Although it's too soon to say if Regina is experiencing an upswing in crystal meth, a number of recent arrests and seizures show the drug is still very much a part of the city's drug scene. Sgt. Todd Wall, sergeant in charge of the Regina Integrated Drug Enforcement Street Team (RIDEST), said an investigation into methamphetamine that began between a month and 1 1/2 months ago resulted in searches of six locations and nine arrests over the past couple of weeks. Six of those people are facing charges specifically related to that drug. Other drugs were also seized during the searches, as were a number of weapons - including long guns and handguns - and other items. [continues 475 words]
As of last week, police can search cellphones without a warrant when they make an arrest. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled in this decision in a 4-3 vote with the majority stating that "cellphones are the bread and butter of the drug trade," according to the Globe and Mail. Until now, these types of searches included items such as purses and briefcases. The cellphone search does, however, have to be "tailored to its purpose, which will generally mean that only recent emails, texts, photos and the call log will be available," the Globe and Mail article said. [continues 353 words]
To the editor, Regarding your thoughtful Oct. 14 editorial, there is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and protecting children from drugs. Decriminalization acknowledges the social reality of marijuana and frees users from the stigma of life-shattering criminal records. What's really needed is a regulated market with age controls. Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. As long as organized crime controls marijuana distribution, consumers will continue to come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like cocaine and heroin. [continues 84 words]
Justice Minister Peter MacKay said last week he's surprised by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health's call to legalize marijuana. The Central Nova MP adds the statement contrasts with reports from other health organizations underlining the negative impact of the drug, particularly on the developing brains of children. That's the kind of non-sequitur we expect from government but could do without. The Centre for Addiction fully agrees on the dangers of using marijuana. In that way, it is in step with the other organizations MacKay is referring to. Its call for legalization - along with tightly restricted sales, an age limit and limited availability - has to do with what the organization sees as a failure of existing laws to keep controls on marijuana distribution. Currently, other than medicinal marijuana, it's in the hands of criminals. [continues 192 words]
REGINA - The terminally ill owner of Regina's Vintage Vinyl and Hemp Emporium has already paid a hefty price after police raided his properties and found he was growing more pot than allowed by his existing medical marijuana licence. On Wednesday, Pat Baumet received a further sanction, a six-month conditional sentence to be served in the community. After the frail-looking 53-year-old pleaded guilty to two charges, production and possession of marijuana, federal Crown lawyer Hal Wellsch stayed 14 other charges. [continues 471 words]
The terminally ill owner of Vintage Vinyl and Hemp Emporium has already paid a hefty price after police raided his properties and found he was growing more pot than allowed by his existing medical marijuana licence. On Wednesday, Pat Baumet received a further sanction, a six-month conditional sentence - a jail term he can serve in the community. After the frail-looking 53-year-old man pleaded guilty to two charges - - production and possession of marijuana - federal Crown agent Hal Wellsch stayed 14 other charges. The Crown also stayed all charges pertaining to Baumet's 24-year-old son Dylan and 53-year-old Jocelyne Lucy Fafard that had also been before the court on Wednesday. [continues 454 words]
The University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team is still waiting for final results to be formally released after head coach Brian Towriss ordered a team-wide drug test this spring. TSN reported the testing and subsequent wait Friday and Towriss says he decided to be proactive after ex-Huskie Seamus Neary was charged with marijuana possession for the purpose of trafficking. Towriss says his team could be perceived as "guilty by association" and he wanted to see if there was a broader problem he wasn't aware of. The team invited the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport to test every Huskie for banned substances in March. [continues 367 words]
Thank you for making the case for methadone maintenance in your editorial, Positive news on methadone (SP, Aug. 23). Methadone has been proven to reduce drug use and related crime, death and disease among chronic opioid addicts. Though it is known as a treatment for heroin, methadone is also a viable treatment for addiction to synthetic opiates such as OxyContin. Methadone staves off debilitating withdrawal symptoms, but does not produce a high that prevents people from living productive lives. The tough-on-drugs alternative to harm reduction programs such as methadone maintenance is a threat to public safety. Attempts to limit the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only increase the profitability of trafficking. [continues 64 words]
It's a good thing fumes from the debate about marijuana are not toxic. If they were, we'd surely have a whole new health crisis on our hands 14 months from now, considering the fog of secondhand smoke on the issue that's going to fill the air between now and the federal election next October. The Canadian Medical Association's reaffirmation of the medical dangers of smoking pot - and critics' inevitable rejoinders about the evils of prohibition - give us all an excellent opportunity to prepare ourselves for thoughtfully deciding where we stand on the issue and why exactly we take this position. [continues 407 words]
SASKATOON - Nearly 3,000 people were on methadone treatment in Saskatchewan in 2013 - more than double the number in 2008. Experts say more addicts are seeking help and access to the drug has been increased. Methadone is a synthetic opiate mostly prescribed to wean addicts off other opioids such as heroin, morphine, Oxycodone and Dilaudid. Experts note the drug is cheap, saves lives and decreases the burden addicts put on the health and justice systems. Some regions still lacking "There was a period of time when we could barely keep up with women who were pregnant and people with HIV. I'm happy to say we can expand beyond that now because we have increased capacity," said Dr. Peter Butt, who works with the methadone assisted recovery program in Saskatoon. Now, more doctors are able to prescribe methadone and a former cap on the number of users has been removed. [continues 596 words]
Access, Demand Rising Nearly 3,000 people were on methadone treatment in Saskatchewan in 2013 - more than double the number in 2008. Experts say more addicts are seeking help and access to the drug has been increased. Methadone is a synthetic opiate mostly prescribed to wean addicts off other opioids such as heroin, morphine, Oxycodone and Dilaudid. Experts note the drug is cheap, saves lives and decreases the burden addicts put on the health and justice systems. Some regions still lacking [continues 662 words]
The doubling of the number of methadone users in Saskatchewan over the past five years is as much a good news story as it is one that reflects the problems associated with an economic boom and Canada's lax approach to monitoring the prescribing of opioids. Certainly, it's a positive sign when the number of addicts seeking help to overcome their dependence on everything from heroin and morphine to prescription drugs such as Oxycodone rose to about 2,900 last year from 1,400 in 2008. [continues 444 words]
Oct. 19, 2015 will be known across Canada as Legalization Day to celebrate the much-awaited legalization of marijuana. Well, at least according to Marc Emery, it will be. Well, at least according to Marc Emery, it will be. The self proclaimed Prince of Pot is on a political mission to get Justin Trudeau of the Liberal party elected next year. Why? Because Trudeau has vowed to legalize pot if he's elected. For those who don't know anything about Emery, he's been in the U.S. for the past four years serving time for selling marijuana seeds to American clients from his Vancouver-based company, Cannabis Culture. He's a marijuana advocate and have been an icon to many stoners across the country. [continues 203 words]
Re: Welcome to 'legalized dope-pushing' (SP, July 24). With respect, I must disagree with Dr. Louis Hugo Francescutti, president of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), regarding medical marijuana. His comments in the cited article are misinformed and misleading. After I recently reviewed the medical literature on cannabis for a presentation to my colleagues, I can attest that there are, in fact, hundreds of studies that show the benefits of cannabis in treating conditions as varied as cancer and the effects of chemotherapy, chronic pain, HIV, multiple sclerosis, intractable epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and many others. [continues 484 words]
What if you could save a life? Just one life. Would you? For almost all of us, the answer to these questions is an enthusiastic yes. Without question, regardless of anything, a life, just one life, is worth saving. But what if saving that person's life tested your political standpoints around drug use? Would that life still be worth saving? Across this country, people are dying from legal and illegal drug use. Reliable statistics on drug overdoses across Canada are difficult to find, but research by the Ontario coroner's office shows on average, there is an overdose every day in our nation's capital and 33 people a year die from overdoses in Ottawa. [continues 645 words]
It's sad, but in the year 2014 it's business as usual to hear a politician is on the wrong side of the law. Rob Ford is the poster boy for lawless politicians. He received media attention from all over the world for his use of crack cocaine, drunkenness and outrageous quotes. Nearly every late night talk show host, comedian and media outlet took a shot at him. Ford had the opportunity to leave his position this past week when he returned to office after a two-month stint in a rehab facility. He admitted that he has used all sorts of illegal drugs such as crack cocaine, magic mushrooms and marijuana. In addition, he came clean about drinking alcohol at work. But he didn't step down nor did he take full responsibility for his poor behavior. Instead, he talked about how he suffers from the "disease" of alcoholism. He used it as a crutch and claimed the "disease" has been in him since he was born. [continues 483 words]
SASKATOON - An upcoming clinical trial from Saskatoon's CanniMed Ltd. will test the safety and efficacy of using medical marijuana to manage arthritic pain, the first study of its kind. Health Canada recently approved an application from Prairie Plant Systems, CanniMed's parent company, to test the use of cannabis in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. With scant medical evidence to back up anecdotal evidence, doctors are looking for reliable proof cannabis can help pain management, said company president and CEO Brent Zettl. [continues 422 words]
Hard Evidence Sought An upcoming clinical trial from Saskatoon's CanniMed Ltd. will test the safety and efficacy of using medical marijuana to manage arthritic pain, the first study of its kind. Health Canada recently approved an application from Prairie Plant Systems, CanniMed's parent company, to test the use of cannabis in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. With scant medical evidence to back up anecdotal evidence, doctors are looking for reliable proof cannabis can help pain management, said company president and CEO Brent Zettl. [continues 485 words]
On Tuesday, the Canadian Public Health Association released a policy report that says the nation needs to shift how it views drugs. Simply put, the association said the time to treat addictions as a battle against drugs has long past. In a press release, Ian Culbert, the CPHA's executive director, stated the findings of the group's investigations. "Prohibition has engendered an environment that fuels the growth of illegal markets, organized crime, violent injuries, and the deaths of users, dealers, and police," he stated, while also chronicling a list of health problems accrued from drug use - particularly illicit IV drug use. [continues 492 words]
The skunk-like odour of marijuana was not welcome on Wednesday. Throughout the afternoon, the Prince Albert Addiction Awareness Committee hosted their inaugural 5/21 event at Wesmor Community High School. "We recognize that smoking marijuana is an unhealthy way to cope, and we want to promote healthy coping," committee member and addictions counsellor Shelly Carriere said while students laughed at teachers plunging into the dunk tank. A counterpoint to April 20 (4/20), which has been recognized as a day to smoke marijuana, May 21 (5/21) was a pot-free affair. [continues 330 words]
April 20 - commonly referred to as "4/20" - is a day on which marijuana smokers convene at Parliament Hill to advocate for the legalization of pot. Now there's a counterpoint, with the Prince Albert Addiction Awareness Committee's inaugural event set for May 21 - a day they now refer to as "5/21." In advance of the inaugural 5/21 celebration, addictions counsellor Shelly Carriere took a moment to explain the effort, which will begin with a noon barbecue at Wesmor Community School. [continues 538 words]
Prescribing Medical Marijuana If a doctor prescribes marijuana to a patient and that person is involved in a motor vehicle accident and seriously injures someone, is the physician liable? Dr. Geeta Achyuthan, a Regina physician, raised the question at the recent representative assembly of the Saskatchewan Medical Association in Regina. When doctors prescribe marijuana, it's critical they warn their patients not to drive until they know what impact the substance will have on them, said Bryan Salte, associate registrar and legal counsel for the Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons. [continues 574 words]
As Community Mobilization Prince Albert continues to develop a city-wide alcohol strategy, Carlton Comprehensive Public High School is honing its own approach to youth alcohol and drug use. Rather than a program specifically related to the issue, the school has adopted a comprehensive strategy characterized by a focus on student connectedness and extracurricular activities. The former may be best summarized by the school's ongoing "You Matter" campaign. On the first day of the current school year, staff members all wore T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan "You Matter." [continues 861 words]
Given Saskatchewan's dubious distinction of being a national leader with a rate of impaired driving fatalities that's more than three times the Canadian average, the Traffic Safety Act changes in June that will adopt zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use by novices behind the wheel is laudable. Although further provisions that will subject all drug-impaired drivers to the same sanctions as alcohol-impaired drivers - such as roadside licence suspensions and vehicle impoundment - also are in keeping with the spirit of protecting the public as well as the drivers themselves from the consequences of their actions, SGI could be creating a lot of business for lawyers on cases that end up being tossed out of court. [continues 411 words]
Province toughens consequences for high drivers despite uphill battle to convict A heavy hammer will come down on new drivers who use any amount of alcohol or drugs after changes to the Traffic Safety Act take effect June 27. Vehicles will be impounded immediately for three days and driving suspensions will double to 60 days for drivers charged with driving over the legal limit, refusing to give a breath sample or driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol. Drivers under the age of 19 or in the graduated licensing programs for vehicles or motorcycles will also be required to take driving without impairment courses within four months of being charged, even if they are not found guilty in court. [continues 679 words]
Explosive hash oil extraction operations that cater to electronic cigarette users wanting to get high are not yet a concern in Saskatchewan, law enforcement officials say. Provincial RCMP shared its view on the problem shortly after the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team warned citizens about the dangers of volatile hash oil production operations, which are believed to be increasing in number as the popularity of electronic cigarettes surges. Hash oil - which can be produced by soaking marijuana leaves, stems and buds in liquid butane or isopropyl alcohol and then boiling away the liquid to leave a potent resin - can be easily and inconspicuously "vaped" through the vapour-cigarettes. The process of extracting the resin is highly volatile and has been blamed for a handful of fatal fires in the United States and Alberta. [continues 432 words]
To the Editor: Doctors treating addicts from Vancouver's Downtown East Side have been asking the federal government to extend a trial program under which they were allowed to write prescriptions for diacetyl morphine. Health Minister Rona Ambrose has opposed extending the program. On March 25th, Providence Health Care took the doctors' case before the B.C. Supreme Court. Why is diacetyl morphine controversial? Because it's better known by the trade name it had before it was made illegal: heroin. [continues 631 words]
A Corporation. a Family Farm. Two Views on the Coming Boom in Medical Marijuana Come harvest time at Saskatoon's CanniMed Ltd., six employees wearing masks and gloves crowd around a short conveyor belt handpicking stems from mounds of dried marijuana as the product is pushed into a large, clear plastic bag. It's not a common site anywhere in Canada, and to see it is a revelation of industrial marijuana production. It's also one of 281 points of quality control CanniMed's parent company, Prairie Plant Systems (PPS), developed in its 13 years of supplying Health Canada with medical marijuana. [continues 1695 words]
Moose Jaw police charged a man with possession of marijuana on Tuesday. He was released on an appearance notice with a court date. The arrest report didn't say whether he was inside a house on the 700 block of Coteau Street West or standing on the street smoking a joint. Regardless, that man will appear before a judge on a simple possession charge. If found guilty for having less than 30 grams of marijuana, he could pay a maximum fine of $1,000 and will have that haunt his criminal record. [continues 468 words]
Unlike politicians who are riding high in the polls, I have never used pot, or any other illegal drug for that matter. That puts me out of touch with voters both north and south of the border, which more or less is the story of my life. I am in good shape locally, as Saskatoon has the highest percentage of arrests for pot possession in the country. In Halifax you have an 82 per cent chance of being let off by the police if you are caught with a small amount of marijuana, while in Saskatoon you have an 82 per cent chance of being charged. You are 35 per cent more likely to be charged if you are in possession of some pot in Saskatoon than anywhere else in Canada. [continues 664 words]
In City police lay most pot charges (SP, Jan. 18) Dana Larsen, director for a group campaigning to decriminalize cannabis in B.C., denigrated Saskatoon police for charging 82 per cent of people they encountered in possession of marijuana compared to police in cities such as Halifax who only charged 18 per cent. The story had a negative connotation toward Saskatoon police when in reality the people of Saskatoon can be very proud of the officers they have hired to enforce the laws. Those of us whose brain cells are not yet fried understand that Canadians make the laws and we hire and train police officers to enforce those laws until we decide to change them. [continues 112 words]
Far Above National Average Pot activists say new data shows Saskatoon police have a chronic urge to charge people for lighting up. "Saskatoon is known as being one of the prohibitionist places in Canada," said Dana Larsen, the director of Sensible B.C., which is campaigning to decriminalize cannabis in that province. Saskatoon police are more likely to charge someone caught with small amounts of marijuana than authorities in any other big city. Incident reports obtained from Statistics Canada for 2012 show that police in Saskatoon laid marijuana possession charges in more than 82 per cent of incidents involving possession of less than 30 grams. [continues 495 words]
Stimulation for the economy? Sask. town of Milden hopes to turn abandoned building into medicinal grow-op A former school property in a tiny Saskatchewan community might get new life from the medicinal-marijuana industry. Currently for sale for $160,000, the Milden Central School building has been abandoned for eight years, but could soon become home to a grow operation run by Saskatchewan-based Canadian Cannabis Solutions Inc. (CCS). Lester Wall, mayor of Milden, said on Tuesday that residents he has talked to are behind the idea in hopes that it will improve the local economy. "It should be quite a boost," Wall said before a community meeting on the issue hours later in the village of about 180 people, a 90-minute drive southwest of Saskatoon. [continues 259 words]
When Justin Trudeau dove into the legalized marijuana debate last summer, it initially looked like an unnecessarily polarizing position that too easily allowed his opponents to depict him as a lightweight unable to grapple with more pressing issues. The Liberal leader still surely doesn't want to get freighted down by his pot ponderings, and it is never going to become the centrepiece of a party platform. But there is a case to be made that it will be an issue that can move votes in 2015. [continues 677 words]
Inside Saskatchewan
