As Medical-Marijuana Bills Advance, A Patient Describes Her Suffering Erin Hildebrandt hasn't had to break the law lately, but she worries that she may be forced to again, for the sake of her health and her family. The 32-year-old Smithsburg woman has Crohn's disease, a chronic and debilitating inflammation of the intestines. It's in remission now. But, not so long ago, her life consisted of shuttling between bedroom, bathroom and doctor's offices, seeking relief from repeated bouts of diarrhea, abdominal pain and nausea. [continues 690 words]
MAP is a powerful set of tools and valuable aid in our battle with the people, industries and institutions with a vested financial interest in perpetuating and expanding the war on certain (politically selected) drugs. MAP has allowed many relatively powerless individuals, to combine forces into a powerful army. Our powerful army is changing the world, thanks to MAP. I was first inspired to get involved in the anti-drug war movement by reading Peter McWilliams' outstanding book: "AIN'T NOBODY'S BUSINESS IF I DO" and by reading Mike Gray's outstanding book: "DRUG CRAZY." [continues 54 words]
The cross section of age, culture, and diversity at the Prince Rupert Cinemas last night was not for the latest blockbuster or anticipated Oscar flick. It was for something a little more closer to home -- drug abuse and the politics that surround the massive problem. Prince Rupert sent a message last night -- drug abuse is a big concern as hordes of people sold out the theatre for the one-night only showing of the FIX: The Story of an Addicted City. [continues 596 words]
To the U.S.-based pro-marijuana advocates who have inundated us with letters of late: We've enjoyed reading your thoughts on the matter of legalizing marijuana. Understand that, as a newspaper, it is our job to report such information as that which has been contained within the pages of the Airdrie Echo concerning some large-scale marijuana growing operation busts in the city as of late. On the other hand, we have also published articles on the plight of Grant Krieger, who lived in Airdrie for a period of time and has been a long-time advocate of the legalizing of pot. We have little doubt that you are aware of Grant and his plight. [continues 108 words]
Former English teacher Eleanor Spencer has never been an advocate of legalizing marijuana -- at least not for recreational use. "I think we have enough trouble with the recreational drugs that are out there," said Spencer, who retired in June after teaching at a Coos Bay high school for 34 years. Medicinal use of marijuana is another matter, said Spencer, who has become a card-carrying proponent of medical marijuana. "Medical marijuana is no different than any other medicine," said Spencer, who takes capsules of the herb for painful arthritis, bursitis and muscle spasms. [continues 394 words]
Binge Drinking Admitted By One In Four In this continuing series based on teens' questions asked at Canterbury High School, today's column looks at the drug issue, which is all too often intertwined with the issue of sex among teenagers. The 2001 Ontario Student Drug Use Survey, a study conducted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) every two years since 1977, looked at legal and illicit drug use by more than 4,200 students from Grade 7 to OAC. [continues 943 words]
Re: "New drug to hit 'like a Mack truck,' " March 23. Calgary police Det. Pat Tetley fears methamphetamine coming on like a Mack truck. Certainly, local governments will experience serious cleanup costs of the illegal meth labs. You might have to build another prison or two to hold those who produce it. All that is caused by the prohibition approach to dangerous drugs. The meth itself is no more dangerous than the amphetamine obtainable from a pharmacy. Would Tetley declare with a straight face that meth use will cause as much pain, suffering and death as the alcohol? Prohibition is the cancer and meth labs are just one of the unintended consequences of this liberal, big-government approach to some dangerous drugs. Howard J. Wooldridge Austin, Tex. Howard J. Wooldridge is a retired police officer and a member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. [end]
While Vancouver city councillors are struggling to keep a lid on this year's budget, Vancouver police will be going to city hall Thursday to ask for $2.3 million to pay six months' worth of overtime for a plan to clean up the Downtown Eastside's open drug market. In addition, police managers are also asking for 27 new civilian staff, $46,000 for a strategic-issues management consultant, $15,000 for "advanced security clearances" and $380,000 in funding taken away for a previous special project. [continues 514 words]
U.S.-Sponsored Eradication Plans Spark Peasant Protests SAN FRANCISCO, Peru -- The mountain slopes that rise around this town in Peru's high eastern jungle were the site of a rare success story in the U.S. war on drugs. But the resilient Andean drug industry is flowing back into the Apurimac River Valley, testing a model partnership in Washington's increasingly aggressive counter-drug campaign. Once one of the world's largest sources of coca leaf, the valley was the focus of a U.S.-backed effort to intercept planes shuttling the key raw material in cocaine to processing laboratories in neighboring Colombia. Now U.S. eradication efforts in Colombia are squeezing the trade back toward Peru, causing deep social unrest, the threat of armed resistance to U.S. drug policy and political risks for a fragile Peruvian government responsible for implementing the most controversial elements of Washington's strategy. [continues 1130 words]
A ceremony to show unity against drugs among people of different religions will be held in Ayutthaya province tomorrow. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will preside over the event, which is expected to attract between 50,000-100,000 people including foreign diplomats, religious leaders and representatives from foreign anti-drug agencies. Religious leaders are expected to return to their localities and run rehabilitation projects for addicts. Coordination centres will be set up throughout the country. Mr Thaksin on Tuesday said he was confident the three-month campaign against drugs would provide his government with "more than enough" information to pass on at a five-nation drugs meeting to be attended by delegates from Burma, China, India, Laos and Thailand. The meeting has yet to be scheduled. India would be invited to attend because it was a transit country for drug precursors. [continues 56 words]
