It's no secret the new Conservative government is more prudish regarding casual use of marijuana than its Liberal predecessor, but don't expect Barrie cops to be on a stepped-up 'doobie' patrol anytime soon. Despite news that police in the GTA are cracking down on tokers after sniffing the prevailing winds from Ottawa, it will be "business as usual" in Barrie, according to Police Chief Wayne Frechette. What's usual for Barrie? Most possession charges result from investigations of other crimes, from previous arrests or from flagrant, public use of the drug. If you are walking down the street on the "business end of a big doob," the chances of attracting the attention of police are fairly high. But if you're strolling downtown with a couple of joints in your pocket, intending to have a discreet puff later, police are unlikely to swoop down to conduct a search of your person. "How would we know? We have to have reasonable and probable grounds (to conduct a search)," says Frechette. [continues 438 words]
THE IRA plans to shoot three drug dealers in the next few days, the North Human Rights Bureau has warned. IRA units have been given the go-ahead to execute two dealers based in Dundalk/Newry and another from north Belfast, the NIHRB said last night. A spokesman for the bureau claimed the IRA were trying to take complete protective control of the drugs trade within the nationalist community in the North. A similar charge was last night made by lawyer Alban Maginness, a senior member of the SDLP, who last night accused republicans of trying to ``instil terror'' in Catholic communities in the North. [continues 101 words]
