Disgraced former state chemist Annie Dookhan almost single-handedly brought the state's drug testing system to a standstill and cast doubt on tens of thousands of drug convictions.

Now it turns out the indicted chemist has also triggered the shutdown of the wide-ranging system of destroying drug evidence that is no longer needed for criminal prosecution, causing a massive backlog of old drug evidence in barracks and police stations statewide.

State public safety authorities last July ordered an indefinite moratorium on the destruction of drug evidence.

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Former Governor Speaks His Mind

When caches of high-potency Canadian marijuana started turning up with increasing frequency in recent drug busts in Massachusetts and other states, Paul Cellucci got worried.

The U.S. ambassador to Canada, the former Bay State governor who still maintains his home in Hudson, told the Canadians that their push to de-criminalize pot would have consequences along the 5,500-mile border shared by the North American neighbors.

More vehicles would be stopped and searched at crossing checkpoints already clogged by tighter security in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the ambassador warned.

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