Oxford Community Police put a dent in the illegal marijuana crop this week. Officers removed about 180 plants from a Milldale Road corn field on Wednesday afternoon. The marijuana was planted among corn stalks topping eight feet in height. A mature marijuana plant can have a street value of up to $1,000. Before the afternoon was out, they had removed 400 plants in various locations. Officers zeroed in on GPS co-ordinates of suspected marijuana plantations supplied from aerial support as part of a joint eradication operation with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The operation has been going on a month, and has been active in Oxford the last two weeks. About 1,700 plants have been found in the county during that time. [continues 239 words]
Tips Have Assisted With Seizures Tillsonburg News -- Weather has hampered the Ontario Provincial Police's annual marijuana eradication campaign. Constable Mark Foster of Norfolk OPP said the OPP helicopter was scheduled to be in Norfolk to assist with aerial spotting of illegal crops. Mechanical problems with the helicopter and rainy weather resulted in no air time over Norfolk. "You can't fly when it's raining to do the type of work we're trying to do," Foster said. Public tips have assisted with other seizures throughout the summer. With the exception of seizing 527 plants in former Townsend Township, most of the seizures have been small. OPP Const. Dennis Harwood said there have been no large plantings of illegal crops found yet this year by Oxford OPP either. [continues 85 words]
Police are warning the public about the dangers of ecstasy after a recent drug bust that included 81 of the pills. Ecstasy is an amphetamine that gives the taker energy and a high. Street names for it are hug drug, love drug or E. Prices range from $20 to $50 per pill. It is mainly available in pill form and is known as a designer drug. That means the pills commonly have some sort of logo on them ranging from the Nike swish to the word love or a picture of an animal. [continues 201 words]
Court Of Appeal Restores Federal Law Possession Of Small Amounts Of Marijuana Is Illegal Again. The Ontario Court of Appeal decision on Tuesday restored a federal law making possession of small quantities of marijuana a criminal offence. An Ontario court decision earlier in the year decriminalized possession of small quantities of weed. While those who want to decriminalize marijuana use for recreational purposes are viewing the decision negatively, it is a victory for medical users, according to a Toronto Star article. The justices ruled existing federal rules on medical marijuana were unconstitutional because they force people to illegal sources. The decision makes it easier for licensed growers to produce plants for medical use and removes the requirement a second medical opinion is needed to support an application for medical marijuana use. [continues 556 words]
Court Of Appeal Restores Federal Law Possession of small amounts of marijuana is illegal again. The Ontario Court of Appeal decision on Tuesday restored a federal law making possession of small quantities of marijuana a criminal offence. An Ontario court decision earlier in the year decriminalized possession of small quantities of weed. While those who want to decriminalize marijuana use for recreational purposes are viewing the decision negatively, it is a victory for medical users, according to a Toronto Star article. The justices ruled existing federal rules on medical marijuana were unconstitutional because they force people to illegal sources. The decision makes it easier for licensed growers to produce plants for medical use and removes the requirement a second medical opinion is needed to support an application for medical marijuana use. [continues 556 words]
A Joint Or Two Does Not Merit Criminal Record, He Says TILLSONBURG - MP John Finlay (Oxford-LIB) said he isn't against decriminalizing marijuana as long as it is controlled. A Senate report released earlier this year suggested changing the status of marijuana for those caught with small amounts. Presently anyone charged with possession of marijuana is required to go to court and will likely end up with a criminal record. The committee suggested changing simple possession of less than 30 grams to an offence that results in a fine. [continues 157 words]
Oxford Member of Parliament John Finlay isn't against the decriminalization of marijuana as long as some controls accompany it. A Senate report released earlier this year suggested changing the status of marijuana for those caught with small amounts. Presently anyone charged with possession of marijuana is required to go to court and will likely end up with a criminal record. The committee suggested changing simple possession for less than 30 grams to an offence that results in a fine. Justice Minister Martin Cauchon recently stated he would be bringing forward legislation in the new year to deal with the committee's recommendation. [continues 677 words]
Number Of Marijuana Grow Houses Increasing: Police It looks like any other house except nobody lives there. It's not a typical house, though. Instead of people living in it, the home has marijuana plants living in it - many, many marijuana plants. Referred to as a grow houses, the trend of using residential homes for large-scale growing operations is on the rise. A bust on June 13 south of Tillsonburg meant this area is no longer immune to the trend that has been sweeping Ontario. [continues 943 words]
