Re: Amendment targets victimless criminal activities Tim Romyn's letter in the Oct. 7 edition hit the bull's-eye. The relatively safe, God-given plant cannabis (marijuana) should be re-legalized. Even Canada's 2002, Senate Committee on Illegal Drugs' unanimously recommended to regulate cannabis the same way as alcohol and the Le Dain Commission's report did the same. A sane or moral reason to cage responsible adults for using or growing cannabis doesn't exist. Ending cannabis prohibition and extermination in North America is one of the most important issues of our time. Stan White Dillon, Colorado U. S. A. [end]
A Hamilton police officer has been reassigned to administrative duties while he awaits a Nov. 8 court hearing on an assault charge related to a bungled police drug raid at the wrong apartment in May. Ian Scott, director of the province's Special Investigations Unit, announced the charge last week against Constable Ryan Tocher in relation to injuries sustained by 58-year-old Myanmar refugee Po La Hay during the raid. The SIU, which provides civilian oversight on police, said it would make no further comment since the matter is now before the court. [continues 188 words]
Graydon In It To Win It Edward Graydon is in Hamilton's mayoral contest to stay. The 47-year-old businessman had announced soon after an emotional exchange with fellow candidates Michael Baldasaro and Andrew Haines during a debate Thrusday at Sir. John A. Macdonald High School that he would announce at the next all-candidates debate he will quit from the race and back Larry Di Ianni. But Graydon said a day later in an interview he changed his mind. [continues 229 words]
The bill which is being proposed by Stephen Harper and his Conservatives, Bill S-10, is a ridiculous proposition. This bill is an amendment to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act on the premise that Bill S-10 will target organized crime. Prohibition is failing. Canadian marijuana smokers are still increasing every year, and since it is a highly demanded substance, it is a hugely inflated commodity, which makes it so popular amongst organized crime cartels. The issue is that this bill suggests minimum sentencing for people growing as few as six marijuana plants. [continues 74 words]
On May 10, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson signed an order of extradition sending Marc Emery to a federal institution in the United States of America. His crime was selling one of Earth's most basic forms of sustenance, growth and life - seeds. Marijuana seeds. When Health Canada first began giving out licences to medicinal users, they recommended to MPs and licensed users that new growers should purchase seeds online from Canadian sellers like Marc Emery (Marc Emery Direct Seeds). NDP Health Critic Svend Robinson can testify to that fact. [continues 229 words]
I don't know if Mayor Fred Eisenberger ever smoked pot. If he did, he wouldn't feel out of place at the post-election party of candidates vying for the mayor's job in the municipal election later this year. Of the four candidates who have declared an intention to run for the city's top elected job, two are marijuana activists - Michael Baldasaro and Andrew Haines. Maybe Fred did smoke pot when he was a much younger man, but didn't inhale? If I were mayor of this city, I'd be smoking weed every day. A good stoner may be exactly what this city needs. [continues 561 words]
Investigators from Hamilton Police Service's Vice and Drug Units continue to evaluate forensic evidence found at the various locations involved in the biggest marijuana grow-op bust in Hamilton history. After community members came forward about the possibility of marijuana grow operations, police found 11,838 plants worth about $11.8 million in 49 units in three of Riverdale neighbourhood's highrise apartment buildings - 11 Grandville Ave., 50 Violet Dr. and 77 Delawana Dr. - owned by Di Cenzo Management Inc., last month. [continues 282 words]
Hamilton councillors have asked city staff to conduct an expanded air quality study of three east end apartment buildings where police last week found a massive marijuana grow operation. Politicians also unanimously approved during a special council meeting March 23, to create a protocol for dealing with multi-residential grow operations. Hamilton has a protocol for single-family grow operations. "We want to alleviate some of the concern of the residents in the other units," said Ward 5 councillor Chad Collins, who represents the area where the pot bust occurred. [continues 186 words]
Stoney Creek crime manager Sgt. Duncan McCulloch says a partnership between the community and Hamilton Police were key in the biggest marijuana grow-op bust in Hamilton history. After community members came forward about the possibility of marijuana grow operations about a month ago, police found 11,838 plants worth about $11.8 million in 49 units in three of the Riverdale neighbourhood's high-rise apartment buildings - 11 Grandville Ave., 50 Violet Dr. and 77 Delawana Dr. - owned by Di Cenzo Management Inc., last week. [continues 614 words]
Kids say their parents are the single most important influence when it comes to drug use. Despite what many parents think, youth look to parents first as role models and for support. Families displaying this connectedness have teens who have later sexual encounters, are less likely to become pregnant and less likely to use tobacco, marijuana and alcohol. Even if a youth's peer group engages in high risk behaviours, which places them at significantly greater risk, the parental influence is able to act as a buffer. [continues 162 words]
It Was A First For Hamilton High Schoolers. For three hours Oct. 17, students filled an auditorium to discuss issues facing teens n live on the radio n unscripted and unedited for all to hear. 900 CHML talk show host Jamie West organized specific panels to answer the student's questions. The first group consisted of media and police. Hamilton Police Chief Brian Mullan faced an onslaught of requests to legalize marijuana. One student, Alex, insisted alcohol is a bigger problem than pot smoking. [continues 175 words]
A focus on "hard-core" repeat offenders and successful pre-charge diversion programs are being credited for a 31 per cent decrease in youth crime in Hamilton since 1996. Deputy Police Chief Ken Leendertse called the drop "a pleasant surprise" that defies public perceptions. Only drug crimes - mostly involving marijuana - bucked the downward trend, more than doubling over the same period. Assaults, break-ins, car and other thefts all dropped by more than 50 per cent. Overall, police statistics show 3,074 youths were involved in crimes last year, compared to 4,451 in 1996. [continues 331 words]
Re: Fallen RCMP officers Prohibition creates the violence and crime. Legalizing marijuana will end the cycle of violence and crime. Second, there isn't a single activist I know who hasn't expressed outrage and sadness at these officers' deaths. But the attempt to demonize the marijuana culture by politicizing the actions of a deranged, dangerous individual is more than pathetic. It shows complete disregard for the untimely deaths of four human beings. It also forces the hand of anti-prohibitionists to defend the cannabis culture from a disparaging and illogical attack. [continues 218 words]
Over 1,600 marijuana plants were seized in Hamilton homes last week in another drug bust by the Hamilton Police Service Vice and Drug Unit. Hamilton Police were joined in their organized crime crackdown by the Hamilton RCMP and the Moncton RCMP. Police said the homes, located in residential neighbourhoods, were set-up for commercial marijuana grow operations. Five people were charged by the Hamilton Police Service. Police said they have been conducting ongoing investigations of the city's marijuana grow operations for some time. [continues 122 words]
Perennial political candidate, Michael Baldasaro, has entered the Ward 2 byelection race. But the 54-year-old marijuana activist says after 20 years of campaigning without winning, he may stop taking part in Hamilton politics. "I can't compete with the other candidates," he says. Over the last few elections, the Reverend Brother of the Church of the Universe, which advocates the use of marijuana in its sacraments, has not fared well. In the 2003 municipal election, for instance, Mr. Baldasaro finished sixth out of seventh with 2,569 votes, ahead of Matt Jelly, who brought up the rear with 510 votes. Larry Di Ianni dominated the election with a convincing 70,539 votes. [continues 261 words]
Re: Why are Police Lying About Marijuana (July 9) I'm writing about William Bradley's thoughtful letter: Why are Police Lying About Marijuana (July 9). The short answer is because they fear for their jobs. The police and others fear that the end of marijuana prohibition will lead to the end of all recreational drug prohibition. And then to the end of their jobs. Many judges and prison wardens have said that 70 to 90 per cent of all property and violent crime is "drug-related." Actually almost 100 per cent of all so-called "drug-related crime" is caused by drug prohibition policies - not drugs. [continues 136 words]
Re: Police Offer Tips on Spotting Outdoor Marijuana Crops (July 2) And, the snitch society begins. Maybe instead of enforcing archaic laws based in Racism (re: Emily Murphy) and profiteering by Oil and Cotton companies which lobbied our government incessantly to make "hemp" illegal in the first place. They could use the millions of dollars in surplus they would have and the glut of manpower they would have to solve the hundreds of unsolved crimes in this country like Child porn, Child molestation, Rape, Murder and theft. [continues 68 words]
With the prime growing season now upon us, members of the Hamilton Police Drug Unit are asking citizens in rural areas to watch for suspicious activity around properties. Yes, now is the time when individuals locate large fields and crops to plant their own marijuana crop. The outdoor season is now underway, and Police want those in rural areas to be aware of the following actions and areas: * unknown vehicles parked on the side of the road for short periods; * foot paths not normally present; [continues 89 words]
