Marijuana advocate approached N.L. police months ago about starting a dispensary Marijuana advocate Ryan Stratton said when he first heard about pot dispensaries popping up in St. John's, he was a little bitter. Back in May, he approached the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary about starting a marijuana dispensary in town, and he got a firm, unequivocal "No." "I can't help but feel really slighted and bitter about that," he said. "Are you kidding me? I would love to own the first dispensary down there, make it professional, make it well done, get the best product out there." [continues 302 words]
Editor's note: Reporter James McLeod had a tip: A shop in Downtown St. John's was selling pot to people who never had a prescription. He asked if we wanted him to try and buy some for a story. We said yes. The sale of marijuana is already a big issue in our community. That importance will only grow in the coming months as the federal government prepares legislation to legalize. So James proceeded and this story reflects his experience. Our hope is it informs the community and prompts necessary debate on this issue. [continues 1079 words]
It's a lot of fuss over a gram of "Green Lantern" marijuana and four THC-containing extra-strength sativa gummy bunnies - two green, two yellow. But a $25 purchase by The Telegram's James McLeod is certainly making waves. It's a lot of fuss over a gram of "Green Lantern" marijuana and four THC-containing extra-strength sativa gummy bunnies - - two green, two yellow. But a $25 purchase by The Telegram's James McLeod is certainly making waves. McLeod bought the marijuana products at CannaLeaf Medical Dispensary, a marijuana dispensary operating in plain sight on Water Street in downtown St. John's. [continues 425 words]
Owner says opportunity exists for progressive approach, taxation The owner of Health Cannabis on Water Street in St. John's says he has been put on notice by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary: sell marijuana and risk criminal charges. The warning comes despite the federal government's promise of new legislation to come in spring 2017 - expected to legalize the business of marijuana and possession for more than just medical use. "They called my landlord a couple of days ago," said David Ferkul, who spoke with The Telegram Wednesday afternoon. "Then he gave us a number. I phoned them back. They waited a couple of days and I finally got the call today." [continues 640 words]
In an ingenious campaign tactic, Justin Trudeau threw a campaign curveball at reporters in this country by promising to legalize and regulate the use of marijuana. What made the tactic especially clever was its timing; early enough that centrists forgot about it, but late enough that liberal reformists were excited about it through until Election Day. Considering that 59 per cent of Canadians supported legalizing marijuana, in a 2014 survey, it's clear that there is a certain demographic this type of policy appeals to. [continues 548 words]
Dealing with reaction from the United States was always going to be one of the trickiest aspects of moving towards legalization of marijuana across Canada. The case of Matthew Harvey, which came to light this past week, underscores just how tricky it may get. And it shows that the federal government must lose no time in making sure that individual Canadians are not penalized as a result of misunderstandings between the two countries. Harvey was banned from the U.S. for life in 2014 after he truthfully answered a question from an American border control officer as he tried to cross from Vancouver into Washington State. [continues 381 words]
It's back to school time and, for many parents, that means serious discussions with their children about the many challenges that can arise in the schoolyard and the classroom: bullying (both on and offline), peer pressure, test anxieties and other stress, budding sexuality, alcohol and drugs. In the case of the latter category - drinking and drugs - many of us might be tempted to tell our kids, "Just don't do it." But is that a realistic approach? Let's face it, our children, and older teens in particular, are prone to experimentation. Many of us did it and many of them will do it. It's a fact of life. [continues 383 words]
Naloxone take-home antidote soon available Dawne Smallwood's eyes filled with tears as she contemplated how a recent announcement could have saved her son, Nathan. "He just had a demon he could not beat," the St. John's woman said as she stood on the steps of Confederation Building at a rally associated with international overdose awareness day. Smallwood said her son, 23, died of an accidental fentanyl overdose in April 2015. "He was the most beautiful person," she said. [continues 812 words]
I'm writing regarding your editorial "Weeded out," Aug. 30. I smoked many a reefer in the alley next to the Backward Clock on Water Street. Procured from and shared with friends. Prohibition invokes the most cruel capitalism, the iron hand of prohibition. The harder the prohibition, the harder the drugs. Sellers of low-quality product will get less market share. I grew some great crops here in northern California, and have tossed many pounds into the stove due to mould caused by my ineptitude - very educational, that. While I am a big fan of the social joint in the alley, many other consumers are ill, immune-system compromised. If I made someone sicker with my mouldy weed, where would that put me in the line at the Pearly Gates? In closing, my heart's desire would be a grey sunset on Signal Hill, light wind, and a fat, legal, reefer. Jay Bergstrom Forest Ranch, Calif. [end]
Arguing national back-to-school "don't do drugs" campaigns are out of touch with reality, some local groups are planning to take to Confederation Building Wednesday to mark International Overdose Awareness Day with a rally. "What we want people to be more aware of is some of those kids are going to chose to use drugs," said Tree Walsh, harm reduction manager for St. John's with the Aids Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador. The goal then is to warn drug users of the dangers of overdosing. [continues 588 words]
Federal government contributes $30,000 for study to see if drug treatment court in NL can be viable In the 26 years he has been in practice, St. John's lawyer John Duggan has represented many drug-addicted criminals "I would say that 80 per cent of the people I dealt with in my career had some sort of substance-abuse problem," Duggan said. That's why he was so thrilled by Thursday's announcement that the federal government will fund a project to determine the viability of a drug treatment court in this province. [continues 467 words]
All Three Parties Support Legalization, but Specifics Are Scanty Justice Minister Andrew Parsons, Opposition Leader Paul Davis, and New Democrat MHA Gerry Rogers have all smoked marijuana, and all three are in favour of legalizing it. But when it comes to the nitty-gritty of legalized weed in Newfoundland and Labrador, the picture is still very hazy. "There's plenty of meetings, plenty of work, but all of it sort of based on a wait-and-see," Parsons said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau campaigned on a promise of legalizing marijuana in Canada, and since taking office last year, the federal government has started to make moves in that direction. [continues 394 words]
No One Knows What Legal Weed in N.L. Will Look Like Justice Minister Andrew Parsons, Opposition Leader Paul Davis, and New Democrat MHA Gerry Rogers have all smoked marijuana, and all three are in favour of legalizing it. But when it comes to the nitty-gritty of legalized weed in Newfoundland and Labrador, the picture is still very hazy. "There's plenty of meetings, plenty of work, but all of it sort of based on a wait-and-see," Parsons said. [continues 424 words]
Conversations with its partners in the fight against impaired driving were high on the agenda for Andrew Murie, CEO of MADD - Mother's Against Drunk Driving -while visiting the province recently. One of the things heightened during his conversation with RCMP and RNC representatives was the need for increased capacity in testing for impairment from psychoactive drugs. Murie said the laws are in place to help curb the problem, but it was "interesting to see how pathetically long it takes to get test results." [continues 314 words]
Paul Morrissey, marijuana oil advocate, dies at 67 J.P. Morrissey says he couldn't have had a better father than Paul Morrissey, an advocate for an unconventional method of cancer treatment, who died Thursday. "He just was giver. I called him an angel amongst us. ... He was beyond. I couldn't have asked for a better father on this planet," J.P. said Friday of his dad, who was 67. "He taught me so many good values. He had such a good heart. [continues 600 words]
In Newfoundland and Labrador, the latest budget brought huge debt, a two per cent increase in the HST and shutdowns of everything from seniors' dental programs to more than half the province's public libraries. In Prince Edward Island, the HST's up one per cent, while Nova Scotia has gone through public sector wages to eke out the barest slender slip of a balanced budget. New Brunswick? It also raised HST by two points to 15 per cent and is talking about public sector job cuts. [continues 506 words]
The federal government is pushing ahead with plans to legalize marijuana and none too soon. Health Minister Jane Philpott certainly didn't play down the controversial announcement. She chose a special session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York regarding drug use and drug-related crime. The timing was more than coincidental. Philpott chose April 20 to reveal that Ottawa plans to introduce legislation legalizing marijuana in the spring of next year. Her address coincided with 4/20 - - the annual day of celebration for cannabis culture lovers, the so-called National Weed Day. [continues 408 words]
The federal government is pushing ahead with plans to legalize marijuana and not before time. Health Minister Jane Philpott certainly didn't play down the controversial announcement. She chose a special session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York regarding drug use and drug-related crime. The timing was more than coincidental. Minister Philpot chose April 20 to reveal that Ottawa plans to introduce legislation legalizing marijuana in the spring of next year. Her address coincided with 4/20 - - the annual day of celebration for cannabis culture lovers, the so-called National Weed Day. [continues 409 words]
Inside Newfoundland
