A recent survey by Forum Research tells us that, in the last year, almost one of five Canadians used marijuana for recreational purposes, a proportion that would almost double in the coming year if the wacky weed were legalized. For the business minded, this would represent a potential market of about 8 million people. In addition, the same survey reports that a full 59 per cent of us support the legalization, control, and taxation of the plant. We've come a long way, it seems, but it's taken a very long time. [continues 886 words]
Alvin Powell delivered his hard-line message on the perils of drug addiction Monday to students at John Abbott College in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue. But afterward the 6-foot-5 former football player also had some words of advice for parents who may not even know their child is abusing drugs. "Parents are always the last to know," said Powell, who battled his own addiction to drugs and alcohol for years before finally getting clean and sober. "God bless them, parents are working, trying to make their homes the best they can be. But they're not understanding what's really going on. And these kids, because of their computers, they have their Master's degree in deception. They'll look right in their parents' faces and lie to them. They set things up to fly under the radar undetected. [continues 513 words]
Reefer Riches Provides Useful Primer on Fledgling Legal Marijuana Industry If election promises pan out, reefer madness could soon be sweeping this dominion. In which case, the documentary Reefer Riches should be mandatory viewing for all parties. Talk about timing: Toronto director Cynthia Banks serves up a surprisingly balanced and informative peek into the legalized pot business in Colorado and Washington, and indicates what beckons should Canada follow the weed lead of those states. Reefer Riches, which makes its world premiere Thursday at 9 p.m. on the new CBC series Firsthand, is neither an out-and-out endorsement nor a condemnation of legalized marijuana. It simply offers an incisive fact-check with insights from authorities on the subject. [continues 986 words]
QUEBEC - The new federal government's promise to legalize marijuana is raising concerns among Quebec's political class. Some cabinet ministers didn't hide their discomfort when asked Wednesday about the prospect of legalized pot in the near future after the Liberal victory in this week's federal election. Public Security Minister Lise Theriault says questions of public safety are paramount and must prevail, adding that many people share that concern. "We should be worried, definitely, it's something that can really upset a lot of people, including me," Theriault said. [continues 135 words]
QUEBEC - The new federal government's promise to legalize marijuana is raising concerns among Quebec's political class. Some cabinet ministers didn't hide their discomfort when asked Wednesday about the prospect of legalized pot in the near future after the Liberal victory in this week's federal election. Public Security Minister Lise Theriault says questions of public safety are paramount and must prevail, adding that many people share that concern. "We should be worried, definitely, it's something that can really upset a lot of people, including me," Theriault said. [continues 134 words]
"I'm curious!" That was Alexander Shulgin's simple answer to the question of why he had dedicated much of his life to the exploration of psychedelic drugs. The American chemist who died in 2014 at the age of 88 was famous not only for synthesizing a large number of mind-altering substances, but also for experimenting with them on himself, his wife and friends. He worked within the context of existing laws because the compounds he synthesized had not existed before and therefore were legal at the time he made them. [continues 646 words]
Coderre Says Move Is About 'Public Safety' Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre didn't hold back during a joint news conference with Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau on Thursday, promising to ensure proposed drug-injection sites open in the city - even over federal objections. The mayor, who met Trudeau to discuss issues including safe injection sites, has previously said he would give the federal government until the end of the summer to approve four locations in Montreal. Coderre made it clear he will move ahead regardless. [continues 401 words]
Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre didn't hold back during a joint news conference with Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau Thursday, promising to ensure proposed drug-injection sites open in the city - even over federal objections. The mayor, who met Trudeau to discuss issues including safe injection sites, has previously said he would give the federal government until the end of summer to approve four sites in Montreal. Coderre made it clear he will move ahead regardless. "I will do it anyway," Coderre said. [continues 441 words]
Inside Quebec
