The first time I ever saw someone shoot up was about nine years ago. It was in a public washroom downtown. The door of their bathroom stall was ajar and her reflection was in front of me as I washed my hands. I didn't want to see it, it was just there. She was just there, with a syringe in her arm and a haunted, empty look on her face. It startled me when her bag fell onto the floor and some of the contents fell out and slid near my feet. It was girl stuff, like flavoured lip gloss. She didn't move. I don't think she even realized I was there. I gathered my stuff and left the washroom quickly. [continues 583 words]
About 250 people gathered at Victoria Park Friday to show support for the use of marijuana and mark 4/20 Day - an annual celebration of cannabis culture on the 20th day of April. "I've been smoking marijuana for six years now. This stuff saved my life," said Jeff Oakes, 29, a medical user who lit a joint in solidarity with other supporters at the park. He was approached by officers several times during the demonstration, but was allowed to continue. [continues 181 words]
In Canada, if you stand up for something you believe in, does the country owe you anything? And if the consequences for your actions means spending several years in a US prison, do Canadians owe you anything? Marc Emery, the self-proclaimed 'Prince of Pot' believes we do. Nearly four years ago, I wrote a column about Marc's arrest by US authorities for selling marijuana seeds to US customers through his mail order business, in addition to charges for money laundering and manufacturing marijuana. My point then was that we should not feel sorry for him having to suffer the consequences when he chose to break the law. Believing in your cause doesn't mean there aren't always consequences. No one forced him to do what he did. It was his choice to flaunt the law to continue with his mission to supply marijuana seeds to anyone who wished to purchase them. And business was good. [continues 442 words]
Legalize marijuana? It wouldn't be such a bad idea. I took a survey of friends and family (and we certainly are not criminals). We need to put it in a pill. Pot is a great stress reliever and will ease anxiety and depression. Relieves pain. Eliminates boredom. Encourages creativity. Enhances the senses. Makes things fun. It can increase, or decrease, the appetite and may make one sleepy or wake one up (all of which may be good). It's not addictive, for the most part. Kids would be safer at a party with tokers, as opposed to drinkers who are much more apt to become aggressive (it's that ego thing). [continues 62 words]
I'm writing about Trevor Bullock's thoughtful letter, End Violence, Legalize Pot (Aug. 10 issue). I've been buying beer and wine for more than 30 years. Yet I've never been offered a free sample of whisky, gin, vodka or any other type of hard liquor. However, when I was a marijuana user, which is more than 15 years ago, I was frequently offered free samples of much more dangerous drugs like cocaine and meth by my marijuana suppliers. (Back then, meth was called speed). [continues 84 words]
We Shouldn't Be Crying The Blues For London's Former Prince Of Pot He's known in the media as 'the Prince of Pot.' He's an entrepreneur. He's a publisher of his own magazine and produces and owns his own television show. If you haven't picked up a newspaper or turned on the 6 o'clock news lately, he might completely slip under you radar. That is, of course, unless you are a partaker in that illegal herb known as cannabis. And he is, of course, former Londoner Marc Emery. [continues 675 words]
Re the letter, What About Drugs (July 27 issue). The author makes the connection between drugs and violence. The same could be true about alcohol and gang related gun deaths 70 to 80 years ago during Prohibition. After alcohol prohibition was repealed and alcohol was regulated by the government, the gang-related violence dried up. Sure we have alcohol related violence and health related problems but not due to the trade of an illegal, profitable commodity and not to the extent that we had during Prohibition. [continues 374 words]
Police dumbfounded over gun violence increase in London? Take a look around. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that drugs bring gun violence and fuel involvement in gangs. Where do gangs get income? Think about it. With this new task force set up to deal with the gun problem, I have to wonder why we still allow multiple drug dealings to take place at several well-known drug havens in downtown London. In fact, these havens are located right beside the London Police station. [continues 247 words]
Kudos to Len Lesser for his column (March 23 issue) on pot. How did such a wonderful plant get such a bad rap? In the 1920s hemp was grown to make twine and rope and the seeds were used for human consumption and for bird and animal feed. DuPont had just invented plastic fibre. They wanted hemp out so that everybody would want their new invention, rope and twine out of plastic. The propaganda regarding this plant reached fever pitch in the 30s and 40s and the U.S. government got in on the ugly brainwashing -- things like you would lose your mind if you smoked this plant. [continues 219 words]
