Independent sellers licensed; discouraging stocking with alcohol The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has revealed some - not all - of the details on its plans for legalized marijuana, with the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corp. (NLC) playing a lead role. The powers are being brought in as amendments to the Liquor Corporation Act and Liquor Control Act, with legislation coming in spring 2018. Right now, there are a few clear policy stances: Legal age will be 19 and it will be illegal for youth to be in possession of any amount (a provincial, not federal, offence) [continues 237 words]
It must have been a busy meeting. A couple of weeks ago, Canada's federal and provincial justice and public safety ministers met in Vancouver for two days of meetings. They talked about delays in the criminal system and reforms to the Criminal Code over mandatory minimum sentencing provisions. About changes to the bail system and simpler and faster court proceedings. They talked about national security legislation and the safety of Canadians, about the legalization of marijuana and the nuances of home cultivation, and the health and safety effects of the drug, both on adults and the particular risks for young people. There was discussion about changing the rules on drunk driving to make it easier for police officers to require drivers to submit to breath testing, and on and on. [continues 361 words]
It was a bold statement: "We will legalize, regulate and restrict access to marijuana." The 2015 federal Liberal election promise caught Canadians' attention and attracted the votes of many who supported the long-overdue legalization of marijuana. Many people believe that smoking a joint is no worse than having a beer. Plenty of Canadians - even prime ministers - have tried it. Polls indicate most people want legalization. Medical marijuana use has smoothed the drug's acceptance. The government is finally ready to table legislation to legalize marijuana by July 1, 2018. But why the wait? 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 363 words]
Earlier this month, the federal government indicated it would be stepping up security on the VIA rail system, in the wake of bomb plot earlier this year. Now, anyone who wants to travel on VIA Rail, will be subject to security checks equivalent to the standard at any major airport in Canada. Since we're on the subject of national security, it's time for the Canadian government to also review other transportation systems where security is lacking, or non-existent; such as the Marine Atlantic ferries. [continues 350 words]
On Thursday morning, news broke that Port aux Basques RCMP had seized a large quantity of marijuana and ecstasy from a house in Port aux Basques. The story posted to The Gulf News website went slightly viral, at least in local terms, gathering over four thousand hits in a few hours. Few stories get that many hits in a week. It shows the interest and the concern people have in our community about illicit drugs. It's no secret that many in our society see marijuana as a relatively harmless recreation drug. Even some of those leaving comments on our web story said marijuana needs to be legalized while criticizing those who sell ecstasy. The federal Liberals passed a motion to legalize pot at their recent convention. [continues 221 words]
Dear Editor, On the editorial page of the May 18 issue of The Gulf News is an article entitled "Drugs in our midst." I wonder about that item, because when I settled in a small outport community in Eastern Newfoundland in 1972, marijuana and hashish were already available there. Drugs seem to have been in our midst for some 40 years now. The article asks whether there is any way to deal "with what appears to be a growing drug problem." There is in fact an easy way to do so, a way which should be used in dealing with all problems in society. That is to gather as much reliable information about the issue as possible, and then use that information with common sense and respect for those who have different views and habits. [continues 453 words]
It's not hard to tell that we've become numbed to the occurrence of drug busts. Our eyes glaze over when we see police officers on the nightly news displaying tables filled with illicit drugs and bundles of cash, all packaged neatly in plastic bags with identification labels. These scenes usually happen in the large cities where drugs and crime have been dance partners for a long time. We don't know the kingpins who are about to be subjected to long, drawn-out trials, nor do we care that they are out thousands, sometimes millions of dollars [continues 503 words]
Police Say Ferries Are The No. 1 Transportation Choice Of Smugglers Smugglers choose federal crown corporation Marine Atlantic ferries most often to move illegal drugs and tobacco from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland and Labrador, but police and ferry officials do not routinely screen passengers and vehicles for contraband, according to an investigation by The Telegram. "We live on an island. Almost everything comes by Marine Atlantic," wrote RCMP Staff Sgt. Jim Power about smuggling in Newfoundland. Power was responding to an access to information request for records related to alcohol, tobacco and drug smuggling linked to Marine Atlantic ferries over the past three and half years. [continues 1045 words]
Advocacy groups across the province continue to raise concerns about the province's new Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) Act. It's information to which everyone should be paying attention. The new law, passed last week, allows government to evict people from their homes if they are involved with illegal activities such as selling or using drugs, prostitution or unlicensed liquor sales. Little had been said about the proposed legislation until the controversy started by the women's groups over the consultation process. [continues 303 words]
Eighty years ago, if you brought up the notion of smoking a plant called marijuana, you were looked at as if you slithered up from the cesspool of drug dens located in dark alleyways. Thirty-five years ago, you were dismissed as a bandwagon jumpin', free-thinking, commie hippie. Today, you're probably a retiring politician. Prime Minister Jean Chretien has a lot of Canadians wondering what he has been smoking by bringing to the table the issue of marijuana laws. It wasn't that long ago that even bringing up the idea of reviewing pot legislation was taboo -- it was political suicide in a small-C conservative society. [continues 472 words]
