Editor: Re: Medical pot splits doctors, April 29. I applaud Dr. William Cavers for acknowledging the atrocious federal government barriers of access to medical cannabis - which has now been legal in Canada for 14 years - and the harm being caused to patients. Neither doctors or patients have been seriously consulted during the redefinition of this program. This is not a surprise since the federal government is the wrong legislative platform for medical programs. The provincial governments are the right legislative platforms for medical programs, according to our Canada Health Act. [continues 160 words]
Editor: Re: Pot laws need adjusting, April 3 column. Canadian Medical Cannabis Partners are encouraged by columnist Frank Bucholtz's acknowledgment that the right platform for medical-cannabis regulation is the provincial government and that municipalities need to engage the provinces to make this happen. After our five years of forward motion in this direction, it is so disheartening to hear our premier revert to the old rhetoric "federal jurisdiction." If she won't listen to patients, maybe she will listen to the municipalities who are also major stakeholders. [continues 197 words]
Editor: Re: Council defers medical-marijuana vote, March 4. To clarify my representation to council, I am a spokesperson for the Canadian Medical Cannabis Partners (CMCP), a national patient-driven society. A majority of licensed patients and caregivers are afraid to speak out at council for fear that they may betray them to the police, border guards and fire department, and face shunning, harassment and persecution. While serving on city council in Grand Forks in 2009, I presented a resolution to decentralize the Medical Marijuana Access Regulations (MMAR) to the provinces. It went on to pass in 2010 at the municipal delegates of B.C., and in 2011 FCM Canada endorsed Resolution B146 to "decentralize the MMAR to the provinces." [continues 302 words]
Editor: Re: A few bad seeds hurt patient, Jan. 8 editorial. Thank you for presenting a compassionate, factual editorial on the upcoming changes the Harper government is enacting. How refreshing to see this attitude in the media! I am a senior with multiple medical conditions. I have been under a doctor's care and a federally licensed patient for 10 years. Due to cannabis, I have a good quality of life and am no longer taking pharmaceutical prescription drugs. The side effects of the prescription drugs were creating havoc in my life. I spent most of my time walking around like a zombie and either sleeping or watching TV for most of the day. Now, I have energy, a clear head and am involved in my community. Now, I am able to enjoy my family and grandchildren. [continues 230 words]
Editor, The News: Re: A few bad seeds (bclocalnews.com) Thank you for presenting a compassionate, factual editorial on the upcoming changes the Conservative government is enacting. How refreshing to see this attitude in the media. I am a senior with multiple medical conditions. I have been a under a doctor's care and a federally licensed patient for 10 years. Due to cannabis, I have a good quality of life and am no longer taking pharmaceutical prescription drugs. The side effects of the prescription drugs were creating havoc in my life. I spent most of my time walking around like a zombie and either sleeping or watching TV for most of the day. [continues 257 words]
On May 12, the Minister of Veteran Affairs made a decision to pay for the legal medical cannabis needed by our veterans. The letter below requests the same for CPP recipients. On June 18 the City of Grand Forks is hosting an educational forum on the facts of medical cannabis. I encourage everyone to attend to have their questions answered. An Open Letter to Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Dear Honorable Minister: I am Joy Davies. I am a 61 year old woman living in Grand Forks, BC. I have been a recipient of CPP disability benefits since the year 2000. In the year 2002 my doctor signed papers for me to join the British Columbia Compassion Club where I could access a high quality supply of marijuana for medical use. As a result of my medical use of marijuana, I have been able to greatly improve my quality of life . [continues 549 words]
Practically overnight, faster than you can say "Depression 2.0", a ballooning number of politicians, mainstream media journalists, and members of the public are acknowledging the fact that cannabis prohibition isn't drug control - it's drug chaos. In the U.S. -- where 42 percent of the adult population has used cannabis -- three-quarters of a million citizens are arrested every year for simple possession, draining limited resources from pressing issues like education, health care, and real "criminal justice". South of the border, where cannabis comprises more than half of Mexico's drug trafficking market, prohibitionist policies are fueling a grim and growing war that recently prompted the U.S. Joint Forces Command to warn that Mexico is in danger of becoming a failed state. [continues 1284 words]
Meth (3pm, Sat, May 27, Bader) is a rapid-fire talking-heads documentary about the many faces of crystal meth use and the often devastating role it has played in the lives of gay men, here an assortment of white US fags. While each of the dozen or so interviewees has had very different experiences with the drug, director Todd Ahlberg cuts so quickly from one fellow to another -- the flick is structured according to theme rather than character -- that a single "typical" narrative emerges from the soundbytes: A high-paying job; the reemergence of hedonism in a gay world where AIDS has been normalized; low self-esteem and a desire to be hot leading to escalating meth use; experiencing an incomparable high but not eating or sleeping; constant unprotected and increasingly extreme sex; becoming out of touch with friends, family, interests and reality; and eventually sleeping in your car or homeless and imagining that you are infested with lice or that you are under surveillance (interestingly enough, Britney Spears and Adolf Hitler are both subjects of paranoid delusions here). [continues 683 words]
I have been reading with great interest the letters addressing drug use and punishment for drug users in our area. It impresses me that it seems there are many in our area who feel the current laws against drug users, or those in possession of illegal drugs, are Draconian and completely wasting a huge amount of our resources. I agree, and believe that a realistic look at the 25-year-old 'War on Drugs' will bring you to only one conclusion. That is that we, by supporting politicians and law officers who promise to be "tough on crime" have failed. [continues 406 words]
Canadians are being asked to pass judgment on the Senate Committee's recommendations to legalize marijuana without full consideration being given to the fact that there are no known "roadside" tests that law enforcement officers can use at the present time to determine whether a driver is handicapped by this substance, as is the case with alcohol. Until those tools are provided this proposal is premature. Proponents of legalization will not raise it. Those opposing it may well have other bases of disagreement. [continues 161 words]
Dear Sir, Canadians are being asked to pass judgement on the Senate Committee's recommendations to legalize marijuana without full consideration being given to the fact that there are no known "roadside" tests that law enforcement officers can use at the present time to determine whether a driver is handicapped by this substance as is the case with alcohol. Until those tools are provided this proposal is "premature". Proponents of legalization will not raise it. Those opposing it may well have other bases of disagreement. [continues 133 words]
Canadians are being asked to pass judgment on the Senate committee's recommendations to legalize marijuana without full consideration being given to the fact there are no known "roadside" tests that law enforcement officers can use at present to determine if a driver is under the influence of this substance, as is the case with alcohol. Until those tools are provided, this proposal is "premature." Proponents of legalization will not raise it. Those opposing it may well have other bases of disagreement. [continues 161 words]
Editor: Canadians are being asked to pass judgment on the Senate Committee's recommendations to legalize marijuana without full consideration being given to the fact that there are no known roadside tests that law enforcement officers can use at the present time to determine whether a driver is handicapped by this substance as is the case with alcohol. Until those tools are provided this proposal is premature. Proponents of legalization will not raise it. Those opposing it may well have other bases of disagreement. [continues 153 words]
Re: "Senators push to legalize pot: Health groups, police jeer panel's report," Sept. 5. Canadians are being asked to judge the Senate committee's recommendations to legalize marijuana even though there are no known roadside tests that law enforcement officers can use to determine whether a driver is handicapped by this substance, as is the case with alcohol. Until those tools are provided, this proposal is premature. The media must take a practical look at the effect of allowing those sixteen and older unlimited access to a mood modifier that may create as much carnage on the highways as would unregulated use of alcohol. [continues 115 words]
Canadians are being asked to pass judgement on the Canadian Senate committee's recommendations to legalize marijuana without full consideration being given to the fact there are no known "roadside" tests law enforcement officers can use at present to determine whether a driver is handicapped by this substance as is the case with alcohol. Until those tools are provided this proposal is premature. Proponents of legalization will not raise it. Those opposing it may well have other bases of disagreement. The challenge being made here is that the media take a practical look of the effect of those sixteen and older having unlimited access to a mood modifier that may create as much carnage on the highways as would unregulated use of alcohol. Guilty until proven innocent must be the norm applied to full acceptance of a new intoxicant into our society. As yet, this aspect of its effect has not been considered. Jack Davies, Tillsonburg, Ont. [end]
Unlike alcohol, there are no known "roadside" tests for police to determine whether a driver's ability is handicapped by marijuana. Until those tools are provided, the Senate committee's proposal to legalize marijuana is premature. The media should take a look at the effect of unlimited access to a mood modifier that may create as much carnage on the highways as would unregulated use of alcohol. "Guilty until proven innocent" must be the norm applied to full acceptance of a new intoxicant into our society. - -- Jack Davies, Tillsonburg. [end]
Jessica and Fiona have nothing in common except their heroin addiction. Yesterday their paths may have crossed as they trudged a city block looking to score. They both "got on", each paying $50 for a "cap" of heroin and but said later that their deals were "crap"; too small and too weak. Both women were ripped off by street dealers they didn't know, and, worse, they could have been selling them a drug that was stronger than the heroin they have become accustomed to during the longest heroin drought in memory. [continues 1546 words]
A new, more realistic anti-drugs television and radio campaign by the Bracks Government aimed at 15-to-18-year-olds and dealing with marijuana, ecstasy and heroin use will begin in July. The campaign will contrast sharply with the shock tactics of the Howard Government in its "body bag" campaign. State Government research has shown that teenagers do not identify with the Prime Minister's $20 million drug message. State Health Minister John Thwaites told The Agethat the new campaign would use young people who had recovered from their addictions talking about the negative impact drugs have had on their lives. [continues 327 words]
