Feds plan to legalize recreational pot by July 2018 The day of cannabis legalization looms over local governments and law enforcement - including Calgary police - but they're taking it in stride. At the October Calgary Police Commission meeting, CPS chief Roger Chaffin said the best time to know the exact legislation to come on July 1 would have been "in the past," but said they're already taking steps to address legalization now. The province's cannabis framework, released in early October, proposes Albertans will have to be at least 18 years old to buy pot from the specialized retail stores selling it. [continues 244 words]
Health-care facilities should let her medicate as needed: User When Vicky Penny has an anxiety attack she knows what will settle her down: her prescribed medical marijuana. Last week, while Penny was waiting for an appointment at Foothills Hospital to speak with someone about some of her ongoing mental health issues, she was overwhelmed with anxiety, so she stepped outside to medicate. "It was about five minutes to my appointment and I was feeling anxious, it was a big day," said Penny. "Security was dealing with another matter in the smoking area so I decided to just go around the corner." [continues 344 words]
Shift in drug habits, supply chain blamed The Calgary Police Service has seen a 292 per cent increase in methamphetamine seizures in the second quarter of 2016, compared to the same time last year, according to a report presented to the Calgary Police Commission on Tuesday. Staff Sgt. Martin Schiavetta said the increase is measured in both small busts, such as a person carrying a baggy of the drug, all the way up to large busts. In conjunction with the ever-increasing fentanyl issue in the province, they're seeing some scary outcomes. [continues 116 words]
Marijuana test to be in force's hands by early 2017: Developer The Calgary Police Service said they're encouraged by companies working on solutions to impaired driving by drugs - including a marijuana breathalyzer. Mike Lynn, and emergency room doctor, reserve deputy sheriff and CEO of The Hounds Labs, Inc. based out of Oakland California said they're close to completing their marijuana breathalyzer and are hoping to do pilot projects with law enforcement agencies. "There is a huge amount of interest in what we're doing and that part has been really quite gratifying," he said. "Now we're working as hard as we can and as fast as possible to get the tools out there." [continues 304 words]
Driving while high may carry same penalties as drinking The Calgary Police Service is eagerly awaiting action on impaired driving laws once marijuana legalization goes through, according to Staff Sgt. Paul Stacey. In February, the Liberal government officially announced its plans to legalize and regulate marijuana by early 2017, and Stacey said it's still unclear what that will mean for those who might drive while high. "The rub is, we're waiting for the marijuana legislation to pass," he said. "Whatever that will look like, we're hoping for the best as far as impaired driving rules go. But, I guess time will tell." [continues 253 words]
Appeal Board called position 'extreme' in April decision Canadians spend $166 a month on gifts. Business A Calgary man suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) who has a legal marijuana grow operation at his home says he isn't quite sure what Alberta Health Services has against him. Keith Gall, whose MS confines him to a wheelchair, grows his own medicinal marijuana out of his Calgary home, and last September he received notice of a routine inspection to be done by a city of Calgary Safety Codes Officer. On the day of the inspection, six individuals, including two police officers and an uninvited, unannounced AHS executive officer showed up for the inspection - which goes against regulations in the Public Health Act (PHA). [continues 452 words]
Advocate Charged With Two Counts of Trafficking A well-known Vancouver pot activist has been released on bail after being arrested in Calgary for handing out cannabis seeds at a rally he was hosting Wednesday. Overgrow Canada director Dana Larsen said a volunteer was first arrested for handing out the seeds at the Calgary stop in his cross-Canada tour, but when Larsen found out he presented himself to police. "I went out there and said 'if you're going to be arresting anyone for sharing cannabis seeds it's going to be me,'" he said. "So, I gave him a handful of seeds and the officer arrested me as well." [continues 262 words]
Following a slew of shootings in the city's northeast, Calgary police said Tuesday the incidents are "extremely concerning", while offering reporters insight into what officers are dealing with. Staff Sgt. Quinn Jacques with the CPS guns and gangs unit said in 2014 the CPS investigated a total of 54 shooting events, and has already investigated 63 such events in 2015, 25 of which he said took place in District 5 in the city's northeast. "Never before have we seen this kind of prevalence of gun-related violence in our community," he said. "Disputes over drugs are nothing new, but using guns to solve these disputes has now become the rule instead of the exception." [continues 142 words]
