Chew em if you've got em. -That was the message this week from Health Canada, which officially changed its rules around what approved medicinal pot producers can offer. Licensed growers can now offer concentrated cannabis oil, fresh marijuana buds and leaves needed to make edible products. The shipping will be controlled, including child-resistant packaging. It's an approach that makes sense, in the middle of a debate that often doesn't. Health Minister Rona Ambrose seemed out of step last month when she said she was "outraged" by the Supreme Court's decision to strike down the prohibition on forms of medical marijuana other than dried leaves. [continues 288 words]
Recently, the Huffington Post ran an article stating that according to more than 300 economists, the U.S. government could potentially save $13.7 billion dollars by not enforcing the prohibition and taxing it like tobacco and alcohol. As someone who has always been pro-legalization, I found this interesting and saw it as a ray of light through the thunderstorm that is this ridiculous marijuana prohibition. So, if it could potentially save the States billions of dollars, what about Canada? [continues 884 words]
Fairview RCMP will be stepping up drug enforcement this spring to counteract a recent increase in the abuse of pharmaceutical narcotics and other drugs. "We definitely have an OxyContin problem in the community. We're getting more and more complaints with people coming (into the detachment) to report their OxyContin stolen," said Sgt. Bruce Bracken. "Living in a small town, we may not realize there is a problem with it, but for a while we were getting a complaint a week," he told Fairview town council last week. [continues 273 words]
Parents need to present their children with clear choices and consequences when it comes to drug use--either don't do drugs, or get out of the house. Dare to Care spokesman and public speaker Dwayne Peace was back in Fairview last week to talk to parents about drugs and about how conscientious parenting techniques can lead to drug-free kids. The Fairview Drug Awareness Coalition sponsored Peace's return and he took the opportunity to speak to parents on Wednesday evening and FHS students on Thursday morning and afternoon. [continues 681 words]
The Fairview and Area Drug Coalition is working on a number of projects for next year it hopes will help the families of those who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. The Coalition is responsible for bringing drug expert Steve Walton to Fairview last spring as well as 'Dare to Care' motivational speaker Duane Peace to FHS last fall, but are currently looking to act in an even more direct way by offering its own programs and educational resources to those who seek it out in Fairview. [continues 405 words]
Firefighters rush to fires, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) rush to medical emergencies, and police rush to the scene of a crime. They are always the first to respond. But what if the fire was started in a drug lab? What if it was a drug dealer who had the heart attack? And what if the scene of the crime is booby-trapped? These are all scenarios that retired drug enforcement officer Steve Walton wants our area first responders to take to heart. He spoke to firefighters, EMTs, and local police on what to expect in those situations last Tuesday in Hines Creek and Thursday in Fairview. [continues 447 words]
Everyone in the community needs to be educated to fend off the invasion of illicit drugs that are finding their way into more and more rural areas around the province says a drug expert from Calgary. Retired detective Steve Walton toured several schools in the area last week, speaking to both students and parents about the dangers of drug-use, and their growing prevalence in rural areas like Fairview and Hines Creek. "A drug trend that we've watched very closely in law enforcement and in drug education is what is referred to as the migration of the drug criminal," said Walton. [continues 822 words]
Fairview Post -- Reporting suspicions of a drug dealer in your area isn't a complicated procedure according to RCMP Const. Patrick Lessard. "It doesn't matter what your suspicions or what information you do or don't have," explains Lessard. Lessard says that people can phone the RCMP directly at 835-4031 and provide their personal and complaint information. If hesitant to do that, people are encouraged to phone and report their complaint anonymously. In that case, only the police will know the informant's information and it will not be released. A third option is to phone CRIMESTOPPERS at 1-800-222-TIPS. [continues 125 words]
Const. Dang Nguyen and Const. Travis Dann gave a presentation to the Fairview and District Chamber of Commerce on May 3 regarding the affect drug use has on local business. "When it comes to drugs, it isn't a localized problem," explained Const. Nguyen. "It affects everyone in the community, especially business owners. You have people stealing to sell items for drug money. It creates a rippling effect." Chamber members found Nguyen's presentation interesting and informative, asking many questions throughout. [continues 204 words]
Fairview Post -- Fairview residents had a chance to make a contribution to the local war against drugs and about 30 people showed up to take the challenge. The Fairview Drug Awareness Coalition organized a community drug prevention forum for Feb. 22. The idea of the forum was to attract as many people as possible to discuss what the root problems behind drug abuse in Fairview and area are and what possible strategies might be tried to combat those problems. Before discussions began there were presentations on what different groups are already doing to try and prevent drug problems among youth. [continues 441 words]
Two People Hospitalized After Exposure To Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) Gamma Hydroxybutyrate is commonly known as GHB, Date Rape Drug, Liquid Ecstasy and by many other names. Recently, this street drug has surfaced in the Fairview area. This article is not meant to alarm anyone but to make the public aware of the health risks and safety risks associated with this drug. Two people have been hospitalized from the use of this drug. Although self-administered in these cases, there are also inherent risks should someone administer this drug to you without your knowledge. [continues 495 words]
Fairview Post -- Over 100 Fairview area residents gathered at E.E. Oliver School on Sept. 29 to learn about street drugs and the impact they can have on individuals and the community. RCMP Corp. Brent Mundle -- who served in Fairview from 1994 to 1999 -- serves as the head of general investigations in Grande Prairie. He said his knowledge of the subject has come from years of investigating drug-related crimes. Drugs and drug addictions are not just a concern for parents but for everyone in the community, Mundle said. [continues 831 words]
Fairview Post -- Parents and concerned community members are invited to a street drug information session on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. in the E.E. Oliver School gym. The two-hour session will focus on "hard drugs" like methamphetamine and crack cocaine and their effect on individuals and the community, Fairview RCMP Cst. Dang Nguyen said. "Corp. Brent Mundel will be up here from Grande Prairie to give the talk," Nguyen said. "It's an information session and will help us see what kind of community feedback we can get." [continues 90 words]
Fairview Post -- Fairview RCMP Sgt. Dave Hammond presented Town council with the police's second quarterly report for 2004, July 20. Residential break and enters increased from five to 19 charges between 2003 and 2004. Property damage under $5,000 increased from 17 to 32 charges. But Hammond said the majority of the increase in each case is due to the work of one individual. "A couple of the [increases] in break and enters and vandalism, in particular, were the efforts of one person," Hammond says. [continues 389 words]
Pharmacies Put Ephedrine Drugs Behind Counter Fairview Post -- Although Fairview RCMP said methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as crystal meth, a highly addictive street drug containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, is not a huge concern in the area, Fairview pharmacies are following a recommendation to place drugs containing these two key ingredients behind their counters. "We are pulling it back," Gerard Becher, a pharmacist and owner of Becher Pharmacy, said. "I think crystal meth isn't so much of a problem around here but it is in bigger cities like Edmonton," he added. [continues 326 words]
