Emily Murphy is often hailed for her ground-breaking work on women's rights. Few realize she was also a trailblazer in another area: stirring up anti-drug hysteria 'The Famous Five were a group of strong-minded, trail-blazing Alberta women who challenged the status quo and created lasting and positive change for every Canadian woman." That's how federal cabinet minister Rona Ambrose recently described the five legendary Western feminists whose appeal to the British Privy Council won women the legal status of "persons" in 1929. Ambrose was speaking in Edmonton, unveiling a giant piece of street art honouring the group. "These women are an important part of our country's history," Ambrose said, "and I am delighted that, through this mural, they are now a permanent part of our city's visual landscape." [continues 1580 words]
OTTAWA -- The Law Society of Upper Canada has given a one-month suspension to a local family law practitioner convicted of smuggling drugs to a prisoner in the city's provincial jail. Rose-Lyne Marie Gauthier, a sole practitioner, was given the suspension July 13 for conduct unbecoming after an agreed statement of facts was presented to a law society discipline panel. On March 26, 2002, she pleaded guilty in Superior Court to helping an inmate receive a syringe of cocaine and THC that was smuggled into the local jail in a chocolate bar. She was put on 24 months' probation and ordered to perform 180 hours of community service. [continues 1177 words]
Hemp -- A Short History Of The Most Misunderstood Plant And Its Uses And Abuses Because of its potent cousin, marijuana, a great deal of confusion has evolved surrounding the plant hemp. Today, hemp is grown for food, used for insulation in clothes and buildings, burned as fuel, made into medicine and distilled into hemp oil for lotions, soaps and cosmetics. In short, hemp is one of the wonder plants of nature that can be adapted for use in endless possibilities. The Canadian government is already on record as supporting the commercial growing of hemp and regards it as a legal, regulated industry in our country. [continues 265 words]
As Pot Turned U.S. Tokers Into 'Crazed Maniacs,' Police Here Were Still Learning How To Smell It After a decade of U.S. government scare propaganda that convinced Americans that crazed Mexicans, blacks and fans of jazz clubs were pushing marijuana "reefers" on school children and honest youths, turning them into raving murderers, politicians decided to act. The U.S. Congress passed the Marijuana Tax Stamp Act. Growing and selling marijuana were still legal, but only if you bought a $1 government stamp. And that stamp was not for sale. [continues 1682 words]
Entrepreneurs Are Profiting From Faux And Real Urine, Sold To Job-Hungry Pot Fans Facing Drug Tests In the "war on drugs," for every laughable government and corporate control action, there's a creative pot-culture reaction. So when companies, police and public service managers started demanding drug tests from employees, creative chemists saw a market for ways to help heads keep their jobs and/or stay out of jail. Some drug residues can stay in the body for months. Although most marijuana alkaloids leave the bloodstream within 48 hours, traces remain in hair. [continues 733 words]
