It is both sad and true, but none of the recommendations by an inquest jury yesterday would have saved Allen Ho. Ho didn't die because he was at an underground rave, which happened to be held in a garage. Or even because there might not have been as much water as needed on hand. Despite the valiant efforts by medical staff, the 20-year-old Ryerson business student died because he took an illegal drug. "(The recommendations) won't save the life of a person who is determined to take a drug that they know nothing about," said Crown attorney Paul McDermott afterwards, adding that's why the public education component of the jury's proposals is so important. [continues 672 words]
Police officers. Publishers. Politicians. Lawyers. Professional athletes, nurses, doctors, teachers, writers, actors, editors, photographers and any other number of professions which don't immediately leap to mind. All of these people, and more, have engaged in an illegal activity at which I was present and can thus provide an eyewitness (albeit a somewhat bleary one) account of the proceedings. They were smoking pot. This list isn't included as a social statement, nor is it intended to identify anyone. (Besides, it's not always who you think it is.) It's here to make a point and it's this one. If this many people from these walks of life are making a conscious decision to break the law, then perhaps that law is a bad one. [continues 489 words]
Well, then. What to make of news from the best coast that Vancouver police are ignoring the Cannabis Cafe, one of North America's only pot bars where consenting adults can smoke openly? More importantly, what to make of it as Torontonian Terry Parker heads to court this week to fight for his right to use the drug to control his severe epilepsy? Both cases serve to highlight a growing tendency to view marijuana in a more benign light. In many quarters, it is no longer considered a demon weed, the first slip on the slope to serious drug addiction. In fact, increasing numbers of people both north and south of the border are challenging its legality in the courts with their assertions that the drug relieves medical symptoms and eases their pain. Out west, the purpose is slightly less lofty. They do it, apparently, because they can. [continues 564 words]
