Heavy pot smokers are less likely to succeed academically and professionally and face heightened health risks such as respiratory illness and cognitive impairment, experts warn. As an exclusive Leger Marketing poll for QMI Agency shows a majority of Canadians want softer marijuana laws, others insist pot is less harmful than alcohol and say fears about relaxing laws are overblown. Amy Porath-Waller, senior research and policy analyst for the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, said studies have shown a growing prevalence of marijuana use -- especially among younger Canadians most vulnerable to its negative effects. [continues 231 words]
Canadians Eager To Stir The Pot OTTAWA - More than half of Canadians want laxer pot laws. An exclusive Leger Marketing poll for QMI Agency found 21% think the federal government should decriminalize soft drugs like marijuana, while 34% say legalize it and tax it just like tobacco and alcohol. But 20% of Canadians take an opposite view and think there should be even tougher penalties for people caught with cannabis. The chronically contentious issue divides Canadians along lines of age, gender and geography -- but only 16% think current laws are adequate. [continues 354 words]
More Than Half Of Canadians Want Laxer Pot Laws. An exclusive Leger Marketing poll for QMI Agency found 21% think the federal government should decriminalize soft drugs such as marijuana, while 34% say legalize it and tax it just like tobacco and alcohol. But 20% of Canadians take an opposite view and think there should be even tougher penalties for people caught with cannabis. The contentious issue divides Canadians along lines of age, gender and geography -- and only 16% think current laws are adequate. [continues 353 words]
Most Canadians Want To Decriminalize Or Legalize And Tax Marijuana: Poll More than half of Canadians want laxer pot laws. An exclusive Leger Marketing poll for QMI Agency found 21% think the federal government should decriminalize soft drugs like marijuana, while 34% say legalize it and tax it just like tobacco and alcohol. But 20% of Canadians take an opposite view and think there should be even tougher penalties for people caught with cannabis. The chronically contentious issue divides Canadians along lines of age, gender and geography- and only 16% think current laws are adequate. [continues 358 words]
Heavy pot smokers are less likely to succeed academically and professionally and face heightened health risks such as respiratory illness and cognitive impairment, experts warn. As an exclusive Leger Marketing poll for QMI Agency shows a majority of Canadians want softer marijuana laws, others insist pot is less harmful than alcohol and say fears about relaxing laws are overblown. Amy Porath-Waller, senior research and policy analyst for the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, said studies have shown a growing prevalence of marijuana use-especially among younger Canadians most vulnerable to its negative effects. [continues 229 words]
Dance-Floor Drug Would Be Used To Combat Stress Disorder: Top Doc OTTAWA - Canada's military would use the illicit dance-floor drug Ecstasy to treat soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) if it's proven safe and effective, says a top DND doctor. Lt. Col. Rakesh Jetly, a psychiatrist and senior health adviser for the Canadian Forces, said the department of national defence (DND) is committed to evidence-based care, and would embrace any treatment that has undergone rigorous scientific research. [continues 307 words]
OTTAWA - Heavy pot smokers are less likely to succeed academically and professionally and face heightened health risks such as respiratory illness and cognitive impairment, experts warn. An exclusive Leger Marketing poll for QMI Agency shows a majority of Canadians want marijuana decriminalized or legalized. Many people insist modest use of marijuana is less harmful than alcohol and say fears about relaxing laws are overblown. Amy Porath-Waller, senior research and policy analyst for the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, said national studies have shown a growing prevalence of marijuana use - especially among younger Canadians who are most vulnerable to its negative effects. [continues 303 words]
OTTAWA - More than half of Canadians want laxer pot laws. An exclusive Leger Marketing poll for QMI Agency found 21% think the federal government should decriminalize soft drugs like marijuana, while 34% say legalize it and tax it just like tobacco and alcohol. But 20% of Canadians take an opposite view and think there should be even tougher penalties for people caught with cannabis. The chronically contentious issue divides Canadians along lines of age, gender and geography - and only 16% think current laws are adequate. [continues 360 words]
OTTAWA - More than half of Canadians want laxer pot laws. An exclusive Leger Marketing poll for QMI Agency found 21% think the federal government should decriminalize soft drugs like marijuana, while 34% say legalize it and tax it just like tobacco and alcohol. But 20% of Canadians take an opposite view and think there should be even tougher penalties for people caught with cannabis. The chronically contentious issue divides Canadians along lines of age, gender and geography - and only 16% think current laws are adequate. [continues 359 words]
OTTAWA - A growing number of Canadians permitted to grow pot for health reasons are exploiting the special right to operate grow-ops, says a Liberal MP who wants to tighten the rules. Scarborough, Ont., MP Michelle Simson's Bill C-539 aims to "close the loopholes" on medicinal marijuana production policy by requiring criminal background checks and inspections of grow sites. It would also require the pot producer to notify other occupants if it's located inside a commercial or multi-tenant building. [continues 229 words]
OTTAWA - Needle-exchange programs are a "pragmatic and necessary" way to stop the spread of deadly and financially draining diseases like HIV and hepatitis behind bars, according to a report to be released Tuesday. The 42-page report from the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, called "Under the Skin," features testimonials from 50 federal and former inmates and aims to raise public awareness and rally support for needle and syringe programs in penitentiaries. "We thought it is a way to humanize them and for the public to realize this could be your brother, your sister," said Sandra Ka Hon Chu, one of the report authors, who noted HIV and hepatitis C rates are 10 to 20 times higher in prisons than in the regular population. [continues 123 words]
Proponents of medicinal marijuana cheer as number of licensed tokers across Canada triples since 2006 The number of Canadians legally permitted to use pot as medicine has tripled in the past three years since the Tories took power. At last official count by Health Canada this past June, 4,029 people were authorized to possess cannabis under Marijuana Medical Access Regulations, 2,841 were allowed to grow their own plants and 481 had special permission to grow it on behalf of another patient. That's up from 1,273 who had permits in February 2006. [continues 315 words]
OTTAWA - The number of Canadians legally permitted to use pot as medicine has tripled in the past three years since the Conservatives took power. At last official count by Health Canada this past June, 4,029 people were authorized to possess cannabis under Marijuana Medical Access Regulations, 2,841 were allowed to grow their own plants and 481 had special permission to grow it on behalf of another patient. That's up from 1,273 who had permits in February 2006. [continues 293 words]
But Many Patients Say They Face Hurdles Accessing a Quality, Affordable Product OTTAWA -- The number of Canadians legally permitted to use pot as medicine has tripled during the last three years since the Conservatives took power. At last official count by Health Canada this past June, 4,029 people were authorized to possess cannabis under Marijuana Medical Access Regulations, 2,841 were allowed to grow their own plants and 481 had special permission to grow it on behalf of another patient. That's up from 1,273 who had permits in February 2006. [continues 280 words]
The street value of drugs seized by Canadian cops last year topped $2.4 billion, according to the RCMP. RCMP Supt. Pierre Perron, director general of criminal intelligence, said ecstacy, crystal meth, cocaine and marijuana remain the drugs of choice for dealers increasingly linked to organized crime. While the number of clandestine drug labs remained stable, facilities diversified the illicit powders and tablets they produce and pushed output to "new heights," he said. Pot is still the top domestically produced drug -- accounting for 75% of seizures. [continues 126 words]
Ottawa - The street value of drugs seized by Canadian cops last year topped $2.4 billion, according to the RCMP. RCMP Supt. Pierre Perron, director general of criminal intelligence, said ecstacy, crystal meth, cocaine and marijuana remain the drugs of choice for dealers increasingly linked to organized crime. While the number of clandestine drug labs remained stable, facilities diversified the illicit powders and tablets they produce and pushed output to "new heights," he said. Pot is still the top domestically produced drug -- accounting for 75% of seizures. [continues 126 words]
One day after drawing the ire of Conservatives for tinkering with government justice legislation Liberal senators are now picking apart another crime bill that cracks down on drug traffickers. Political wrangling over the bills raged Thursday, with Justice Minister Rob Nicholson fuming over proposed amendments and delays. He called on Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff to "show leadership" and urge his caucus members from the red chamber to pass the bill. "I've heard that again, they're playing games with this. These people are soft on crime and this is a huge mistake," Nicholson said. [continues 322 words]
