Selling marijuana for medical or recreational purposes has been temporarily banned from the city - yet a cannabis clinic that would provide service to North Coast communities still has every intention of moving forward with opening its doors within the year. On Feb. 6, after a public hearing that drew only three vocal residents, Prince Rupert city council passed the zoning bylaw amendment that prohibits the commercial sale and production of marijuana until Jan. 1, 2018. This temporary prohibition, however, does not block the Medical Cannabis Resource Centre Inc. (MCRCI) from opening a site in the city. There was some confusion raised during the public hearing over whether or not the bylaw would allow for a medical marijuana dispensary that would offer support and information to users, and a variety of marijuana products on site rather than ordering online. [continues 479 words]
City eyes temporary ban on commercial marijuana outlets The City of Prince Rupert stepped into hazy territory Monday night when councillors discussed how to navigate the potential legalization of marijuana. Currently, if the federal government legalized cannabis this year, as it has stated, the absence of zoning or business licensing bylaws in the city may lead to the Wild West. "At this time as well, it's not possible for the city to develop effective and also fair regulations governing commercial marijuana operations in the city without first knowing the federal and provincial frameworks," said Hans Seidemann, the manager of community development for the city, who presented the report to council Jan. 9. [continues 494 words]
One of the enduring legacies of Pierre Trudeau's time as prime minister is the legal supremacy of the individual, as articulated in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We are seeing this played out with greater force than ever today, by an activist high court that swatted aside Stephen Harper's attempts to restrain it, and now orders a meek, politically correct Justin Trudeau government to do its bidding. The Federal Court decreed last week that people have the right to grow their own "medical" marijuana. This ruling is unlikely to be appealed, given that Trudeau the Younger is committed to legalizing marijuana for everyone. [continues 501 words]
VICTORIA - On April 1, medical marijuana growing licences expire across the country, and only licensed commercial growers will be able to legally fill a prescription for pot. Ottawa is moving to clean up the mess it created by issuing medical licences all over the country. Since then, municipalities have complained that small-scale medical licences have been greatly exceeded, with many used as fronts for a criminal drug trade that has made B.C. infamous around the world. How big is the problem? There are about 38,000 Canadians licensed to carry marijuana for medical purposes, and half of them live in B.C. Their permission to grow their own or buy it from designated small-scale growers is withdrawn in a couple of months. [continues 496 words]
While a campaign aiming to decriminalize the possession of marijuana didn't get enough support province-wide to force a referendum, there were enough North Coast voters who agreed pot possession shouldn't be a crime. Trevor Kayzer, Sensible BC's North Coast coordinator, said more than 1,700 signatures were collected in the riding, which consists of Prince Rupert, Port Edward, Haida Gwaii, Bella Bella and Bella Coola. "We didn't make [our goal of] 15 per cent, but we made 10 per cent plus a few hundred for cushion," he said. [continues 283 words]
Editor: Re: North Coast surpasses target for Sensible BC petition, Dec. 12, 2013 Although Sensible B.C. didn't get enough signatures to make the next ballot, I'm writing to encourage citizens in British Columbia and all Canadians to continue hope and the good fight to end discrimination towards citizens who use the God-given plant cannabis (marijuana). The majority of North American's support ending this government subsidized discrimination and the day will come when the injustice is over and people look back and ask how on earth cannabis prohibition ever started to begin with? As a Colorado citizen who helped RE-legalize cannabis for sick citizens over a decade ago and completely RE-legalize the plant a year ago, I can assure Canadians, the vile ignorance will end. As cannabis prohibition just ended in Uruguay. Stan White Dillon, Colorado [end]
The Sensible BC campaign to spark the decriminalization of marijuana in B.C. is officially up in smoke after falling short of its goal. Pot activists got 210,000 signatures or about two-thirds of the 300,000 needed - 10 per cent of voters in all 85 B.C. ridings - for their initiative petition to potentially trigger a referendum. They had aimed for a target of 450,000 to provide a buffer against disqualified signatures. "It's a pretty remarkable accomplishment," Sensible BC head Dana Larsen. [continues 339 words]
Success Is Within Reach, but There's Still a Lot of Work to Be Done. Those are the thoughts of Dana Larsen of Sensible BC on the ongoing campaign aiming to decriminalize simple marijuana possession. With the Dec. 5 deadline approaching, Sensible BC canvassers in Prince Rupert and around the province have to kick into high gear to get the required signatures to force a referendum on the matter. The Sensible BC campaign would need just over 300,000 signatures across the province, equating to 10 per cent of registered voters in each of the province's electoral districts, to force a referendum. The campaign is aiming for 400,000 signatures to cover any signatures that don't count according to Elections BC rules. [continues 315 words]
Editor: Sensible BC marijuana petitions have been out for just over a month and a half. This is an official, province-wide petition, just like Stop the HST. It has deadlines, and we are required to get a minimum of 10 per cent of registered voters in each of our 85 electoral districts. This grassroots campaign is driven by the people of B.C. for the people - both for medical users, and recreational use. Registered canvassers volunteer daily to sit outside, in various locations, and wait for people to sign the petitions. [continues 263 words]
Pro-pot leader mocks investigation The Cannabis Crusader handed over a trophy recognizing Prince Rupert RCMP for a six-month investigation into a business selling glass pipes, bongs and grinders. Dana Larsen of Sensible BC, a group working toward decriminalizing possession of marijuana and preventing police from spending time or resources on possession cases, made a trip up north on June 27 to specifically address what he calls "harassment" by Prince Rupert RCMP against businesses selling pipes and bongs. Larsen said he wanted to draw attention to what he calls a "waste of RCMP resources in a fun way". [continues 571 words]
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]
Editor: Re: Shaun Thomas' Nov. 14 column, Prince Rupert Northern View. Now that neighbouring Washington State and Colorado have legalized marijuana, Ottawa can no longer claim Canada must uphold marijuana prohibition in order to maintain good U.S. relations. In 2002, the Canadian Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs concluded that marijuana is relatively benign, prohibition contributes to organized crime, and law enforcement efforts have little impact on patterns of use. Consider the experience of the former land of the free and current world leader in per capita incarceration. The U.S. has double the rate of marijuana use as the Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available. The only winners in the war on marijuana are drug cartels and shameless tough-on-drugs politicians who confuse the drug war's tremendous collateral damage with a comparatively harmless plant. Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, D.C. [end]
Dana Larsen wants cops to stop worrying about recreational pot smokers. Larsen stopped in Prince Rupert last week to promote the sensible Policing Act which aims to decriminalize possession of marijuana in British Columbia. "The Sensible Policing Act will amend the Police Act... by instructing police in British Columbia to spend no time or resources on searching, seizing, detaining or arresting anyone for simple possession of cannabis essentially decriminalizing it," Larsen said at Wednesday's gathering at the Prince Rupert Library. [continues 269 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]
It's commendable to help youth resist alcohol, drugs, cannabis and sex (Community Asked To Help Anti-Drug Education, Dec. 8, 2010) till they're responsible adults. For success the Community Prevention Education Continuum (CPEC) should tell the truth about cannabis (marijuana) since the days of brainwashing citizens into believing the God-given plant is worse than it is, are over. Cannabis is safer than alcohol and should never have been prohibited from the beginning. Stan White Dillon, Colo. [end]
Editor: The problem with police-inflicted "education" is that it consists of lies and fear-mongering and is very short on factual information. As a federally licensed medical marijuana user who is also married to one, I will come right out and say that this is nothing more than a government-sponsored hate-crime no less virulent than revisionist Holocaust denial. If cops went into schools preaching one religion over another, there would be a public outcry. But cops go into schools and scare kids into joining their abstinence cult, and it is funded by taxpayers! [continues 595 words]
The RCMP is beginning a new anti-drug and alcohol initiative in Prince Rupert called the Community Prevention Education Continuum (CPEC) as the RCMP held a series of presentations last week to outline CPEC and its goal to make sure that students from kindergarten to grade 12 are told about the risks of drug and alcohol abuse every single year they are in school. Part of what police think will make CPEC more effective than other prevention programs is that the students won't be exposed to the anti-alcohol and drug message just by the police. Instead members of the community are being encouraged to come and give presentations to the students themselves. The hope is that if students see an anti-drug and alcohol message from every part of the community, instead of just law enforcement, the students will accept what they're being told about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. [continues 481 words]
Citizens across the Northwest are voicing their concerns over the slated closure of the Atlas addiction treatment centre in Terrace, a move which will save over $650,000 per year for Northern Health but one which will have far-reaching impacts on the area's ability to deal with addiction related problems. According to former hospital board chair and former Prince Rupert city councillor Tony Briglio, the decision represents a lack of understanding between the citizen's needs and the decision-making bodies. [continues 444 words]
The Health Officers Council of B.C. is calling on the Ministry of Health and regional health authorities to make safe injection sites for intravenous drug users available across the province. Members of the council met in Prince Rupert in October to discuss the issue, and passed a resolution supporting safe injection sites as part of regular addictions services. The resolution said Vancouver's Insite supervised injection site has been thoroughly studied and found to provide valuable care with, "no adverse consequences." [continues 327 words]
