'Shindig ' at Tweed plant celebrates medical marijuana's improved access SMITHS FALLS - Used internally and externally, marijuana has relieved some severe ills for Innisville's Robert Stevenson. Speaking from the 'vape-lounge' on a welcomed rainy Saturday at the Tweed marijuana plant's Front Yard Shindig here, Stevenson said traditional medicines didn't relieve his ailments. He credits a cannabis ointment for clearing up a cancerous growth on his chest and the relaxing qualities of CBD from a pot plant for relieving frequent back spasms. [continues 445 words]
CARDINAL - A fledgling community drug initiative spanning three South Grenville municipalities is moving quickly to address widespread concerns, says proponent Karie Smail. The Cardinal-ward councillor for Edwardsburgh-Cardinal Township has been instrumental in getting talks off the ground for the project and is pleased to see the enthusiasm brought to the table by various parties. Concerned municipal leaders, officials with supporting agencies and Grenville County Ontario Provincial Police detachment commander Inspector Bill Bolton have jumped on board with a determination to make a difference, she said. [continues 517 words]
Area residents will be polled for their reaction to federal Liberal policies prior to an election but riding president Ross Howard does not foresee a backlash over leader Justin Trudeau's support for legalizing marijuana. "I don't believe his stance on marijuana and other policies are going to be a deterrent," said Howard, one day after the riding's annual general meeting in Brockville where two candidates, Kyle Johnston, 27, and Josh Bennett, 38, were introduced to an audience of more than 100 people. [continues 493 words]
Medical marijuana user Robert Knight is approaching a legal limbo. Knight's licence to produce pot will be over-ridden at midnight Monday when he will be required instead to purchase product from a supplier under new marijuana for medical purposes rules introduced by Health Canada. But Knight, who suffers from severe arthritis in his hands, can't expect delivery before the middle of April from the Tweed medical marijuana facility in Smiths Falls. "There is nothing available until two weeks into April," he said. [continues 391 words]
Eastern Ontario was the source of nearly one-quarter of the 118,443 marijuana plants seized across the province during an eight-week eradication campaign conducted by Ontario Provincial Police. "We have lot of fertile area and we'll have to combat this for years to come," regional OPP spokesman Sgt. Kristine Rae said. Investigations into 220 grow operations resulted in 110 charges against 56 people across the province. Rae said Ottawa-area investigations led to the seizure of 10,828 plants from 14 growing operations and 10 Criminal Code charges being laid against six people. [continues 179 words]
Eastern Ontario was the source of nearly one-quarter of the 118,443 marijuana plants seized across the province during an eight-week eradication campaign conducted by Ontario Provincial Police. "We have lot of fertile area and we'll have to combat this for years to come," regional OPP spokesman Sgt. Kristine Rae told The Recorder and Times on Wednesday. Rae was responding to questions about the OPP's annual provincewide eradication campaign that coincides with the harvest of the pot plants in late summer and early autumn. [continues 291 words]
An addictions therapy program developed for forensic patients at the Brockville Mental Health Centre has drawn the interest of an international organization that provides a free online service for people with addictive behaviour. The local program was developed over the past five years by registered practical nurse Dawn Adamson in consultation with psychiatrist Dr. A.G. Ahmed, clinical director of forensics at the local site, formerly known as Brockville Psychiatric Hospital. Adamson said parts of the program may be incorporated by Smart Recovery, a self-management program active in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and other countries, which she studied while developing her own program. [continues 591 words]
A work-to-rule campaign by public school elementary teachers is expected to cut student attendance by one-third at a highly regarded anti-drug program now under way in Brockville. The sixth Racing Against Drugs program for Grade 5 and 6 students started Tuesday at the Brockville Memorial Centre with more than 450 kids in attendance from eight public, Catholic and private schools from Leeds, Grenville and Lanark throughout the day. The event continues today and Thursday but early expectations of attracting 1,600 students have been reduced to about 1,000, after teachers announced a provincewide job action that includes withdrawing from field trips. [continues 588 words]
City police may have a second canine unit in place before the end of the year. Const. Shawn Borgford and his Belgian Malinois dog Trax need three weeks of training to get their certification, Deputy Chief John Manoll told Thursday's meeting of the Brockville Police Services Board. Manoll said the dog was originally purchased as a family pet, but displayed extraordinary tracking abilities and intelligence, prompting Borgford to consider it for the canine unit. Borgford and Trax attended a recertification program last month near Oshawa with the force's existing canine unit, Const. Mike Grant and Sep, which is also a Belgian Malinois. [continues 208 words]
Concern about teen abuse of alcohol, marijuana and medications is high on the agenda as the Brockville Police Service marks Drug Awareness Week Nov. 17 to 23. "People say, 'It's just my medicine,' like there's no big deal with these drugs," said Chief Barry King. King notes, however, there may be serious consequences for abusing alcohol and mixing different drugs. Binge drinking, for instance, may lead to alcohol poisoning and is especially dangerous in combination with marijuana and prescription drugs, he said. [continues 243 words]
