yet opened, but its methods are already being challenged by Quebec's college of physicians.

And while the man behind these clinics says he's complying with the rules outlined by Health Canada's medicinal cannabis program, he also admits that some of the doctors he works with are based out of province and will prescribe the drug via Skype teleconference.

This practice is illegal, according to the College des medecins du Quebec.

[continues 636 words]