A lot of coughing, a lot of smoke and a lot of tokes. More than 30 people were in attendance for Fort Saskatchewan's first pro-pot protest on the afternoon of April 20. The Erb 4 Herb 420 protest, put on by Erb4Herb and Deviant Fibres, was considered a great success by protestors. A minute of silence was held at 4:19 for the "victims of prohibition and drug war." Protestor Corey McCann said pro-pot events are important to raise awareness to anyone who does not know about the medicinal and recreational properties, as well as the value cannabis has in the hemp industries. [continues 333 words]
This story is Part 1 of 2 surrounding the issue of synthetic cannabinoids and their local availability A local store connected to the sale of a synthetic cannabinoid has fallen into a grey area of Canadian law. River City Cigars, located on Westpark Boulevard in Fort Saskatchewan, has been selling "Spirit 420," a "herbal incense" - the brand of which was connected with synthetic cannabinoids in a March 2013 investigation in Medicine Hat. "Cannabinoids originate from marijuana. These are synthetic cannabinoids that are basically made in a lab," said Bradley Mitchelmore, a clinical assistant professor with the University of Alberta's Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. [continues 1081 words]
Drugs are drugs, and kids are kids. Fort Saskatchewan is not immune to drug use, and it's only fair to admit to ourselves that, yes, students are smoking up. You can live in a world of beautiful delusion and ignorance if you'd like, but the Fort isn't some secluded colony where no teenagers have heard of drugs. The problem is it seems those who have accepted that teens use drugs are now simply letting it happen. That's not to say Fort Saskatchewan RCMP aren't revving up against drug use in the city because they are. And it's not a stretch to say there are community members helping police in that endeavor. [continues 454 words]
Illegal drug activity is on the rise in the city, according to Fort Saskatchewan RCMP statistics. In 2005, there were eight charges laid. That number quadrupled to 35 charges in 2006 and increased to 53 in 2007. It dropped in 2008, down to 36 charges, but it was back up again last year, with 58 drug charges laid. "From 2005 to 2006 when it quadrupled, that's a big concern," said Const. Brian McLeod, media liaison with the Fort Saskatchewan RCMP. "And the fact that 2008 to 2009 (saw) a 50 per cent increase is a concern too. We certainly don't want to see that kind of a jump when the 2010 stats come in." [continues 512 words]
Fairly Unbalanced In 2003 I wrote a column arguing in favour of legalizing marijuana. Since I may never have another chance to do this, I'm writing now to tell you I was wrong. So wrong in fact I'm ashamed to have ever written it. In that column I tried to argue that marijuana wasn't that bad for you, wasn't any worse than alcohol or cigarettes, and tried to back up my opinions with facts and logic. That was an obvious and idiotic mistake. [continues 327 words]
Public Will Have A Chance To Vote At The Family Festival On June 2 The Drug Awareness Committee is still accepting slogan nominations but have short-listed four nominations already submitted. The public will have a chance to vote for which slogan becomes the official slogan of the committee this weekend at the Family Festival in Legacy Park. Slogans can still be put forward at that time as well. All four nominations are from local students and the winner will be the official slogan following approval from City Hall. [continues 93 words]
As much as I applaud anyone's efforts to keep kids off of drugs, we have to admit that D.A.R.E. is probably worse than no program at all. Don't believe me? Compare the teen marijuana use rates from 1990 and 2005. Or, compare Canada's teen pot use rate today to that of the Netherlands (about half as many Dutch teens use pot as Canadian teens). As a Canadian Federal Medical Marijuana License Holder who is also married to one, I deeply resent D.A.R.E.'s non-factual information and "all use is abuse" attitude they have towards marijuana. D.A.R.E. is the police's fear and fealty propaganda campaign, and I find the fact that they aim these lies at kids particularly evil. [continues 291 words]
You must have needed to fill some space in your Apr. 27 edition so you, unfortunately, chose to print Dick Easton's uniformed view of the activities of the Drug Awareness Committee. City Council has been wise enough to support the efforts of a group of people who work with youth and have the best interests of the community as a main goal. If, as charged, the Boys and Girls Club, FCSS, AADAC, the RCMP, Child and Family Services and the Elk Island Public Schools to name some of the organizations in this partnership "have little knowledge or appreciation" of the issues then our community is in more difficulty that even Dick's fertile imagination could envision. Perhaps Dick should get off of his thesaurus and spend some time speaking to a committee member so his uninformed comments will not raise any questions about his ethics. After all Dick, temperance begins at home. Glen Buchan Volunteer Member Drug Awareness Committee [end]
I have long thought Glen Buchan a head above the crowd, and certainly beyond an ad hominid attack. It was therefore a disappointment to read his May First response to my letter about the Drug Awareness Committee. I have in fact spoken to representatives from the organization to which Buchan refers. I think it fair to say that membership in a committee does not always infer agreement with that committee's policies and tactics. In fact there seems to be gaps between what AADAC material I have read and some of the committees positions. [continues 259 words]
I note, with some wry amusement, that the The Fort Saskatchewan Drug Awareness Committee is in search of a logo and a slogan. I might suggest WCTU II, but I fear that the joke would be lost. It occurs to me that there are more substantive issues than slogans and logos, notably program content. If the performance of the Committee to date us any indication, it might well benefit from a little self education. The Committee seems to have little understanding or appreciation of such issues as context, harm reduction. evaluation, or ethics. While they claim to have some information about epidemiology they are reluctant to share such critical information as their data set, questionnaire design or research protocols, a fact which is in itself telling. Frankly, these things disturb me, moreover I am disturbed by City Council's apparent support of the Committee I am beginning to think that council is getting some bad advice. Dick Easton Fort Saskatchewan [end]
Fort's Newest D.A.R.E. Officer Comes From An Experienced RCMP Family With her father and two uncles retired RCMP officers and three uncles who are still serving, it is no surprise that Const. Renee Murphy's career path led to law enforcement. She applied to the RCMP, didn't hear anything, waited two years, enrolled in post-secondary schooling to become a nurse and then was asked to go to Regina to become an RCMP officer. Within two weeks she was in Regina. [continues 766 words]
Drug Awareness Committee Is Having A Contest To Find An Identity The Fort Saskatchewan Drug Awareness Committee is searching for an identity and to help the search, the committee is having a contest for logos, slogans and posters. The winning bids will become a part of the committee's future campaign of delivering a positive drug prevention message to the youth, parents, residents, visitors and business community of Fort Saskatchewan. "The committee has been operating for about four years and we really felt that we needed an identity," Wendy Serink, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club and member of the Fort Saskatchewan Drug Awareness Committee said. "So people recognize our logo, or our slogan, that kind of speaks to what we believe in." [continues 168 words]
Fort Saskatchewan Record -- "Fighting Crystal Meth" reads the headline in a recent newspaper ad. It seems that the province of Alberta has undertaken to do something about the so-called Crystal Meth Problem in our province. Praise be, we's a gonna study the problem. We are told further that, "Crystal Meth is an inexpensive highly addictive and destructive drug." You can't argue with that, any more than you can argue that any motor vehicle is a 2,000 pound lethal weapon, and that they are responsible for hundreds of deaths every year. You will say "but that's different, it's not the car that's the problem it's how people use it." [continues 252 words]
At the Leg FORT SASKATCHEWAN -- The Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC) will offer more addictions services for youth and their families as part of the Alberta Drug Strategy with a recently announced budget increase. A total of $14 million will be invested across the province to enhance addiction services for youth and families ensuring the appropriate level of treatment is available to youth who are experiencing problems associated with alcohol and other drugs, including crystal methamphetamine. An additional $5 million will sustain AADAC's ability to meet demands by strengthening AADAC's network of services throughout the province. This increase brings AADAC's annual operating budget to $95 million - allowing for the enhancement of services and continuing the operation of 25 area offices, three urban clinics, three adult residential treatment centres, two adult detoxification facilities, two youth services centres, two youth residential and detoxification facilities, and funding support to 37 different non-profit organizations across the province offering addictions services and/or programs. [continues 229 words]
Claims The Marijuana Was Being Grown For Macros Medical Group Bruderheim area resident Darryl Kalyn, 53, attempted to explain the presence of his 198 plant marijuana grow -- op due to its medical benefits. Earlier this year, on May 6, members of the Provincial Joint Force 'Green Team', the RCMP Emergency Response Team, and members from the Fort Saskatchewan RCMP detachment visited Kalyn's Lamont County acreage to execute a search warrant. What they found in several buildings, including the home, included 198 plants, several grams of processed marijuana, 13 weapons, ammunition and a building that had been set up to grow marijuana plants. [continues 506 words]
A long, drawn -- out case involving a Fort Saskatchewan resident who grew marijuana is over and the Fort's DARE (Drug andAlcohol Resistance Education) program will be the beneficiary. Shawn Pinder, 23, will be making a $1,000 donation to the Fort Saskatchewan DARE program. Judge Doug Rae handed down the sentence last Friday concluding a case from earlier this year. Pinder and his girlfriend, Krystal Robinson, were living in an apartment at 210 Westpark Drive, with eight 'unhealthy' pot plants when the Fort Saskatchewan RCMP investigated the home. [continues 156 words]
National Addictions Awareness Week, Nov. 20-26 2005 In October 2003, a community committee was formed to raise awareness about emerging drug issues. The committee focuses on creating public awareness in regards to drug prevention, education, training and treatment. The committee is a partnership of individuals, agencies and organizations. When the committee first formed, the use and abuse of crystal methamphetamine had became a major issue. The committee focuses on heightening awareness and making a difference in the lives of people. On the first Tuesday of every month the committee meets at the Boys & Girls Club at 9:30 a.m. The committee is planning on organizing two drug awareness presentations for the year. [end]
National Addictions Awareness Week, Nov. 20-26 2005 About two years ago, Alice, not her real name, had to begin facing a long road. Alice began suspecting her child was involved with drugs; she confronted her child and was lied to. Only a month later, Alice had the answer she had been expecting. "My child is the fortunate one," Alice says. When Alice had first confronted her child, she did it because of the hours he would keep, the strange behavior, and the way he looked. [continues 819 words]
National Addictions Awareness Week, Nov. 20-26 2005 The following is a submitted story by a recovering addict. Fort Saskatchewan Record -- All my life I've been told "If you keep on using drugs you will die or go to Jail".... I never believed this or should I say I believed it too much, I at least had a murky idea of what this warning truly meant. So, I soldiered on through life lying, cheating and stealing. I hadn't a care in the world, but all the while I had this constant struggle with people who expected so much of me as if I had something to offer. [continues 1055 words]
Joint force between Council on Drug Abuse and Shoppers Drug Mart Meth, crank, crystal, ice, speed, poor man's coke, chalk, and tweak are all just some of the names for a drug that is causing a lot of problems and addictions. Crystal meth is a drug that is manufactured with common house hold products, some that are sold in the hardware store and others that are sold at a pharmacy. On Tuesday, the Council on Drug Abuse (CODA) announced a national Crystal Meth education program. [continues 199 words]
