Marijuana Debate: Norfolk Police Services Board Members Weigh In SIMCOE - Some on Norfolk's Police Services Board wonder if legalizing the recreational use of marijuana might cause as many problems as it solves. Justin Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, made headlines last summer when he said he would legalize marijuana for recreational purposes if he formed the next government. Trudeau and supporters of his position believe police are fighting a losing battle in their bid to eliminate marijuana as a recreational drug. Continued high demand in the face of expensive enforcement fuels a black market that enriches organized criminals while fostering violence in places like Mexico and South America. [continues 385 words]
I am writing in response to the editorial on Sunday, Jan. 5, about pot in Massachusetts, particularly the line that asks will children be confused about what their parents are doing. Obviously they are not confused about daddy drinking beers every night and all weekend or about mom's martinis with her friends. They are not confused by drinking because in our society it's OK to drink daily; it's OK to be drunk. I don't advocate that kids should smoke, just like I don't think they should drink. [continues 419 words]
Health Canada: New Regulations Do Not Allow Storefront or Retail Distribution of Medical Marijuana It's no Subway or Supercuts, but potential franchisees may want to consider Weeds Glass & Gifts. A sign in the pot shop's front window advertising "franchise opportunities" speaks of owner Don Briere's optimism in the face of looming new regulations on the way medical pot is distributed in Canada. "We operate in a grey area right now, and we'll continue operating that way come spring," Briere told The Province on Thursday. [continues 415 words]
Marc Emery says that when he is out of jail he will embark on a Canada-wide speaking tour in support of the Liberal Party. In his latest blog post from a U.S. jail, where he is serving a five-year sentence for selling marijuana seeds, Emery says he and his wife Jodie will speak at rallies in 30 cities in nine provinces, starting Sept. 8, 2015. Emery says he is backing the Liberals under Justin Trudeau because of their policy of marijuana legalization. [continues 243 words]
Ford Backs Off After Using Sports Show to Riff on Legalization of Spliffs Mayor Rob Ford isn't high on the idea of getting into the marijuana legalization debate any time soon. And nor will he be joining his Liberal nemesis Justin Trudeau's team to look for more lenient treatment of those who smoke it. But for a few minutes Thursday it almost looked like he was. "The Conservative government up here is very, you know it's job creation, it is stimulating the economy but I've questioned that too sometimes why wouldn't they at least decriminalize it and try to get revenue from it," the mayor said on Washington D.C. radio show, The Sports Junkies. [continues 562 words]
In response to "High taxes will send weed users underground" (Chieftain, Jan. 2). It is not high taxes that cause legal cannabis to cost so much, but rather lack of competition. There are thousands of places for Colorado residents to purchase legal alcohol but very few places to buy legal cannabis. If legal cannabis sells for more than $200 an ounce, the black market will thrive. Kirk Muse Mesa, Ariz. [end]
And, True to Form, He Says It's All About the Finances Mayor Rob Ford, who says he has smoked "a lot" of marijuana and was once arrested in the U.S. with a joint in his pocket, spoke favourably of marijuana decriminalization Thursday. Ford has admitted to using crack cocaine and marijuana as mayor and powder cocaine in the past. He is now the most prominent Conservative to muse about marijuana decriminalization in recent years. Ford was asked for his views during his weekly appearance on a Washington, DC sports radio show, The Sports Junkies on 106.7 The Fan. He said legalization is "not going to happen" under a "very strict" Conservative government in Canada, but then questioned the government's approach. [continues 150 words]
Jonah Goldberg scored a lot of points in his column on marijuana legalization ("States' rights going to pot," Jan. 6). However, his referring to legalizing cannabis (marijuana) as "Colorado's collective experiment" is a little backwards. The original prohibition on alcohol is often known as the "Great Experiment." The sequel, cannabis prohibition, has been another dismal experiment. Ending cannabis prohibition isn't the experiment, it's simply ending one of America's worst policy failures in history. - - Stan White, Dillon, Colo. [end]
Safer Arizona is aiming to put an initiative in front of the voters to bring Colorado-style legalization to our state I don't know if you heard about it or not, but there's a state near here where any adult can now buy weed legally. Colorado. The shops are open and the shoppers are shopping and the money is rolling into store and state coffers-more than $1 million in sales the first day alone, and there are only a few dozen stores. People are smiling in Colorado-cannabis users, store owners and tax collectors. I'm sure there have been some problems. Police issued a few citations for public use the first day, but I don't think a single child has died from a cannabis overdose. Generally, the mood in Colorado seems to be giddy. [continues 562 words]
Dear Stoner: It's legal to grow up to six plants and gift an ounce of herb to anyone 21 and up, and it's legal to buy it in a store. But is it illegal for patients to share product given to them or purchased from a store? Once a product touches the hands of a patient, does it become de facto medical? WSP Brad Dear Brad: The answer really comes down to semantics - and whether or not you're a stickler for the rules. Under the law, it is illegal to share medicine purchased from a medical marijuana facility or given to you by your caregiver with anyone else - including other medical marijuana patients. [continues 358 words]
For those living with marijuana-growing operations in their neighbourhoods, April 1 can't come fast enough. That's the date Health Canada has set when private producers and distributors of medicinal marijuana will need to be located on commercial property. Duke Point has been targeted as the most likely and preferable location for such an operation. Until then, neighbourhoods will have grow-ops of various sizes and descriptions that the RCMP cannot close down because they are licensed for producing medicinal marijuana. [continues 490 words]
