Charges Laid Against Two Men Involved With Qikiqtaaluk Compassionate Society IQALUIT - The RCMP raided Nunavut's first compassion club selling marijuana for medicinal use Jan. 29, and charged two men with drug trafficking. Police seized two pounds of marijuana, $7,200 in cash, a GMC Yukon and trafficking materials during a search of two Iqaluit residences, according to an RCMP press release. Ed deVries, 51, was charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime. Sakku Kripinak, 30, was charged with one count of possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. [continues 825 words]
IQALUIT - Maliiganik Tukisiiniakvik lawyer Scott Wheildon says potential changes to Canada's laws would force judges to hand down longer sentences, stressing Nunavut's already overcrowded justice system. "Year after year, we have over 6,000 charges being laid in this territory," said Wheildon. That's the number of charges per year, not the number of people charged, he noted. The Baffin Correctional Centre in Iqaluit has an official capacity of 65 beds but often houses more than 90 prisoners. The Ilavut Correctional Healing Centre in Kugluktuk can house up to 12 in a minimum-security environment. The tentatively-named Rankin Inlet Healing Facility will have room for 46 prisoners and is scheduled to open in 2011, according to Nunavut's assistant deputy attorney general Doug Garson. [continues 490 words]
IQALUIT - A marijuana activist in Iqaluit says police had no right to raid his home and his church and seize the confidential files of his guests. Ed deVries was arrested on Aug. 18 on charges of possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking after police searched his home. According to a press release, police seized five ounces of various cannabis derivatives including pills, resin, oil and trafficking paraphernalia. DeVries said he didn't receive a warrant when police arrived at his door around 8 p.m. He compared the bust as if his home had been "like a crack house in Detroit." [continues 555 words]
Iglulik - Nunavut's most outspoken marijuana advocate will serve time behind bars because of the very thing he promotes. After pleading guilty to trafficking and laundering the proceeds of crime, Ed DeVries was sentenced to six months in jail and one year probation on Sept. 25 in Iglulik. He imported more than 2,000 grams of marijuana to Nunavut. The pot was concealed inside a filing cabinet. DeVries was charged with laundering $282,539.83 worth of items, drugs and money. [continues 121 words]
Police And School Staff Plan To Step Up Drug Awareness Campaign Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet A most unwelcome guest made an appearance in a Rankin Inlet middle school earlier this month. A young female student was discovered to be in possession of marijuana at Simon Alaittuq school by a staff member. No charges were laid in the matter, with authorities opting to deal with the situation away from the courts. Principal Bev Hill said, in a prepared statement, staff members at the school are providing students with factual information on the dangers associated with drug use, and how to deal with peer pressure and drug use. [continues 307 words]
In light of all the controversy surrounding Rev. Ed DeVries, leader of the Nunavut Marijuana Party, I felt it necessary to put in my two cents. I give it to Ed for his honesty and coming forth to everyone, rather than hiding behind closed doors. I can certainly understand people's resentment and anger towards him, as everyone is entitled to their opinion and I remain neutral to it all. Nunavut as a territory has its share of problems ranging from alcohol abuse, rape, child molestation, spousal abuse, fetal alcohol syndrome, and suicide to name a few. I believe it is not a direct result from marijuana use. There are many other factors that play part in the whole grand scheme of things here in the territory. There are other drugs available to people, such as alcohol, crack/cocaine, ecstasy, and mushrooms. [continues 442 words]
In response to It's Your Turn, Aug. 14, Nunavut News/North: Should police do more to arrest street level drug dealers? Yes. I believe police could do a lot better to arrest drug dealers. I was born and raised in a small community and I have seen people dealing drugs a lot my whole life. I have friends and family members who smoke drugs and aren't finishing school. They smoke mostly all day when they can afford it when other kids at school their age are learning. I think that the cops should do something about it, not just know about it because it is also a problem in my community. It seems like all they want to do is smoke drugs. Petanie Pitsiulak, Iqaluit [end]
