The Ontario Liberals' plan to sell marijuana in government-operated stores may have provided some clarity on what has been a confusing strategy by the federal Liberals to legalize marijuana. But controlling weed like the province controls alcohol creates more problems than answers to what has been a hands-off approach both levels of government have managed on the issue. The entire roll out of the legalization of marijuana by the federal government has been botched with governments unsure about a distribution network or enforcement strategy. [continues 314 words]
Hamilton police are busting fewer students and confiscating less pot despite a steady increase in drug surveillance at city schoolyards. Plainclothes officers conducted 103 random drug sweeps at high schools in 2011, but arrested only 11 students - down from 28 the year before, when there were 30 fewer drug sweeps. They seized 143.3 grams of marijuana - a little more than five ounces - - last year, compared to 368.2 grams in 2010. Last year's lower drug haul continued a downward trend since 2008, when police seized 434 grams, or nearly a pound of pot, in 44 sweeps that brought six arrests. [continues 316 words]
I don't know if Mayor Fred Eisenberger ever smoked pot. If he did, he wouldn't feel out of place at the post-election party of candidates vying for the mayor's job in the municipal election later this year. Of the four candidates who have declared an intention to run for the city's top elected job, two are marijuana activists - Michael Baldasaro and Andrew Haines. Maybe Fred did smoke pot when he was a much younger man, but didn't inhale? If I were mayor of this city, I'd be smoking weed every day. A good stoner may be exactly what this city needs. [continues 560 words]
On May 10, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson signed an order of extradition sending Marc Emery to a federal institution in the United States of America. His crime was selling one of Earth's most basic forms of sustenance, growth and life -seeds. Marijuana seeds. When Health Canada first began giving out licences to medicinal users, they recommended to MPs and licensed users that new growers should purchase seeds online from Canadian sellers like Marc Emery (Marc Emery Direct Seeds). NDP Health Critic Svend Robinson can testify to that fact. [continues 229 words]
Homicides, Attempted Murders, Robberies And Sex Assaults Jump In First Six Months Most categories of violent crime jumped in the first half of 2007, as the city saw more murders, attempted murders, robberies and sexual assaults than for the same period last year. Even so, Hamilton police are anything but downbeat about the trends, citing drops in assaults, break-ins, stolen vehicles and thefts valued over $5,000. "As you can see from the report, it's somewhat of a good news story," Deputy Chief Ken Leendertse told members of the police services board in a presentation on Monday. [continues 604 words]
After previously being given the cold shoulder, the Hamilton Police Service will get $425,000 in provincial funding to boost its guns and gang unit, after all. Premier Dalton McGuinty dropped by Central Station Wednesday morning to announce a new "crime package" that will provide $6.3 million for anti-guns and gang efforts at police forces outside of Toronto. His government had already provided $51 million to Toronto last year. Hamilton's share of the new money is enough to hire five officers. The existing guns and gangs unit presently has five officers, but has had as many as 15. [continues 391 words]
City Should Make Breaking the Law 'A Little More Costly,' He Says A Mountain councillor is calling on the city to consider bulldozing homes used to grow marijuana. Ward 8 Councillor Terry Whitehead said he favours adopting the City of Niagara Falls' approach to dealing with home grow-ops after problems experienced by a "high-end neighbourhood" on the West Mountain. "The building sat there boarded up and causing all kinds of concerns in the neighbourhood," he told members of the police services board on Monday. [continues 242 words]
Re: Mountain Grow-Op's Wiring Packed Potential Wallop "Sergeant Michael Webber said police found the home's electrical wiring had been dangerously altered". Considering how often police get caught lying and exaggerating when it come to marijuana busts, I am surprised that there is a single reporter in Canada still willing to relay their reports unchallenged. But then, one hand washes the other, doesn't it? Here is an example: Any time there is a bust, the police say that each plant (no matter what size) is "worth $1000 on the street". [continues 161 words]
An East 24th Street home was evacuated and its hydro service cut off after police discovered what they say was a potentially explosive marijuana grow operation. Sergeant Michael Webber said police found the home's electrical wiring had been dangerously altered after executing a mid-morning search warrant Jan. 11. "Someone within the home grounded the electrical service into the residence's main gas line," he said. "Obviously this has the potential for explosion. If the home had received an electrical surge it would have caused an ignition and it would have went up in flames -- not only the home itself but possibly the neighbouring homes." [continues 90 words]
Chief Credits Project HALT For Big Drop In Robberies A police clampdown on crack addicts is being credited for the seizure of more than $1 million in illegal drugs and a big drop in robberies in the downtown area. Police Chief Brian Mullan said Project HALT successfully tested the theory that crack users are responsible for most street-level crime. The two-month initiative that ended Aug. 3 used "accumulated intelligence" to target people known to be involved in street-level trafficking and drug use, particularly in areas by crack houses, he said. [continues 452 words]
Re: City's straight talk on pot to keep the teenagers off the weed As a federal medical marijuana license holder, I resent the fact that the media continues the propaganda and misinformation about marijuana. This will make things even more confusing for teens. Why can't anyone just tell the truth when it comes to pot? Kids should not be using pot, alcohol, or tobacco - period! I think caffeine should be in there too. But misinforming them, as history has shown, will lead to more problems. If we lie to kids about pot, and they find out we have lied to them, they won't listen to a word adults say about meth, heroin, crack, safe-sex, or impaired driving. Once bitten, twice shy, as they say. [continues 694 words]
Re: "Is your teen getting high legally?" (11-04-05). The question that needs to be asked is: Why don't children believe those who warn them about the dangers of cough syrup? The answer: Because when the drug war cheerleaders lie about or grossly exaggerate the dangers of marijuana, they lose all credibility. When children find out that they have been lied to about marijuana, they make the logical assumption that they are also being lied to about the dangers of other drugs like meth, heroin, household inhalants and cough syrup. A recipe for disaster. Kirk Muse Mesa, AZ [end]
As parents, we have the opportunity to teach our children and model healthy lifestyle behaviours and practices. Included in the long list of teachings, is informing our children about substance use and abuse, and in particular, about marijuana. Marijuana today is much different than it was back in the '70s, and today's youth are embracing it with enthusiasm. Recent Canadian statistics show that 39.1 per cent of Grade 7 students reported using marijuana at least once during the year (2003 Ontario Student Drug Use Survey from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health). The level of use increases as the grades advance showing 45 per cent of Grades 12s are smoking 'the bud'. Additionally there is an increase in marijuana-impaired driving, where 1 in 5 (20 per cent) student licensed drivers, in Grades 10 to 12 report driving a vehicle within one hour of using marijuana. Youth attitude is lax about this drug and we know that marijuana is not a benign substance. [continues 283 words]
Pharmacist Irene Hogan Displays Many Of The Over-the-counter Products Teens Are Using To Get High. Important Information For A Healthy Lifestyle It's cheap. It's legal. And your kids could be using it to get high. If you're a parent of a teenager, chances are you've talked to your child about saying no to drugs and alcohol. But what about non-prescription pharmaceuticals found in your own medicine cabinet? The ministry of health, along with school boards, have made substance abuse a priority in the curriculum taught to Ontario teenagers, but they only focus on a few addictive products. Locally, the City of Hamilton's public health and community services health promotions specialist, Jennifer Jenkins, said their focus is "on educating residents about marijuana - due to the large numbers of teens who use it." [continues 805 words]
Hamilton has taken a strong lead in crime reduction. Statistics Canada just released its Crime Statistics for 2004 showing Hamilton with a 13 per cent decrease in overall crime. No other city even came close to Hamilton in crime reduction. Ottawa ranked second at 10 per cent. Most of the 27 other cities included in the report showed declines in the lower single digits. Police Chief Mullan admitted the numbers are impressive and in the past Hamilton generally mirrored stats of the overall country. [continues 142 words]
A focus on "hard-core" repeat offenders and successful pre-charge diversion programs are being credited for a 31 per cent decrease in youth crime in Hamilton since 1996. Deputy Police Chief Ken Leendertse called the drop "a pleasant surprise" that defies public perceptions. Only drug crimes - mostly involving marijuana - bucked the downward trend, more than doubling over the same period. Assaults, break-ins, car and other thefts all dropped by more than 50 per cent. Overall, police statistics show 3,074 youths were involved in crimes last year, compared to 4,451 in 1996. [continues 396 words]
RE: four RCMP officers that have fallen in the line of duty First, prohibition creates the violence and crime. Legalizing marijuana will end the cycle of violence and crime. Second, there isn't a single activist I know who hasn't expressed outrage and sadness at these officers' deaths. But, the attempt to demonize the marijuana culture by politicizing the actions of a deranged, dangerous individual is more than pathetic. Disregard It shows complete disregard for the untimely deaths of four human beings. It also forces the hand of anti-prohibitionists to defend the cannabis culture from a disparaging and illogical attack. [continues 217 words]
Hamilton Police Chief Brian Mullan says he is considering following Toronto's lead of introducing random drug testing for officers in senior and high-risk positions. While he and the police services board are still reviewing a judge's recommendations that prompted Toronto Police Chief Julian Fantino's move to introduce such tests to his ranks beginning in March, Chief Mullan said he wants to know if one of his officers has a drug problem. Toronto Police also plan to implement psychological testing and spot financial background checks for officers in high-risk jobs, and faces a battle from its union, one a Hamilton police union rep says would be repeated here. [continues 286 words]
Morelli defends budget saying it's lower than Halton, Niagara, but high due to seniority pay Hamilton's Police Services proposed 2005 budget has broken through the $100 million level. For the fifth year in a row, the police budget rose, with this year's proposed budget jumping $4.5 million, from $98.2 million last year to a proposed $102.8 million. "Of the $4.5 million, $3.9 million is for wages and salaries," said Hamilton councillor and Hamilton Police Services Board chair Bernie Morelli. [continues 439 words]
Womankind Addiction Service, which opened in Hamilton recently, is the first of its kind in Ontario providing support for women addicted to alcohol or drugs through the whole course of recovery. "Usually women have to go somewhere for withdrawal, somewhere else for treament and somewhere else for after-care," said Debbie Bang, manager of Womankind. "They have to go here and there and sometimes with a stroller and diaper bag. It's no wonder they can't make it. "This is a blending of services. A one-stop shop." [continues 521 words]
Hamilton Police Chief Brian Mullan is crediting his force's clampdown on crack cocaine for a drop in nearly every category of crime in Hamilton through the first half of this year. Statistics presented to the Hamilton Police Services Board this week show there were 308 fewer house break-ins - 963, compared 1,271 for the same period last year - representing a 24 per cent decrease. Vehicle thefts dropped by nearly 20 per cent, while violent crime was also down. The two murders were half those the year before, and the 1,689 assaults marked a 15 per cent decrease. [continues 338 words]
Lorraine once spent three hours in the bathtub trying to find a vein to inject more crack into her body. Her veins had collapsed from repeated injections. Lorraine figures she was in detox centres close to 100 times and she lied, stole and sold her body to get her next "piece". "Crack was the one drug, and to this day I don't know why, that took me down the quickest. I used heroin for about 15 years and functioned - four children, a house, a job, a husband. I had it going on," Lorraine said. "The crack, within four years, put me on the streets. I was a hooker, I was a dealer, I was a con artist. I was one of the best liars you'd ever meet. I couldn't stop." [continues 2496 words]
Re: Pot houses put children at risk, July 23 "He was no more than two years old, naked and confined to a room soaked with urine and scattered with feces." Why did you choose to print verbatim the words of a police officer without checking the facts? Perhaps it was guinea pig urine and feces. This is responsible journalism? Don't make me puke. Alan Randell Victoria, BC [end]
Youngsters Found in Two of Three Mountain Grow House Busts Last Week He was no more than two years old, naked and confined to a room soaked with urine and scattered with feces. The little boy was one of three people found by police at a marijuana grow house on Upper Gage near Mohawk that was busted July 14, one of three grow house raids that occurred on the Mountain that day. "We find children in all areas of the house," said Det. Paul Henderson, a member of the so-called Green Team within the vice and drug branch of the Hamilton Police Service that investigates and raids marijuana grow houses in the city. "We have hundreds and hundreds of tips in our office right now." [continues 1113 words]
Re Police Offer Tips on Spotting indoor Marijuana Crops (July 2) On and on it goes with the media falling over themselves promoting our oppressive drug laws, whose only purpose is to distract and entertain the majority by persecuting an innocent minority. Are we better than the Nazis because our drug laws threaten an innocent minority with jail rather than with execution? I think not. Are you better than the Nazi-controlled media that distributed Hitler's hateful propaganda. I believe you are worse, much worse, because you have the freedom to present a balanced picture but, perhaps to support wealthy media owners who fear giving too much freedom to the "common rabble,"choose not to do so. Alan Randell Victoria, BC [end]
Re: Police Offer Tips on Spotting Outdoor Marijuana Crops (July 2) And, the snitch society begins. Maybe instead of enforcing archaic laws based in Racism, they could use the millions of dollars in surplus they would have and the glut of manpower they would have to solve the hundreds of unsolved crimes in this country like Child porn, Child molestation, Rape, Murder and theft. Oh right, then they'd have to admit they were wrong. These are the same people who tell us that "B.C.-bud" is the most potent, yet anyone who does even cursory research can tell you it's a plant's genetics and how "old" it is, not what province it's grown in. Why are they lying to us? William Bradley Kitchener [end]
NDP Hidden Agenda Be careful who gets your vote and what they stand for. This is important for you and your family, now and also in the future. It looks like the NDP are very popular, but your consideration should be very important. We need an honest government and one that is trustworthy. In marriages, it should be one woman and one man, so that our children will be blessed. The hidden agenda with the NDP believe in the same sex marriages and also to legalize marijuana. God alone knows what other hidden agenda the NDP are going to bring forward. On June 28, 2004, vote for the Conservative Party. M. Novnelay [end]
Break-ins reached an all-time low in February and March as police statistics again show the number of crimes in the Hamilton area dropping in almost every category. Ken Bond, superintendent of investigative services, said the figures suggest police efforts to clamp down on crack cocaine are paying off because there is "a strong correlation" between the drug's use and overall crime rate. Police statistics show there were 491 home break-ins in the first three months of this year, nearly 25 per cent fewer than the 634 for the same period last year. [continues 155 words]
