The update provided by RCMP on The Chad Smoke Shop raid leaves more questions than it provides answers. In the original story, Const. Matt Ericson said this was an investigation the RCMP took on. Const. Ericson and I have spoken several times since, once he questioned something he felt was attributed to him that wasn't, and never once was the cause of the investigation a point of contention. At no point did he say I got it wrong - not when he read it online and not when it hit the streets. Why the sudden change? [continues 267 words]
Something smells about the seizure of pipes, bongs and grinders from The Chad Smoke Shop, and it's not the smell that is normally associated with those particular instruments. Last Saturday, with warrant in hand, RCMP entered the store and seized the majority of the merchandise. Turns out this had been a six-month investigation into the shop that resulted in police confirming they were selling "drug paraphernalia used for illicit drug use". Ignoring the fact that the same results from a six-month investigation could be found with a six-second stop into the store, this really raises a lot of questions that strike at the heart of the credibility of this seizure. [continues 221 words]
Marijuana cigarettes should be available for purchase at every corner store, gas station, grocery store and pharmacy in the province. Following the returns from the US election last week, I had a bit of a keen eye on Initiative 502 in Washington State which would legalize the sale of marijuana. When it passed, my first thought was, "finally, somebody got it right". The Initiative allows adults to carry one ounce of useable marijuana and 16-ounces of marijuana-infused product; outlines regulations for marijuana growth and sales; creates a 25 per cent tax on the sale of marijuana; and charges a $250 initial fee with a $1,000 annual renewal fee. [continues 358 words]
During her report to the Prince Rupert School District Board of Education, assistant superintendent Leah Robinson provided a list of high school suspensions so far in the 2008/2009 school year - A list dominated by students being suspended for the use of marijuana. Of the 52 suspensions handed down so far this year, 30 have been for marijuana use. Of those 30, 20 have involved Aboriginal students while 23 have involved male students. Under board policy, each suspension related to substance abuse requires a re-entry meeting involving the student, the parents, the principal and the assistant superintendent, with the final decision on re-entry being left to the assistant superintendent. Of the 30 suspensions for marijuana use, only four students have been denied re-entry into the school. [continues 156 words]
The Northwest Needs A Detox Facility. That was the message sent to the Northern Health board during their July 12 board meeting by representatives from a number of communities in the region. "For at least the last decade we have been concerned with the lack of a detox centre in the Northwest. We need to get going and get something in place in this part of the province," said Terrace city councillor Lynn Christiansen, noting that tourists to the community had mentioned to her the number of apparently intoxicated people on the streets of that city. [continues 211 words]
The results of a four-month campaign by the RCMP aimed at cracking down on street level drug traffickers throughout the Northwest were released on January 16, and the campaign is being deemed a success by local RCMP officers. From September to December, 2006, undercover officers purchased a variety of drugs which included cocaine, marijuana, crack cocaine, morphine and psilycobin from dealers in Prince Rupert, Queen Charlotte City, Skidegate, Masset, Terrace, Kitimat, the Nass Valley, New Hazelton, Smithers and Houston. All told the operation led to the arrest of 53 different suspects facing over 100 charges, including 11 people facing charges in Prince Rupert, six in Queen Charlotte City/Skidegate and four in Masset. As well as the undercover purchases, detachment members executed 13 search warrants which resulted in the seizure of additional drugs and two firearms. Over $13,000 in cash was also seized during the operation, which was spearheaded by the Prince Rupert North District Drug Section. [continues 126 words]
