There is both bad news and good news for three men convicted in a massive marijuana grow operation on the Pasqua First Nation.

After contemplating the matter for more than a year, the Court of Appeal has decided to uphold the men's convictions -- but it has also declined to increase their prison sentences.

Chester Girard and brothers Lawrence and Robert Agecoutay were charged after a bust on the Pasqua First Nation in August 2005 turned up thousands of marijuana plants in a sophisticated grow operation. Documents at the scene estimated a possible profit of $3 million, but police said the value of the illicit crop could be more than $7 million.

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Editor The Herald RE: Dog to teach the ABCs of avoiding drugs (Herald, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2009).

The most effective demonstration is showing children they no longer have any Charter rights and live in a police state.

Please pee in the cup, thank you.

Dave Lane Santa Cruz, Calif.

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Editor:

The great lie of legalizing marijuana would save us millions, end the gangs, prostitution crime and make us all a happy and safe society is a joke.

As Mr. Barth stated that even a 10 year old could the math and history. Let's take a good look at what happened to organized crime when the running of booze ended after Probation. All the mobsters, gang member and assorted lowlifes gave up and went legit right? They tossed aside their wicked ways and embraced society. Well maybe if you smoke enough dope you would buy that.

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Editor:

RE: Marijuana grow operation busted

The people happiest about this bust are the 90-95% of growers who will never be caught. Think about that: If the police busted twice as many grows every year, they would still only get about 20% of them. A fifth. Probably less.

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. Not only is the illegality of pot the very thing that makes growing it so lucrative, the police are subsidizing the entire industry by busting a minority of them.

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To the Editor:

Thought you might want to be aware of this. Yesterday the Government announced funding for the Canadian Schizophrenia Society to study Marijuana and mental health.

The problem, is that instead of a credible research organization, this is a group led by an unpublished, inexperienced researcher, without the credentials to undertake such a study.

What is interesting, is he does happen to be an Evangelical Christian.

When our esteemed Prime Minister is so openly discussing his desire for a Majority, this kind of thing is exactly what Canadians need to know.

Jacob Hunter, Policy Director, Beyond Prohibition Foundation.

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Editor: The Herald How dichotomous can it get ... In the Aug. 19 edition of the Prince Albert Daily Herald, your reporter Tessa Holloway reported on a "non-event" to happen Aug. 27, namely a visit by Marc Emery promoting that "breaking the law" is OK.

Breaking the law is breaking the law - whether it is child abuse or the use of marijuana. Why give this fellow publicity he does not deserve?

Moreover, the dichotomy lies in the fact that in that same paper of Aug. 19, on the front page, another article showed that "science has shown that cannabis (marijuana) may actually trigger the onset of psychosis and may also intensify the symptoms of those who already have a psychotic illness."

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Harm reduction has been shown to curb the spread of HIV, but controversy begins when there is talk about needle exchanges.

"It is a contentious issue and I think many people feel that the supply of needles actually drives the demand. It's actually completely the other way around," said Dr. Moira McKinnon, the province's chief medical health officer.

A group of people using cocaine, which gives a short high, will inject up to 20 times a day on average, McKinnon said.

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Marcel Dagenais's shoe crushed a syringe casing while the smell of urine and body odour wafted around him.

"There's all these paths around the bush here, and here's where the needles start," he said.

A few days ago, Dagenais was taking his dogs for a walk and decided to venture into a wooded section near the 100 block of 18th Street West.

He was expecting a few needles and casings. Instead he found a massive amount of needles, not to mention a makeshift bed, mouthwash bottles and hairspray containers.

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Saskatchewan's HIV rates are causing concern throughout the medical community, bringing forward comparisons with developing nations.

"Over the past five years you have seen the rates stabilize in sub-Saharan Africa ... it has done the killing and now it has stabilized. That was the bubble bursting," said Dr. Khami Chokani, medical health officer of the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region, who's worked in countries across southern Africa.

"If you think decimating the African population was bad ... HIV in this province will kill 15 to 30 per cent (of the aboriginal population). Not all at one time, but over a five-to10-year period."

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Addictions through injection drug use account for more than 65 per cent of the new cases of HIV in Saskatchewan.

Herald photo by Angela HillAddiction and injection drug use is the main reason for the province's increasing HIV rate.

" There has to be more emphasis put on the area of addictions. As you know, a lot of the HIV is still connected to intravenous drug use and as a result addictions also has to be a part of the equation when coming up with a solution," said Glen Pratt, third vice-chief for health and social development with the Federation for Saskatchewan Indian Nations.

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Local Woman Charged With Possession and Production

The debate over the legalization of marijuana came to the steps of city hall last week. A group of marijuana activists came to protest in support of Linda Maddaford. The Yorkton resident was recently charged with possession and production of controlled substances after her home was searched by RCMP officers, and her plants and growing equipment were seized.

Maddaford argues that due to health problems, she should be allowed to grow her plants, and that marijuana helps with her pain. Maddaford is diagnosed with mechanical back pain, myofascial pain syndrome onset spondylosis, degenerative arthritis and a right rotary cuff disorder.

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Prince Albert will get a visit from a different sort of royalty next week: "Prince of Pot" Marc Emery.

Emery will be speaking at Kinsmen Park on marijuana legalization on Aug. 27, less than a month before the activist will go to Seattle to plead guilty to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, where he will likely face five years in prison.

Emery plans to talk about his experience and why he feels the prohibition of marijuana causes more harm than good in what will be the secondlast stop on his cross-country " farewell tour."

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The Government of Saskatchewan will invest nearly $1 million in addictions treatment for offenders this year through an agreement between Corrections, Public Safety and Policing (CPSP) and Regional Health Authorities.

"Substance abuse is one of the major contributing factors to offending," Corrections, Public Safety and Policing Minister Yogi Huyghebaert said. "This funding will help keep our communities safe by giving more offenders the chance to beat their addictions and become productive members of society."

"This partnership will allow addictions treatment to meet the needs of youth and young adults who are in custody and transitioning into the community," Health Minister Don McMorris said.

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Born near the end of the baby boomer generation, I always felt ripped off. When the British invasion swept music, I was in kindergarten. I don't remember the Beatles appearing on Ed Sullivan and don't have a clue where I was when JFK was shot.

During the "summer of love" I had to be at home in bed every night by 8:30 p.m.

The other day, now in this summer of 2009, an interesting collision of past and present occurred when a young guy stopped me in a crosswalk.

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Addict Sentenced For Pharmacy Robbery

The case of a crack addict who stole a cash register from a drugstore while on a six-day binge in January reflects the problem associated with a sudden explosion in the availability of crack cocaine, a Saskatoon police drug investigator says.

Gary L. Sholer, 35, hadn't slept in about six days when he entered the pharmacy at the Avalon shopping centre, with his face covered by a ski mask, and ripped the till from the counter, defence lawyer Graham Dove said.

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When I moved to Swift Current one year ago I was amazed by a city which was changing. There were new businesses, new attitudes - to me Swift Current was the little city that could, a city of new promises. Now, Swift Current is changing once again. It is growing to the next level. It is growing in community awareness and it is empowering to be part of that growth.

Right now, we are realizing our community - our family - is facing a serious problem.

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Alberta records its largest cocaine seizure in that province's history while British Columbia battles crime networks smuggling cocaine into that province from the United States, Mexico and South America.

While Regina is among Canadian cities that have experienced an increase in cocaine, the Regina Integrated Drug Unit has not seen a significant increase, a Regina Police Service spokeswoman said.

"There really hasn't been a change in patterns that we can tell," Elizabeth Popowich said, although she admitted there has been "just a gradual increase in the past several years."

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Huffing, ecstasy, cocaine and marijuana all make the grade amongst many of Swift Current's youth. The scary news, drug use seems to be on the rise.

A group of concerned citizens in Swift Current have sat up and taken notice. They want to call the community's attention to the rising issue of substance abuse in the city.

On June 9, a community forum will be held to identify the local supports and resources available for the community to create an informed response to alcohol and drug abuse.

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SGI Outfits Police Plane With Thermal Imaging Camera

City police have another eye in the sky, with the addition of thermal imaging to their surveillance aircraft.

The round, glassy black ball turns in its socket, attached to the side of a neatly painted white and blue Cessna. The rotating camera feeds into a screen inside the plane, which was controlled by Const. Aaron Piprell on Monday. His job is to monitor the Saskatoon Police Service's newly installed $300,000 thermal imaging camera.

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I write in response to the April 23 article "Pot is like currency". According to federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson, the street value of cannabis is being used to lubricate the drug trade. Perhaps Nicholson might also care to discuss the other businesses and departments that are lubricated by cannabis prohibition. The value of cannabis in the underground market is staggering, which raises a question: why not regulate the substance, thereby taking the money, power and control out of the hands of the criminals?

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