Larger towns like Bay Roberts, Carbonear expect to field requests to sell pot product Municipal leaders in Conception Bay North's two largest towns expect to field requests from entrepreneurs looking to earn a dollar off the impending legalization of marijuana. The topic of legalizing marijuana came up at Bay Roberts and Carbonear council meetings held last Tuesday. Bay Roberts Mayor Philip Wood and Chris O'Grady, Carbonear's acting mayor, both attended a meeting of Newfoundland and Labrador urban municipalities committee a few days prior to their respective council meetings. [continues 385 words]
The federal government is pushing ahead with plans to legalize marijuana and none too soon. Health Minister Jane Philpott certainly didn't play down the controversial announcement. She chose a special session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York regarding drug use and drug-related crime. The timing was more than coincidental. Philpott chose April 20 to reveal that Ottawa plans to introduce legislation legalizing marijuana in the spring of next year. Her address coincided with 4/20 - - the annual day of celebration for cannabis culture lovers, the so-called National Weed Day. [continues 408 words]
While there are many looking forward to the impending legalization of marijuana, some are less enthused. The executive director of the U-Turn Drop-In Centre in Carbonear worries that legalization of the drug will create problems for youth and lead to a wider acceptance of drug culture. Jeff Bourne knows a thing or two about the trouble caused by addiction. An admitted addict now several years sober, the executive director of Carbonear's U-Turn Drop-In Centre has put in a lot of time helping others find ways to overcome battles with drugs and alcohol. [continues 593 words]
A couple of years from now, people preparing for the May 24 weekend could conceivably head to their local liquor store to pick up a case or two of beer and some sticky green buds. Nobody knows how things will look when Justin Trudeau's Liberal government unveils its plan to legalize and regulate marijuana in Canada. But several labour unions representing public sector workers at liquor stores have spoken out in favour of having the drug sold by their members. [continues 542 words]
Family Members of Addicts Tired of Being Blamed Note: Personal details have been changed to protect the identities of the families involved. Drug abuse affects many people, and not always as users. Whether you find prescription pills in your son's backpack or a baggie of cocaine in your sister's pocket, you are going through something many others are also experiencing. The hardest step for those who witness drug abuse in their family in the Trinity Conception region is walking through the front door of the U-Turn addictions centre in Carbonear for the first time to seek help, said Kerri, a relative of a drug addict. [continues 625 words]
Mother of 17-year-old drug addict discusses problems with system * Names have been changed to protect the identity of the youth and his family. * This story deals with graphic subject matter and may not be suitable for all readers. It's a mother's worst nightmare, getting the call saying her child was severely injured, or worse, dead. That is what Cathy experienced earlier this month when her teenage son called her unexpectedly. "I knew something wasn't right because my phone was vibrating differently, not like a text message," Cathy told The Compass at her home last week. "It was Steven. He said, 'Mom I'm in trouble. I tried to off myself.'" [continues 969 words]
Trinity Conception RCMP seize large quantity of marijuana in Heart's Delight-Islington Thanks to some good police work there's less marijuana being sold on the Trinity Shore these days and two accused dealers are facing drug charges. Last Wednesday, May 12, members of the Trinity Conception District RCMP seized a large quantity of marijuana in Heart's Delight-Islington. "We're talking several bags and several pounds of marijuana," says Corporal Dale Foote of the Trinity Conception RCMP. "The street value of that could range anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000." [continues 443 words]
A large quantity of drugs enters our country, and especially our province, by boat each year. Drug smuggling is big business, often involving many people and a lot of money and equipment. Most of the time large-scale operations can easily be detected by those familiar with normal marine activities. The RCMP's Coastal Watch Program, in the fight against drug importation, wants to enlist the eyes and ears of people in coastal communities. The program's goal is two-fold: to teach people what to look for, and to help them effectively transmit any information to the police. [continues 464 words]
This is just in, just received a copy of it via e-mail and it is certainly a good indication that the work we are doing with the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program is working. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has released the 2005 Monitoring the Future survey. The proportion of students in Grades 8, 10 and 12 who use illicit drugs continued to decline in 2005. Over the past four years there has been a 19 per cent decrease in teenage drug use. This is real progress, and although we cannot take complete credit, there is no question that DARE is a key component of the efforts made to achieve these results. Bottom line: there are now 670,000 fewer teens using drugs than there were in 2001. Congratulations to all DARE officers for your dedication and commitment to helping the nation's children resist drugs and violence! [continues 369 words]
The federal election is on and each political party is claiming to be different from the others. However, there are some laws that all three political parties agree on in principle. It appears three new laws are bound to be passed after the election, regardless of which political party forms the government. If you are a driver of a car and you take prescription drugs that affect your senses, or if you smoke pot, or if you're tempted to catch a cod illegally, read on. [continues 572 words]
One of the good things about doing this article is that from time to time, I get a heads up on other articles that will be appearing in The Compass. This gives me the chance to talk about something that is related. I am aware that Michael Powell has an article on drug use in this week's edition, as he interviewed me while writing the piece. Other than direct enforcement, I believe the best approach to the drug problem is through education and awareness. The more people know about drug use, the better equipped they are to make informed decisions. I realize that the majority of our drug talks are aimed at children, and that we are missing a major player in the fight against drugs - the parents. [continues 439 words]
Harbour Grace Man Takes Controversial Drug For Chronic Pain Oxycontin has received a lot of press and media attention this year - most of it focused on an addictive drug destroying lives. The drug has even been called a menace to society. But for Wayne Dunphy of Harbour Grace, Oxycontin has been a blessing. The painkiller has helped Dunphy live a somewhat normal life. But he is still unable to mow the grass, shovel snow, or play sports with his children. There are some days when he needs to be dressed and other days when the pain is too unbearable to get out of bed. [continues 873 words]
RCMP Say Community Must Take Some Responsibility For Problem Gus Gosse is sick of it. The Back Cove, Spaniard's Bay resident says something "has to be done" about the loitering and vandalism taking place around his neighbourhood. Last week he found home-made pipes on the recreation centre grounds near his home and worries the kids hanging out there may be smoking crack cocaine. Mr. Gosse is sandwiched between the PetroCan station on the Conception Bay Highway and the Spaniard's Bay Recreation Centre on Back Cove Pond Road. [continues 1036 words]
