When I walk downtown in a year or two, will I have my choice of one or more cannabis lounges? The idea of creating cannabis, marijuana or pot places where consumers can smoke in pleasant and friendly surroundings is being floated in Ontario. The government reportedly welcomes feedback. It's all very funny. governments at all levels have been making life very difficult for tobacco smokers. governments impose extremely harsh taxes on tobacco. Municipal governments impose so many limitations that smokers struggle to find a place where they can enjoy a cigarette. [continues 281 words]
Life for the police in North Bay is going to become at least a little more difficult. The city is going to lose its primary needle exchange program. Police Chief Shawn Devine has warned that this will put the public and others at risk. The Nipissing Detoxification and Substance Abuse Program is slated to close in September. The North Bay Regional Health Centre is cutting the program. The report carried some alarming or amazing statistics about needle exchanges. The ordinary citizen may wonder where or who are the people using all these needles. [continues 280 words]
Be careful! This was the message to users of illegal drugs from the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit. Drug overdoses have killed hundreds of people in British Columbia. The most recent report shows that 120 died in March of this year. The local warning came as a result of a man using tainted cocaine. He was taken to the North Bay Regional Health Centre. He was given large doses of naloxone. It probably saved his life. Drug users are being told to have a friend standing by when they ingest drugs. If something goes wrong the friend can dial 911 and perhaps save a life. [continues 256 words]
A recent news story claimed that a high percentage of cigarettes sold in Ontario are contraband. They do not generate any tax revenue for the federal or provincial governments. Subsequently, the OPP announced that it is forming a special team to fight the illegal cigarette racket. This means that ordinary Ontarians will be paying fines because they want to buy tobacco at an affordable price. Governments and politicians refuse to recognize what should be obvious. In a free society, citizens will only stand for so much taxation and regulation. There is a breaking point. Sometimes there is revolution. [continues 259 words]
Along with millions of law-abiding Canadians, I may have to make an agonizing decision this year. The federal Liberals have promised to legalize marijuana. If they do, will I try it? I have avoided the stuff for at least 60 years. I covered courts and crime for nearly 30 years and knew many law enforcers. One cannot run on both sides of the street at the same time so I came down hard on the side of law and order and resisted pot's temptations. [continues 315 words]
Letters should be no longer than 350 words, must contain a name, city or town and a phone number for confirmation purposes and are subject to editing. Along with millions of law-abiding Canadians, I may have to make an agonizing decision. The federal Liberals have promised to legalize marijuana. If they do, will I try it? I have avoided the stuff for at least 60 years. I covered courts and crime for nearly 30 years and knew many law enforcers. One cannot run on both sides of the street at the same time, so I came down on the side of law and order and resisted pot's temptations. [continues 311 words]
Along with millions of law-abiding Canadians, I may have to make an agonizing decision. The federal Liberals have promised to legalize marijuana. If they do, will I try it? I have avoided the stuff for at least 60 years. I covered courts and crime for nearly 30 years and knew many law enforcers. One cannot run on both sides of the street at the same time, so I came down on the side of law and order and resisted pot's temptations. [continues 311 words]
Along with millions of law-abiding Canadians, I may have to make an agonizing decision this year. The federal Liberals have promised to legalize marijuana. If they do, will I try it? I have avoided the stuff for at least 60 years. I covered courts and crime for nearly 30 years and knew many law enforcers. One cannot run on both sides of the street at the same time so I came down hard on the side of law and order and resisted pot's temptations. [continues 361 words]
Are corporations producing medical marijuana nasty or nice? Are they respectable or questionable? Do honest citizens want them in their neighbourhood? North Bay city council will have to answer questions like these and many others when a medical marijuana corporation decides to locate here. The federal government has ruled that medical marijuana users can no longer grow their own. Medical marijuana growing is being handed over to a few favoured corporations. March 31 is when the existing Marijuana Medical Access Program reaches an end. As of April, medical marijuana will be legally accessible only through producers licensed under the Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations. It will be up to each municipality to decide where the grow-ops may go. [continues 229 words]
Court reporting can be interesting and sometimes fun. I did it for nearly 30 years. I used to clean up the stories lawyers and police told in the men's washroom and take them home for my wife. It can also be stressful. Lawyers and judges can be nasty if you make a mistake. If some lowlife has the same name, or similar one, as some highly respected citizen who lives in the same area you must remember to make it very clear that one is not the other. The reporter may also be threatened by thugs who promised to beat him or her or by the influential resident who promised to speak to the bosses and have you fired. [continues 265 words]
