Sometimes so little is going through my head that if Ralph were to say something, I'd actually have room to listen to him. Those few times that's happened also seems to be my week to write an article which then leaves me scrambling. Other times, I start the article only to be sideswiped by some event making me set it aside and start over. Such as todays. I am an old fogey when it comes to the decriminalization of marijuana. [continues 777 words]
Users will have to drive to Yarmouth or Lower Sackville to purchase pot When marijuana becomes legal across Canada July 1, Annapolis Valley residents won't be buying any of the recreational drug from their local NSLC. In fact, they'll have to drive all the way to Yarmouth or Lower Sackville. If you're on the South Shore or Eastern Shore, you're also out of luck. If you're in Liverpool, you'll have to drive to metro or Yarmouth. [continues 988 words]
A new school year is underway and the race is on to deliver a drug and alcohol-free message to children in Cumberland County. Grade 5 students attending Springhill's two elementary schools, schools in Amherst and neighbouring Northport joined forces to participate in this year's Racing Against Drugs. Sponsored by the Amherst Lions and Lioness Clubs and Amherst Police, community partners like Maggie's Place, Amherst Restorative Justice and many more delivered healthy living messages while empowering students with knowledge through fun. [continues 344 words]
Canada's law enforcement agencies, MADD Canada and other first responders took to the country's roads and highways recently in their annual campaign to promote safety on our highways over the summer holiday season. Adding to the complexity of addressing the issue of impaired driving is the steady increase in the numbers of drivers who have been stopped for drug impairment. Law enforcement is also concerned that the impending legalization of marijuana by the Trudeau Government will compound the problem. [continues 437 words]
Two questions: What drug is the most addictive and can give you a condition that can kill you? What other drug has the worse withdrawal effects and can destroy your brain? Answers! No. 1 is nicotine. It is so addictive because no matter how much you ingest your body still craves more and as it leaves your body the craving gets more intense. Over time it can cause lung disease. Answer No. 2 is alcohol/ Longtime excessive use can lead to brain damage. It even has a name - Korsakoff Syndrome. You can also die from the DTs if you go cold turkey and are not under a doctors care. [continues 291 words]
It was a bold statement. "We will legalize, regulate and restrict access to marijuana." The 2015 federal Liberal election promise caught the attention of Canadians and attracted votes of many who supported the long-overdue legalization of marijuana. Many citizens believe that smoking a joint is no worse than having a beer. Many Canadians - even prime ministers - have tried it. Polls indicate a majority favours legalization. Medical marijuana use has smoothed the drug's acceptance and eased concerns. What's the big deal? The government is finally ready to table legislation to legalize marijuana by July 1, 2018 - much too late for many Canadians. Do we really have to wait another 18 months for proclamation, when 60,000 Canadians are convicted each year for simple possession or personal use? [continues 374 words]
According to MADD, impaired driving on average claims 1,250 to 1,500 lives each year and injures approximately 63,000 Canadians. This number is staggering when you consider that this is an entirely preventable tragedy. I am concerned that the discussion of the legalization or decriminalization of Cannabis Marijuana may create an increase in these numbers. I believe that MADD has done a great job in campaigning on the dangers of consuming alcohol while driving, but now drug impaired driving is becoming more and more an issue. In fact, in some age groups, it may be a bigger problem than alcohol-impaired driving. [continues 677 words]
To Those Facing Sentencing for Marijuana Possession An Amherst defence lawyer is offering free legal representation to Cumberland County residents facing sentencing for possession of cannabis for personal use. Jim O'Neil said Thursday he is offering the service through the remainder of 2016 and only to people who have pleaded guilty and are in the sentencing phase. "In this country we have the ancient common-law tradition of amicus curiae. When a lawyer believes an injustice might occur in a court proceedings, the lawyer can appear as a friend of the court and provide representation, usually this is done without charge," said O'Neil. "The Canadian government has announced that simple possession of cannabis for personal use will be decriminalized in 2017. [continues 371 words]
In Newfoundland and Labrador, the latest budget brought huge debt, a two per cent increase in the HST and shutdowns of everything from seniors' dental programs to more than half the province's public libraries. In Prince Edward Island, the HST's up one per cent, while Nova Scotia has gone through public sector wages to eke out the barest slender slip of a balanced budget. New Brunswick? It also raised HST by two points to 15 per cent and is talking about public sector job cuts. [continues 473 words]
This past summer, one of my columns was entitled, "Special training needed for drug dealers." The title came from a "tongue-in-cheek" comment made by Dr. Brian Ferguson. He was upset and angry because of the deaths of young people due to use of painkiller medications. A recent article in the Chronicle Herald has put names to two victims of a one-time use of prescription medication. Last April, Dale Jollota went into her daughter's room to wake her up for school. Olivia Jollota was sitting cross-legged on her bed with her computer on her lap - and she was dead. A toxicology report indicated Olivia had died from taking one hydromorphone pill. [continues 523 words]
Dr. Brian Ferguson has come up with a really novel idea. He would like to see to it that drug dealers receive training related to their trade. It might be a degree in pharmacology, or at the very least a bachelor's degree in chemistry. The problem - as Dr. Ferguson has noted - is that those who are selling drugs have no idea what the impact will be on their customers. They don't have enough knowledge, good common sense, and concern to warn the person who might be tempted to "experience" the effects of oxycodone and/or hydromorphone ... or one of the so-called designer drugs being sold on the street. [continues 451 words]
One thing about getting old is you have lived through a lot of history. People of my age remember when there was no TV and no computers. We appreciate how our world has changed and, if they are like me, they are amazed at the change. I do not go through a week without remarking, "aren't computers wonderful." This is usually after I discover a computer chip is doing something to change my life. Let's face it, computer chips are in nearly every product we use. [continues 657 words]
When Justin Trudeau dove into the legalized marijuana debate last summer, it initially looked like an unnecessarily polarizing position that too easily allowed his opponents to depict him as a lightweight unable to grapple with more pressing issues. The Liberal leader still surely doesn't want to get freighted down by his pot ponderings, and it is never going to become the centrepiece of a party platform. But there is a case to be made that it will be an issue that can move votes in 2015. [continues 678 words]
