Still, Two-Thirds Don't Smoke Pot, Say Results of Survey in County The percentage of Henry County Schools high school students who say they smoke marijuana every day has increased dramatically in the last few years, and some other measures of marijuana use also have increased significantly, all mirroring national trends. But Katie Connelly, community organizer for prevention for Piedmont Community Services, said it's important to point out that when the drug survey was most recently done early this school year, about two-thirds of students said they did not smoke marijuana. [continues 1178 words]
GUELPH - The Wellington-Guelph Drug Strategy is exploring the feasibility of a drug treatment court in Guelph after successful ventures in Kitchener, London and larger centres like Toronto and Edmonton. It's a system that provides treatment options and frequent drug testing for accused persons where addiction to drugs or alcohol is the root cause of their criminal behaviour. The goal of these special courts is to reduce the so-called revolving door effect for these offenders. The accused would have to plead guilty to the offence, but instead of serving jail time, would have strict conditions to meet that could include treatment, urinalysis, attending school and/or a job, and holding regular meetings with a judge. [continues 377 words]
Cannabis Crusader Has Been in Europe Since 2009 AMHERST - A series of drug charges against an Athol man who says he's exiled in Europe have been withdrawn. Rickey Logan Simpson, 62, was charged with the production of cannabis marijuana, possession of cannabis marijuana for the purpose of trafficking and possession of cannabis marijuana and possession of cannabis resin following a raid of his Athol Road home in November 2009. Simpson was in Amsterdam, Holland accepting the Freedom Fighter of the Year Award at the annual Cannabis Cup when the raid occurred and it's believe he has been in Europe since then. [continues 291 words]
A former Toronto drug squad officer has told a cop corruption trial he never viciously beat a prisoner, as alleged, but simply defended himself in a "brawl." Richard Benoit testified Friday he was ordered to enter a Central Field Command drug squad interview room in 1998 to inform pot dealer Christopher Quigley that officers had searched his mother's house. This enraged the prisoner, Benoit said. "He started yelling. He lunged at me with a closed fist," Benoit told Patrick Ducharme, lawyer for defendant Ned Maodus. "He attempted to punch me." [continues 365 words]
HESPERIA With a new medical marijuana dispensary in town, Hesperia officials are touting a tough policy that could hit both the dispensary and its landlord with fines that can reach $1,500 a day after a 24-day warning period. "It is an unacceptable use within the city of Hesperia," city spokeswoman Kelly Malloy said. "While we can't allow something that the state of California prohibits, we have the authority to ban something that's (allowed)." [continues 258 words]
THE QUESTION Marijuana has been investigated as a medicinal aid for people with cancer, AIDS, glaucoma and other conditions. Might smoking marijuana help relieve the muscle spasticity in people with multiple sclerosis? THIS STUDY involved 30 adults (average age, 51) with MS who had spasticity (tight, difficult-to-control muscles) that had not responded well to treatment. To get around, nearly half used a cane or walker, and 20 percent needed a wheelchair. Under supervision, they smoked either a marijuana cigarette or a placebo cigarette once a day for three days, averaging four puffs per cigarette. Eleven days later, the process was repeated but with participants smoking the other substance. Before and after each daily session, health professionals used a standardized scale to evaluate muscle tone in elbows, hips and knees; cognitive abilities also were tested. Participants had about 30 percent less spasticity after smoking marijuana than after using the placebo, and they reported 50 percent less pain. Scores on cognitive tests were consistently lower after marijuana use than before. The marijuana was described as well tolerated, but side effects included dizziness and nausea, and a few people said they felt "too high." [continues 222 words]
A former drug squad officer accused of beating a Montreal stripper in a Toronto police interview room says he didn't have any contact with her. Aida Fagundo has testified that a tall, good-looking police officer with blue eyes beat her with a telephone book after she was arrested on a cocaine trafficking charge on Nov. 2, 1997. "That couldn't have been me," said Joseph Miched, who is tall and has blue eyes, to laughter from the jury. "Did you see anyone abuse her?" asked his lawyer, Peter Brauti. [continues 331 words]
As an educated, conservative housewife and writer with fibromyalgia, I may not seem a likely medical marijuana candidate. Yet, 15 months ago I went from debilitating pain, migraines, panic attacks, memory issues, depression and exhaustion, to fully functioning in just days. But Riverside County has been cracking down on dispensaries ("Medical marijuana dispensary raided," April 4). For a month, I lacked access to medication, reverting to my former agony. A doctor recommended an FDA-approved drug for $3,000 a year. Its possible side effects include suicidal thoughts, coma and death. I declined. [continues 105 words]
Selling and possessing marijuana is still a federal crime. Selling marijuana near a school is an elevated crime. Does the federal government prohibit the sale of alcohol and tobacco within a thousand feet of a school? Marijuana itself is not a threat to public safety. Selling marijuana does not pose a dangerous threat to the health of the user, no greater than alcohol or tobacco. The proscription of marijuana is property discrimination. Saying marijuana can only be used for medicinal purposes is property discrimination. [continues 191 words]
To the editor: Re: More Mayors Should Follow Lake Country's Baker on Pot Issue, May 1 Capital News. Hallelujah! After four former B.C. attorneys-general joined four former Vancouver mayors endorsing an end to marijuana prohibition, eight sitting B.C. mayors have now echoed the clarion call for marijuana reform. Legalize, regulate and tax the heck out of pot and, presto, gang-related violent crime in our communities and fear among our citizens would disappear. But wait, that's not all. The collateral benefit of a "potted" Canada will be of having solved, virtually overnight, Canada's problem of declining tourism from south of the border and elsewhere. [continues 185 words]
A Toronto police officer accused of corruption says marijuana dealer Christopher Quigley was never, as he claims, kicked, punched and choked to unconsciousness by drug squad members 14 years ago. "I heard him say that, but it never happened," Const. Steven Correia, 45, testified Tuesday in his defence. Quigley took the stand in January to say two other officers, Ned Maodus and Richard Benoit, viciously assaulted him in a drug squad interview room, demanding to know where his marijuana and money were. [continues 372 words]
