TODAY marks World AIDS Day. We celebrate advances made in the fight against HIV, look back on how far we've come and honour those we've lost, while also looking to the future and what we have left to accomplish. Last year, 102 people in Manitoba were diagnosed with HIV, joining more than 1,250 living with HIV in the province and 78,000 across Canada. Late diagnosis and limited access to services outside Winnipeg continue to be challenges, but there are success stories. For example, Manitoba has a relatively low rate of HIV among people who use drugs. In 2014, 12 per cent of new HIV diagnoses in Manitoba could be traced back to drug use, generally from sharing needles. The same year, the number in Saskatchewan was 49 per cent. [continues 414 words]
Opioid crisis draws attention to supervised drug-use sites, but Manitoba's not interested - so far A DECADE ago, fentanyl, the killer synthetic opioid that can be 100 times more potent than morphine, was a relatively unknown drug. Today, it's everywhere - and it's at the heart of a national crisis claiming the lives of hundreds of Canadians. In Manitoba, at least two dozen people have died from opioid overdoses in 2016, nine confirmed to be caused by or related to fentanyl. It's a dangerous drug that many people don't even know they're taking: it's often showing up in other illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin. [continues 1262 words]
Politicians, policy-makers discuss ways to prevent overdoses OTTAWA - As people continue to die from overdoses, health experts, policy-makers and grief-stricken family members brainstormed Friday on a battle plan to take on Canada's opioid-abuse epidemic. The federal government has been asked to declare the crisis a national public health emergency. "During the course of this conference alone... probably six or seven Canadians will die from opioid overdose," Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins said Friday. "That will happen again tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. We have a tremendous responsibility as a country." [continues 772 words]
Calls for national strategy heading into summit on illicit drugs MANITOBA'S health minister is calling on the federal government to stop the flow of powdered fentanyl from countries such as China. "We need national strategies around that," Kelvin Goertzen said Monday at a news conference to mark addictions awareness week. The event, held before Friday's national opioid conference and summit in Ottawa, included some of the province's leading addictions and health officials and the mothers of two victims of fentanyl overdoses. [continues 431 words]
Re: Marijuana strategy missing (Letters, Oct. 26) I'm sure Malina Hedgecock means well, however, cannabis (marijuana) prohibition must be put behind us. The majority of North Americans are through with caging and punishing responsible adults who wish to use the relatively safe, God-given plant. At this point, the strategy is to end one of North America's worst policy failures in history as soon as possible. It is commendable Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ending cannabis prohibition in Canada. Colorado successfully legalized cannabis for adults, and every subsequent poll indicates Colorado citizens continue supporting the end of cannabis prohibition. There is every reason to believe that when Canada ends cannabis prohibition, the majority will not look back with regret either. Stan White Dillon, Col. [end]
Re: Grits' plan to legalize pot hazy: province (Oct.21). I think marijuana should only be legalized for medicinal purposes and not for recreational purposes. Therefore, I don't think marijuana should be sold at provincial liquor stores, but should be provided at hospitals when prescribed by a doctor or personal psychiatrists. I find that marijuana is an unsafe substance and I think that people impairing their train of thought and ability to comprehend what is happening around them without consequences is dangerous. I agree that Manitoba should work on a harm reduction strategy to address dangers of marijuana and not just look into the revenue. Malina Hedgecock Winnipeg [end]
Two treatment programs closed THE closure of two youth-treatment programs has raised concerns about access to addictions treatment for young people involved in Manitoba's criminal justice system. The youth addiction and mental health treatment programs run by the Behavioural Health Foundation closed permanently this spring because of a lack of funding. The shuttering of the two programs - one in Selkirk for boys and the other in St. Norbert for girls - was already in the works when a Red River College student was brutally attacked by two boys at the Selkirk facility during the final shift of her child and youth care practicum last May. [continues 892 words]
Task force to release report next month; Stefanson calls for 'clarity' OTTAWA - The Manitoba government said Ottawa must provide more information about its plans to legalize marijuana as soon as possible because the provinces have work to do in order to implement the change. Justice Minister Heather Stefanson said all her provincial counterparts agreed at their recent meeting in Halifax they're going to need details before legislation is introduced. "We need to know what the framework is going to look like so we can prepare," she said. [continues 504 words]
HALIFAX - The federal government's plan to legalize marijuana has some provincial politicians raising concerns about drug-impaired driving. Three provincial justice ministers made a point of highlighting the issue Friday at the conclusion of a meeting in Halifax between federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould and her provincial and territorial counterparts. Ontario Attorney General Yasir Naqvi was the first to bring it up during a news conference, saying the province is also keen to ensure there are measures to protect youth and focus on harm reduction. [continues 487 words]
WINNIPEG police officers will soon join fire and paramedic emergency workers in carrying the antidote to fentanyl overdoses. Deputy police chief Danny Smyth confirmed to the Winnipeg Police Board Friday they are working with health officials on how officers can carry doses of Naloxone and administer it. Smyth said one concern is the lifesaving drug can't be used in temperatures lower than 4 C. According to various pharmaceutical websites, the drug works at temperatures up to 25 C. "We will have to figure out how officers will carry the drug," he said. [continues 277 words]
It really makes my blood boil when I read about senseless deaths from drug overdoses that were very likely behind the demise of the two men recently found dead in their car. Drug laws must change, as drug dealers are under no compulsion to produce a pure product in a standard dosage, and they profit handsomely from the sale of their adulterated wares. If drugs were regulated and sold at cost to those with addictions, it would be better for all concerned. [continues 64 words]
Price, availability, addictiveness appeal to young people, police say THE city's youth are fuelling a surge in methamphetamine use because it's a cheaper way to get a long-lasting high. In fact, "because of its affordability, addictive nature and accessibility, the methamphetamine user base in Winnipeg has increased significantly over a few short years, allowing traffickers to prosper," the Winnipeg Police Service said in a statement. Sadly, both police and health officials don't expect the situation to get better any time soon. [continues 1087 words]
Justin Trudeau sits down with Free Press editor Paul Samyn to talk about urgent legislation, First Nations, marijuana... and Stephen Harper PRIME Minister Justin Trudeau sat down with Winnipeg Free Press editor Paul Samyn for an exclusive interview Thursday. The event, held at the Winnipeg Free Press News Cafe, was a fulfilment of promise Trudeau had made to the newspaper. "I was here a few years ago, and one of the promises I made - and it's great when a politician can keep promises - was to come back," said the casually dressed Trudeau. [continues 2735 words]
Alcohol consumption, gaming habits explored AS the Trudeau government wrestles with keeping its promise to legalize marijuana use, a new poll shows one in five Manitobans indulges in pot smoking. The Forum Research poll found Manitobans like booze and aren't into casino-style gambling, while a low percentage use pot. The random sampling of 1,140 Manitoba residents found 76 per cent had consumed alcohol in the past year, 53 per cent had gambled and 18 per cent had used marijuana. [continues 669 words]
By this time next year, weed will be well on its way to becoming a legal in Canada. Next spring, the Trudeau government intends to introduce legislation that will effectively legalize the production, distribution and sale of marijuana and other cannabis products and eliminate penalties for possession. Precisely what that involves will depend on regulations that may take longer to put in place - whatever Ottawa decides will require Canadian provinces and municipalities to make changes of their own. Right now, the status of weed sits in a sort of limbo as law enforcement agencies, governments and potential entrepreneurs watch and wait to see what precisely winds up being proposed by federal Health Minister Jane Philpott and parliamentary justice secretary Bill Blair, the former Toronto police chief. [continues 1549 words]
ENTREPRENEURS planning retail marijuana operations will not yet get direction from city hall. A civic committee Tuesday supported an administrative recommendation not to prepare a report examining how retail marijuana operators can be regulated - despite a November directive from council to do so. The proposal had been a suggestion from Coun. Ross Eadie, who said the city should be proactive in regulating where sellers can operate in anticipation of the federal government either legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana. Eadie said without regulations in place, marijuana retailers would be able to set up adjacent to schools - which he opposes. [continues 209 words]
POT advocates called for marijuana legalization at Wednesday's 4/20 festivities, but it could be the last time they have to. A group of weed smokers clouded up downtown and gathered at the Manitoba legislature to celebrate the herb. The usual premise of 4/20 is to encourage politicians to look into either legalizing or decriminalizing the drug, but now that Justin Trudeau is prime minister, that could change. Marijuana legalization and regulation was one of the Liberal government's big promises before the federal election last October. On Wednesday, Health Minister Jane Philpott told the United Nations legislation could be introduced as early as next spring in Canada. [continues 387 words]
Supreme Court strikes down previous government's laws OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Canada has struck down two federal laws from the previous Conservative government's tough-on-crime agenda, ruling both to be unconstitutional. The decisions mean an end to rules for minimum sentences for specific drug crime convictions and limits on credit for pre-trial detention in certain conditions where bail is denied, giving trial judges more leeway in how they deal with offenders. In both decisions, the top court said Parliament has the right to set laws to maintain public safety, but the rules should not be so overly broad that they capture offenders whose incarceration would benefit neither themselves nor the public. [continues 254 words]
Police did not breach the rights of a Winnipeg man when they ignored his protests, burst into his home without a warrant and found a marijuana grow operation inside, a judge has ruled. Edward Garbacz was seeking to have all of the evidence against him dismissed, claiming police had no right to enter his property in June 2013. But Queen's Bench Justice Karen Simonsen ruled Monday that officers acted properly given the unique circumstances surrounding this case. It all began with an anonymous 911 call that came into police around midnight. A man said his "neighbour was beating up his wife" and then quickly hung up after providing the address. No other details were given. The call was made from a payphone that was almost two kilometres away from the scene of the alleged crime. [continues 426 words]
Says marijuana should be sold in stand-alone stores IT has been a year since CEO John Stinson advised the board of Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, which had just hired him, that legalized pot was coming, and the Crown corporation better be prepared for it. And now it's been a week since Stinson visited Denver to get the lowdown on Colorado's legalized marijuana high. Which is how the CEO of our pot supplier-designate came to offer a one-on-one briefing about the surprise he got on the trip. [continues 791 words]
Plans to file complaint regarding incident at Winnipeg airport A NORTHERN Manitoba chief says he was accused of carrying marijuana Saturday at the Richardson International Airport when a security guard aggressively confronted him about a sacred medicine pouch he wears around his neck. In a peculiar twist to the incident, the guard walked off in an apparent huff when two other security guards tried to intervene and calm the situation down, leaving Pukatawagan's Mathias Colomb Chief Arlen Dumas and his companions speechless at the security screening area where passengers must pass through metal detectors or scanners and have their belongings X-rayed for safety before boarding a flight. [continues 707 words]
Users now allowed to raise pot for own consumption WINNIPEG medical-marijuana patients hailed a federal court ruling that struck down "arbitrary and overbroad" legislation from the former Conservative government banning Canadian medical pot users from growing their own weed. And the one company in Winnipeg with a federal licence to supply medical marijuana indicated the ruling won't affect it, at least not in the short term. The city's most vocal advocate for medical-marijuana rights said even without knowing whether Ottawa will appeal the ruling, he couldn't contain his delight. [continues 741 words]
Legal Weed Should Bring Mellow to the Masses, Turn Criminal Profits to Ash AS counterintuitive as it sounds, legal marijuana will probably result in some Canadians getting a lot less high. In the 1980s, marijuana tended to be about three per cent tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the plant's primary psychoactive ingredient and the substance largely responsible for making marijuana users feel stoned. These days, the average THC content of marijuana is more like 12 per cent, and samples seized by law-enforcement agencies have tested as high (sorry) as 24 per cent. [continues 676 words]
MARIJUANA and fitness - common sense suggests one doesn't go well with the other. The stereotype of the lazy stoner who makes late-night pilgrimages for junk food doesn't mesh with someone who spends spare time lifting weights or goes on early morning jogs. But some users who have taken a hit before lifting weights say there are benefits. "Weed was a great help for me when I was just starting off weight training, running and cycling. For one, it really takes the edge of the soreness," says Martin, who doesn't want his last name published. [continues 866 words]
He wanted to turn back time and find a way to undo the sins of his past. But the Manitoba Court of Appeal has rejected a former Winnipeg man's bid to reopen his drug conviction - saying almost two decades is too long to have waited to make a move. Curtis Fraser pleaded guilty in March 1991 to possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. He received a federal penitentiary sentence, then moved to the United States following his release. [continues 271 words]
Liberal appointee worries legalized-marijuana activist OTTAWA - Some members of the marijuana movement are concerned about the government's decision to make Toronto's former police chief a point man on legalizing pot, activist and former Liberal hopeful Jodie Emery said Friday. Liberal MP Bill Blair, parliamentary secretary to Justice Minister Jody-Wilson Raybould, has been tapped to take a leading role on the file, working closely with the departments of Justice, Public Safety and Health. "The minister of justice and her colleagues are confident that parliamentary secretary Blair's experience and background in public safety will be a great asset to the government's work to ensure a careful and thoughtful approach to the legalization and regulation of marijuana," said Justice spokesman Andrew Gowing. [continues 394 words]
Congratulations to Canada and new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the move toward ending cannabis (marijuana) prohibition ( The pot smokers are getting restless, Editorial, Dec. 28). However, it should not take "many years before weed is legalized." Cannabis prohibition is already over - it's just a matter of formalities and calling off the dogs. People aren't waiting on government to end cannabis prohibition - get the job done right now. Stan White Dillon, Colo. [end]
MARIJUANA users seem to be getting restless for the new legal regime promised by the Liberal party during the federal election. In Winnipeg, a clandestine pot-delivery service has already popped up, while other would-be dispensers are turning blue waiting for the law to change. The same restless urge to strike down the old prohibitions has been noticeable across Canada. There wasn't a whiff of news about when the air might clear, however, until Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Vancouver recently, the most pot-friendly city in Canada. [continues 538 words]
Impairment Not Proven, Says Judge HE admits smoking up before getting behind the wheel and feeling a bit "tipsy" as a result. But one of the first "driving while impaired by drug" cases in Manitoba has ended with the accused going free because a judge says it's not clear whether the accused's marijuana use had any significant impact on his motor skills. "The indicia of impairment by alcohol are fairly well-known and accepted in the case law: improper driving, bloodshot or watery eyes, flushed face, odour of alcohol, slurred speech, lack of co-ordination and inability to perform physical tests, a lack of comprehension and inappropriate behaviour," provincial court Judge Cynthia Devine said in her written decision. [continues 574 words]
'Freedom Advocate' Offers Service As Legalization Vowed THE federal government hasn't yet legalized marijuana in Canada, but that hasn't stopped a Winnipeg drug dealer from advertising a pot-delivery service. A flyer circulating in some parts of the city promises to deliver marijuana to cash-paying customers by "appointment" arranged over encrypted email. It's unclear how widely the flyer has circulated - copies have been delivered to some residents' homes, but the Winnipeg Police Service said it hasn't received any complaints. [continues 590 words]
OTTAWA - Canada's health minister says the federal government has made no decision whether marijuana will be sold in provincial liquor stores once it is legalized. Jane Philpott told reporters after a cabinet meeting Tuesday discussions to legalize, regulate and restrict marijuana in Canada are in their infancy and it's premature to determine where marijuana might eventually be sold. "That level of detail is not yet forthcoming," Philpott said. "I'm happy to see our provincial counterparts are looking at what they think are good ideas, but that does not imply we are anywhere near that stage of our discussions." [continues 336 words]
Throne speech vow first urged in 1972 OTTAWA - It has taken more than 40 years, but the government of Canada is finally formally committing to legalizing marijuana. Gov. Gen. David Johnston delivered the governing priorities of Justin Trudeau's Liberals in the speech from the throne Friday, including a pledge to "legalize, regulate and restrict access to marijuana." The Liberals promised to legalize pot more than a year ago, prompting a months-long barrage of Conservative attack ads in multiple languages that asserted the move would make marijuana readily available to children through sales at corner stores. [continues 459 words]
Re: The dope dilemma (Nov. 21). While I don't want to minimize the hazards of smoking marijuana and driving, leafing through the pages following Gordon Sinclair Jr.'s article was interesting. There I read an article about a man who had been beaten senseless and left with permanent brain damage. The next article described how a woman had been brutally beaten to death. Both crimes were carried out by extremely intoxicated men. I can't recall ever reading of any violent crime committed by someone high on pot. Maybe society would be better off with more pot smokers and fewer drinkers. Randy Rasmussen Winnipeg [end]
IT didn't take long for the Selinger government to smell the "charm" of legalized marijuana. The potential windfall from a liberalized era of lighting up is perfectly intoxicating. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised legalized pot will hit the streets soon enough, and there's going to be tax revenue in that. That's why pot got special mention in Premier Greg Selinger's throne speech, noting Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries is perfectly positioned to act as the middle man in the marijuana trade. Mr. Selinger warns pot is highly addictive and therefore too risky to put in the hands of the private sector. So, he made clear liquor marts alone will be both buyer and seller of marijuana. [continues 496 words]
Should you call police if you suspect a driver is impaired by marijuana? I CAME bumper to bumper with a dilemma on a Sunday evening two weeks ago. A dilemma that forced me to make a decision I'm still debating. Later, it would make me wonder what most of you would have done if you had been there. It was just before closing time at the Chamois Car Wash on Waverley Street when I pulled up, rolled down my window and the pleasant young woman asked what kind of air freshener I preferred with my wash. That's when the strong, pungent smell of marijuana hit me. It was coming from the decal-decorated blue Honda hatchback in front of my car. [continues 872 words]
Says 'Highly Addictive' Drug Should Be Government-Controlled PREMIER Greg Selinger says cannabis products are "highly addictive drugs" that ought to be sold primarily through Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries stores once Ottawa legalizes marijuana. One day after MLL declared it is considering all options for cannabis sales - private retail stores, government outlets or a combination of both - Manitoba's premier said he'd prefer to see marijuana sold much like alcohol is sold in this province. "These are all highly addictive drugs and we want to make sure Manitobans get the best opportunity to be protected from them," Selinger said Thursday at the legislative building. [continues 428 words]
Provincial Liquor and Gaming Authorities Look to Experience of States Where It's Legal THE impending legalization of cannabis has sparked a formal effort in Manitoba to determine how marijuana ought to be regulated and sold. In Monday's throne speech, the Selinger government said Manitoba's Liquor & Gaming Authority and Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries "will be well-positioned to regulate the sale and distribution of marijuana in a safe and socially responsible manner" once Justin Trudeau's Liberals make it legal to light up. [continues 704 words]
IMAGINE living in a world where horrifying memories are so vivid, the lines between past and present are blurred. You spend your waking hours on high alert. You feel intense fear. You see threats everywhere. You have difficulty sleeping, and when you do sleep, nightmares plague you. You experience extreme mood swings. Others may simply see you as a difficult person to be around. Few understand you, many don't want to. You may even struggle to understand yourself. For others, the symptoms might be less severe, but nevertheless, an impact is made. This is the nature of trauma. Now imagine there is something you can take that can help you feel instant relief. Imagine you can take something that can help you to feel "normal" again. This is the nature of substance abuse. Finally, imagine you cannot stop seeking relief this way because it is the only way you ever feel better. This is the nature of addiction. The Addictions Foundation of Manitoba defines addiction as an unhealthy relationship between a person and a mood-or mind-altering substance, experience, event or activity, which contributes to life problems and their recurrence. Those who have experienced trauma are vulnerable. [continues 649 words]
JUSTIN Trudeau may not realize it yet, but his plan to legalize marijuana is likely to have a profound effect on international drug policy, possibly leading to a reappraisal of the failed war on drugs. Canada would also run afoul of at least three international drug conventions to which it is a signatory. These agreements require Canada to do its part to halt the use and trafficking of illegal drugs, including marijuana. While many countries have liberalized their laws on pot, only one other country - Uruguay - has legalized it. Four American states have also made recreational use of marijuana legal, but Washington still adheres to the international agreements and is officially opposed to legalization. [continues 459 words]
A WINNIPEG man caught with a large marijuana grow operation in his home went to court Tuesday wondering if Justin Trudeau might be able to save him. But defence lawyer Jay Prober had some bad news for his client - the prime minister-designate's promise to legalize pot in Canada wouldn't save him. "My client asked about Mr. Trudeau just this morning and what was going to happen. I explained to him that it's still not going to be legal to grow 514 plants in your house," Prober told court with a chuckle. [continues 266 words]
Tax Windfall Among Potential Benefits of Legalized Marijuana MEDICINAL marijuana stocks and the spirits of those in the industry in Winnipeg are flying high with the news a pot-friendly prime minister will soon be in office. In the aftermath of Justin Trudeau's election, stock prices for medical marijuana producers have jumped as companies across the nation anticipate what could be a huge boon for the industry. Private companies such as Delta 9 Bio-Tech, Winnipeg's first medical-marijuana production facility, are waiting with bated breath to see how expected changes to the law take shape and what role they can take in this new frontier. [continues 981 words]
City 'should be ready' for potential decriminalization of drug: Eadie TWO Winnipeg city councillors want zoning regulations in place to restrict where marijuana and related products can be sold should the drug be legalized or decriminalized. But while local advocates applaud the move - and Vancouver continues to push ahead with its decision to create zoning regulations for medical marijuana-related businesses - a national advocate against legalizing marijuana says city councillors should mind their own business. Couns. Ross Eadie (Mynarski) and Matt Allard (St. Boniface) brought a motion to city council Wednesday asking administration to look at how other Canadian municipalities are regulating marijuana and what may work in Winnipeg. [continues 804 words]
VANCOUVER - Canadian actress Pamela Anderson prompted laughs from starry-eyed fans when she quipped she would never vote for Conservative Leader Stephen Harper. But she quickly switched to a serious tone and said citizens should keep climate change top of mind when they go to the polls Oct. 19, calling it "the most important issue to anybody in the whole world." "Harper doesn't have a good track record with that (issue)," she said Friday to explain her opinion. "I think it's our decade's most important issue to deal with, and putting the environment ahead of the economy, I know, is a difficult choice." [continues 361 words]
THE owner of a medical marijuana shop is vowing to fight criminal charges - possibly while acting as his own lawyer - as part of a service he feels he owes the community. Glenn Price made his first court appearance Thursday. The matter was adjourned until Sept. 3. He was charged with possession and trafficking of marijuana, along with proceeds of crime, following an Aug. 4 raid on his Main Street business, Your Medical Cannabis Headquarters. "If I can't raise enough money (to hire a lawyer), I'll defend myself," Price said on the steps of the downtown Law Courts. He was surrounded by a handful of supporters and former customers, including one man who made a point of lighting up a joint as a woman tried to pull him out of camera view. [continues 285 words]
Thank you for printing Bill VanderGraaf's commonsense argument in support of relaxing the marijuana laws in Canada ( Ex-cop's evolving thought on pot, Aug. 13). Having known an alcoholic, I just wish he would have replaced the 63 beers he drank each week with a few joints. This person would have been be much happier and so would everyone he affected with his drinking. How many more studies do we need to tell us what everyone (especially cops) already know - that pot smokers are much less violent than alcohol drinkers? Mark Brown Winnipeg [end]
MOUNTIES will have to give back the weed they seized after mistakenly raiding a grow-op, only to later learn the owner had a valid permit to grow medical marijuana. The property owner, Brandon resident Jerry Pomehichuk, suggests the incident highlights law enforcement isn't keeping up with medical-marijuana laws. He says police don't see marijuana as medicine, but still as a substance that needs to be controlled. "They've been trained one way for a long time, and it's very hard to train an old dog," Pomehichuk said Friday after all drug charges against him were dropped. [continues 309 words]
ONCE, as a staff sergeant of detectives, Bill VanderGraaf was a warrior leading Winnipeg's version of the war on drugs. Now, the retired former cop is the leading local voice on the decriminalization and regulation of street drugs. Pot in particular. So what happened to VanderGraaf between then and now? He is half an hour into an explanation of the journey to smoking joints as a way to help deal with a life and a career laced with psychological booby-traps when he says this: "Police work is always about doing things you don't necessarily like having to do. And the Morgentaler clinic was one of those investigations." [continues 848 words]
Re: PM shares hotel with Hell's Angels (Aug. 8). It's rather ironic that the Hell's Angels can afford to stay at the same upscale hotel as Stephen Harper thanks in part to the prime minister's pro organized-crime policy on marijuana. Wayne Ashley Winnipeg [end]
On a recent trip to Winnipeg, I was struck by how much the road infrastructure has deteriorated since I lived there over a decade ago. My solution: lobby the soon-to-be new federal government to legalize marijuana and then put the revenue into the roads along with addiction counselling and other vital services. Right now, that revenue is making illegal gangs rich, and they don't care about the people they sell to. In other words, use pot to fill the "potholes." Michael Barker-Fyfe Vancouver [end]
THE owner of Winnipeg's sole medical-marijuana dispensary issued his first public statement Thursday since his arrest earlier this week. "First I would like to thank everyone for their support," Glenn Price said in an email to media Thursday afternoon. "Hopefully if nothing else is gained from this, we can at least shed some light on the struggles patients have obtaining medical cannabis." Price, 54, was arrested at his unlicensed Main Street dispensary and is charged with drug trafficking and possession offences, as well as possession of the proceeds of crime after police issued two search warrants at his home and business. He was released from custody. His business was shut down Tuesday. Price used his statement to call for a Canadian standard, one that would be the same from one province to the next and would allow patients easier access to medical marijuana. [continues 267 words]
