The owner of a Bible Hill marijuana dispensary has been charged for the second time in six months with possession for the purpose of trafficking. Ricky Joseph Leclerc, 51, of Upper Kennetcook, was arrested after police executed a search warrant at the Community Compassion Centre, a marijuana storefront on Pictou Road. Leclerc is to appear in court in Truro on March 21 to enter a plea to the charge. The RCMP said in a news release that members of the Colchester County Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit had seized a quantity of cash, marijuana, marijuana derivatives and drug paraphernalia during their search last Friday. [continues 99 words]
Province approves nine locations and online sales Truro is to be one of nine locations in Nova Scotia where marijuana will be sold from an NSLC store, the provincial government announced Tuesday. The NSLC store at 6 Court St., has been selected as a retail location, once cannabis is legalized, Attorney General and Justice Minister Mark Furey said, in a news release. The other eight locations include Amherst, Dartmouth, Lower Sackville, New Glasgow, Sydney River, Yarmouth and two in Halifax. "Our main priority in preparing for the legalization of cannabis has been, and will continue to be, the health and safety of Nova Scotians," Furey said. "Selling through NSLC stores allows us to leverage their experience and expertise in selling these products responsibly in a safe environment." [continues 158 words]
Today begins a series on Nova Scotia business people who are looking to become involved in the marijuana industry that will soon be sweeping the entire country. This is the first in a series of stories focusing on people in Nova Scotia who will be delving into the marijuana industry. From a business perspective, it seemed like a no-brainer. But for Evan Price, getting involved in the medical marijuana production industry wasn't entirely about growing his bottom line. "Far too many family members and neighbours in this area are coming down with harsh (medical) diagnoses," the Valley resident and businessman said. [continues 558 words]
RCMP officers raided three medical marijuana dispensaries in Bible Hill Friday afternoon. Sgt. Duane Cooper told the Truro Daily News that search warrants were executed at about 3 p.m. at Re-Leaf Medical Dispensary, 197 Pictou Rd., Community Compassion Centre, 274 Pictou Rd., and at the Maritime Medicinal Centre, 27 Main Street. "As we speak we're still in the process of executing the search warrants," said Cooper, who added the investigations are continuing and more information would be forthcoming when those tasks are complete. [continues 434 words]
Auntie's founder convinced of weed's medicinal abilities A medical marijuana dispensary operating in Bible Hill is making access easier for people who require it, clients say. The dispensary, called Auntie's Health and Wellness Center, is also beneficial because it offers medicinal cannabis in more forms and wider variety than conventional methods. "I believe people should have direct access to their medication. And they don't," said Auntie's founder Shirley Martineau. She said people who genuinely need marijuana are often forced to acquire it illegally, "and they don't know what they are getting." [continues 381 words]
Medical marijuana users give thumbs up to retail dispensary At one point, following a severe industrial accident in 2005, Craig Upham was taking 28 different medications per day. Five of those were to counter side effects of the prescribed narcotics he was taking. Upham eventually became addicted to oxycontin, which robbed him of his personality, made him hostile and ruined a marriage. "In 2007 they didn't know what to do with me," he said. "The doctors told me I wouldn't be able to walk, I would be in a wheelchair." [continues 396 words]
Mandatory roadside screening and oral fluid testing for drugs should become law before the federal government proceeds with legalizing marijuana, a spokesperson for MADD Cobequid says. "This is something that has to take place before the decriminalization is put in place," newly elected president Kay Foster-Alfred said during a public meeting Thursday evening. "This is going to be happening and we have to be ready for it." Despite being disappointed that only one member of the public attended the session, Foster-Alfred says she does not feel that is representative of the community mindset regarding impaired driving by either drugs or alcohol. [continues 178 words]
A criminal conviction for simple marijuana possession would be "unfair" and "cruel" punishment given the federal government's stated intention to legalize the drug, a judge said Monday. "I cannot sit here and not be aware of the position taken by the federal government in Ottawa ..." Judge Warren Zimmer said, during sentencing of a Bible Hill man charged with marijuana possession. "It would be cruel to sentence him in such a way today that he would wind up with a criminal record," Zimmer said, adding it "would be very unfair" under the circumstances to render a conviction that could hamper the man's ability to earn a living and support his two children, after the Trudeau government had said it is planning to proceed with legalization of marijuana. [continues 184 words]
TRURO - Giving drug addicts cash to participate in an information study is like letting children play with fire, says a Truro woman, regarding a situation her grandson was recently involved in. "My beef is, $200 cash is enough to buy enough oxycontin or cocaine to OD on," said the woman, who asked that her name not to published to protect the identity of her grandson. "I'm outraged. I'm truly outraged. I'm too emotionally attached to this one, otherwise I'd be firing off letters to my MP saying, 'what kind of grant program is this that contributes to drug use?'" the woman said. [continues 863 words]
Personal Property Seized In February Drug Raid Returned To Owners TRURO - Police should be prepared to admit they are wrong if a drug bust doesn't produce charges against all the individuals initially targeted, a Murray Siding couple and their lawyer say. "They have great fanfare when they make these big drug busts and if and when they fall apart you never hear a word saying, 'Oops, we made a mistake,'" said defence lawyer Al Begin. "And it is very unfortunate for those who are caught in this web." [continues 554 words]
TRURO - Wednesday's sweeping raids in Colchester County should deal a major blow to the illegal drug market right across the Maritimes, an RCMP official says. "We believe that we have taken one of the biggest distribution networks out of service with this organized crime group," Cpl. Joe Taplin said yesterday, during a follow-up media briefing. "So there is not going to be any amount of cocaine or illegal drugs on the streets of Nova Scotia or the Maritimes and especially in Colchester County." [continues 339 words]
EAST MOUNTAIN - The drug raids undertaken in parts of Colchester County yesterday were a relief to some neighbouring residents who feel they were long overdue. While some area residents refused to talk to media representatives, police officers who were guarding the sites of residences included in the early morning raids said passing motorists were offering comments such as: "It's about time." That was also the sentiment of East Mountain resident Linda Rushton, who lives near one of the raided homes. [continues 194 words]
TRURO -- A new policing partnership is being established to help crack down on street crime in Truro and throughout Colchester County. The effort was developed through the province's Safer Streets and Communities, introduced last year, which involves providing funding for street crime units. It involves an RCMP member partnering with a Truro police officer, working in plain clothes to tackle targeted enforcement of such issues as break and enters, thefts, vandalism and some street-level drugs. "We have high expectations of our street-crime team," RCMP Staff Sgt. Hugh Walker recently told Colchester County council, while introducing the concept. [continues 258 words]
