While the stories of individual benefit continue to surface, there's some disturbing statistics that are stemming out of the legalization of marijuana. I can personally sympathize and understand the rationale that many people have for legalization. I have friends and family who use the drug for pain, anxiety and other disorders. I watched my cancer-riddled mother struggle through chemotherapy with no relief from prescribed drugs, but instead found nausea suppression and regained her appetite thanks to marijuana. Following the numerous stories of survival online and through the grapevine, she experimented with various forms and strains in her own battle. Unfortunately, at the time, it was not legal, therefore she was left to her own devices. Whereas maybe, just maybe, if prohibition had been scrapped ahead of her diagnosis then further research could have been done to help her and others. [continues 393 words]
While parents often feel like the teacher in Charlie Brown when they're talking to their teens, the truth is that what they say matters. And kids are listening. Sure, they might glaze over after the tenth time you've asked them to clean their room this week, but when it comes to drugs and alcohol, they are listening. "What you say and do matters," said Dr. Marvin Krank, who recently gave a public presentation at Vernon Secondary School titled Talking To Your Kids About Drugs. [continues 320 words]
North Okanagan parents are being armed with the facts so they can slay the myths as they talk to their kids about drugs. Dr. Marvin Krank will provide a public presentation Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Vernon Secondary School. "Talking To Your Kids About Drugs will outline some of the common yet inaccurate and risky misconceptions youth have about drugs and alcohol," said Krank, professor of psychology at UBC's Okanagan campus. His research focuses on the development of substance abuse in teens and young adults. Over the past 20 years he has studied the unrealistic thoughts and beliefs held by youth that lead to risky substance use and he will share that evidence at the presentation. [continues 284 words]
Despite the benefits of medical marijuana, concerns are lighting up over the detrimental effect the drug is producing in kids, as it becomes increasingly accepted. More than 200 people, including parents, youth, doctors and even 40 cadets, turned out a recent presentation focussed on the impacts that marijuana, alcohol and tobacco are having on kids. The presentation, called Teen Substance Abuse: Medical Aspects, was put on through the Vernon School District and featured doctors David Smith, Chris Cunningham and Mike Concannon. [continues 422 words]
B.C's marijuana referendum has failed to spark sufficient interest locally. As the Dec. 5 deadline approached, Sensible BC organizers for Vernon-Monashee had a strong representation but fell short of the 10 per cent goal. "We did not hit our target here in Vernon," said Boyd Goble, local organizer. "We have sent in more then 3,000 (short of our goal of 4,200) and now we wait till after the ninth to see how the rest of the province did." [continues 242 words]
Littleton will be one of just a few south-metro cities to allow retail marijuana sales starting Jan. 1 if council keeps heading the direction it set out on July 9. It was a study session, so no official action could be taken. But five of the seven councilors agreed in theory that Littleton should lift its moratorium on retail sales on Oct. 1, when the state will start accepting applications. Mayor Debbie Brinkman, who led the city's charge against synthetic marijuana two years ago, and Councilor Bruce Beckman, a retired police commander, were opposed. [continues 507 words]
There's a lot to be said for the munchies, especially if you're a hotdog cart lady pushing a pro-marijuana petition. And now a lot can be said about Cindy Heemeryck, one of the most successful Sensible BC campaign organizers in the province. By night, Heemeryck mans her hotdog stand outside Flashbacks nightclub on Ellis Street; by day, she is dedicating her summer to helping change the way marijuana use is dealt with in this province. She is also already among the most successful, if not the most successful, campaign organizers on the Sensible BC team with 3,000 email addresses on her list and 50 people physically working by her side. [continues 857 words]
At just $5 a pill, ecstasy is one of the cheapest highs out there. Unlike alcohol, you don't need ID to get it and unlike both booze and marijuana, the smell of ecstasy does not linger. All of those factors combine to make ecstasy an attractive drug of choice for teenagers, despite the dangers that are often laced with the drug. "At $5 a pill you're like 'wow, that's cheap,'" said Chantelle (name has been changed to protect her identity), a 17-year-old Vernon student who used to do ecstasy, or E as the drug is commonly referred to. "So I can spend $80 on alcohol this weekend or I can spend $20 on E." [continues 642 words]
When it comes to manners, parents will go to great lengths to teach their kids 'p's and q's'. Yet when it comes to drugs and alcohol, few parents are actually taking the time to educate their children. But in reality, most parents are more concerned about the potential for their kids to start using drugs and alcohol than whether or not they remember to say please or thank you. So why aren't they taking the time to educate them, asks Doug Rogers, substance abuse prevention counsellor within the schools. [continues 477 words]
An Okanagan researcher is among the contributing voices on a ground-breaking nationwide strategy for reducing substance abuse in children and youth that was released this week. Marvin Krank, professor of psychology and dean of the College of Graduate Studies at UBCO, acted as an academic voice in drafting the Portfolio of Canadian Standards for Youth Substance Abuse Prevention. The document is a one-of-a-kind guide for developing prevention programs and lays out the best practices one should follow to ensure a program succeeds in getting kids off substances and to stay away from their influence in the first place. [continues 362 words]
Emily Allingham would like to see more health care dollars spent on crack pipe mouth pieces. Samantha Brown believes safe needle exchange is a health care service. And Megan Cox doesn't believe in lost causes, she believes in harm reduction. With these thought-provoking messages, the three young UBC Okanagan student nurses are trying to catch the attention of the public. Sporting T-shirts with attention-grabbing slogans, the girls will set up at the Village Green Mall throughout the day Wednesday, Dec. 1. [continues 466 words]
Whether originally destined for the United States or to be smoked in Kelowna's backyard, some 2,050 pounds of mary-jane wound its way into police lock-up in the last Kelowna Green Team exercise. It took seven officers five weeks to accomplish the task, which included arresting a medical marijuana provider who grossly exceeded her permit. "The permits are specific in the amount you are allowed to possess and grow," said Sgt. Ann Morrison. Permitted for 15 plants and caught with 67 extra, the officers confirmed the woman will face charges, along with the others arrested, as they executed the 21 warrants involved in this latest sweep. [continues 192 words]
I'm applying for a new job. I know. Not a wise thing to write into a newspaper that currently employs you , but don't worry, my boss hasn't filed any kind of bankruptcy protection yet, so he's probably in a good enough mood to take it. You see, a friend of mine has sent me a rather unique job application to become a medical marijuana reviewer and I have to admit I'm tempted. It appears an American newspaper is currently looking for someone to review their state's medical marijuana offerings and I might be the right one for the job. [continues 411 words]
Craig Jones, the executive director of the John Howard Society, told chamber members Wednesday that jail sentences aren't the answer for solving drug abuse crime. If Portugal can decriminalize drugs altogether, Canada's Conservative government can back off the recent surge of punitive measures including the push for mandatory jail terms in drug cases. This was the message John Howard Society executive director Craig Jones delivered to the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce this week. "Government needs to hear from the grassroots there is a connection between crime and policy," said Jones, who traveled from Kingston, Ontario to make the speech. [continues 273 words]
Coldstream politicians are eager to make occupants of drug houses pay. While it has yet to be determined to what extent the municipality can potentially do so, several councillors say it is necessary to recoup the costs of having a drug house in the community. "It seems to me we should be taking a much harder stand," said Coun. Richard Enns, who would like to see the costs for inspections ($500 for the initial and $250 for subsequent) increase 10 fold. [continues 154 words]
On the streets it's known as Special K. But this is no breakfast cereal. Special K, Kenny Gee, Cat Vallium, K and Vitamin K are just a few of the names ketamine hides behind. But behind the mask, there is nothing attractive about ketamine, say local authorities. It is nothing less than a dangerous drug. The RCMP, Vernon School District and the Interior Health Authority are hoping to spread more awareness among today's youth on ketamine. The drug is not as readily available in the community as marijuana or cocaine, for example. But it does surface every so often at parties, bars and other social scenes. [continues 693 words]
Local RCMP saw more drug activity, opened fewer files for drunk driving and recorded more accidents in the first six months of 2007 than the same six months last year. On Monday, Kelowna RCMP Supt. Bill McKinnon will make his monthly report to council providing a wrap up of what's happened in the first six months of the year in his detachment. The figures show drugs and assaults are top of the heap when it comes to police activity. Figures for June alone reveal RCMP were concentrating on the issue, opening 46 per cent more files this year than they did over the same period last year. [continues 228 words]
A sweep of Kelowna streets conducted by RCMP the night before the latest homelessness survey has advocates behind the research questioning police tactics. The police were informed the survey would be taking place one month before consultants hired by the Poverty and Homelessness Action Team of the Centre Okanagan were to hit the streets, said Ian Graham, chairman of PHATCO. Although the survey has not been released to the public as yet, Graham criticized police actions when speaking to a group of city's social planning and housing committee members. [continues 502 words]
An 18-bed transition house opens on Richter Street today providing a place for homeless men struggling with addiction to re-establish a life. Structured as a fourplex, the $1.43 million facility offers a bed in a safe home for those who have been on the street and been through counselling to achieve abstinence from drugs or alcohol. The home will also be open to those suffering from mental illness who are able to function on medication, according to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Central Okanagan, the visionaries behind the project. [continues 418 words]
After a year of debate over whether crystal meth is a factor on the local drug scene, RCMP seizure statistics show the drug hit Kelowna hard last month. If the drugs seized on raids and during arrests are any testament to what is available on the street, crystal meth is now virtually as popular as crack cocaine, the previous drug of choice for what police call the "criminally transient." "I don't know that it's surprised me," RCMP Supt. Bill McKinnon said in an interview following his monthly crime report to council on Monday. [continues 466 words]
