Home growing expected to be addressed in House of Assembly this spring Federal legislation, provincial legislation, contracts and regulation - - there's plenty still in the works when it comes to having legal, recreational marijuana in Newfoundland and Labrador. In the coming weeks, more will be said on growing your own cannabis and on Canopy Growth's in-province production facility. More is also expected to be brought to the House of Assembly on marijuana in the workplace, and occupational, health and safety implications of legalization. [continues 596 words]
Lawyer Denis Mahoney outlines a plan for employers surrounding the legalization of cannabis in Canada How are employers going to deal with the use of cannabis in the workplace once it becomes legal later this year? According to lawyer Denis Mahoney, a partner with Mcinnes Cooper in St. John's, speaking to delegates at the 50th anniversary conference of the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association (NLCA) on Friday, there are many questions that need to be answered first. "We are really concerned about this at the employers' council because as I can tell you in our business today, the No. 1 issue we are working with clients on today, above all else, is this particular topic," Mahoney said. [continues 796 words]
Unsettling incidents involving young people who insist on driving while drunk have grabbed the spotlight in recent days and months across Atlantic Canada. It doesn't augur well for potential law enforcement issues later this year. In Halifax, a 23-year-old New Brunswick man is facing charges after a pedestrian was struck and killed in the downtown last weekend. A 63-year-old well-known and much-liked street person was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver is charged with impaired driving causing death. [continues 427 words]
I've been publicly advocating legalization of marijuana as long as I have been an op-ed writer, approximately 16 years. Since that battle is won, I will not rehash all the reasons. Now that it is upon us, just a few months from implementation, the time has come to move on to practical considerations. Let's start off with what I am not. I am not a pot user. I am not an advocate of people using marijuana. I am not in favour of minors having access to it, legally or not. In terms of helping people not to start, or to use it responsibly, or, more importantly, get off it if they are one of the people who cannot use it responsibly, it has always been my contention regulation should not fall under the purview of the criminal justice system. [continues 479 words]
Larger towns like Bay Roberts, Carbonear expect to field requests to sell pot product Municipal leaders in Conception Bay North's two largest towns expect to field requests from entrepreneurs looking to earn a dollar off the impending legalization of marijuana. The topic of legalizing marijuana came up at Bay Roberts and Carbonear council meetings held last Tuesday. Bay Roberts Mayor Philip Wood and Chris O'Grady, Carbonear's acting mayor, both attended a meeting of Newfoundland and Labrador urban municipalities committee a few days prior to their respective council meetings. [continues 385 words]
It's just another example of how complicated things are going to be as provinces roll out their marijuana rules. Several provinces - Newfoundland and Labrador among them - have decided that marijuana smoking has to be done on private property. Ontario's rules are so tight that weed smoking has to take place in private residences. But what happens if your private residence is an apartment? Here's part of a Canadian Press story out of Toronto: "(The province is) not going to allow marijuana to be smoked in public areas, so where the heck are people going to smoke marijuana? Well they're going to do it in their apartments," said John Dickie of the Canadian Federation of Apartment Associations. "The problem is, just like when they smoke tobacco, the smell goes to neighbouring apartments. Buildings are not hermetically sealed." [continues 347 words]
National Non-Smoking Week 2018 National Non-Smoking Week (NNSW) has been observed during the third week in January for more than 35 years. From Jan. 21 to 27, one of the most important events in Canada's ongoing health education efforts in the prevention and reduction of tobacco use will be promoted, with Weedless Wednesday on Jan. 23. Weedless Wednesday focuses on the benefits of cessation and promotes a "one day at a time" approach to quitting smoking - a concept appealing to many smokers who may be discouraged when contemplating a week or perhaps a lifetime without cigarettes. Coping with one smoke-free day is manageable, and can contribute to small successes that lead to the decision of quitting long-term. [continues 412 words]
With the impending legalization of marijuana for personal use this July, Corporate Research Associates' (CRA) research suggests the majority of Atlantic Canadians are not likely to take advantage of this new opportunity, at least not initially. It has been interesting to track the change in opinion over time regarding the legalization of marijuana for personal use. While there has been widespread support among Atlantic-Canadians for the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes for more than five years, it has only been recently that a majority of those living in Atlantic Canada support the legalization of marijuana for personal use. [continues 465 words]
Predictions and Top 10 lists are popular topics this time of year, but never mind the other nine - let's talk dope and hypocrisy. After half a century of pointless law enforcement and the demonstrably insane "war on drugs," which Canada mindlessly followed the U.S.A. into, 2018 will prove to be a historic year - come July, if the federal Liberals follow through on their promise to legalize marijuana, the hippies and stoners will be proven right, and the politicians, police chiefs and conservative pundits will be proven wrong. [continues 574 words]
There's a dirty little secret about legalized marijuana, one that could become an issue in neighbourhoods across the country. Well, maybe it would be better to describe it as a stinky little secret, but one that's likely to become very familiar - and maybe too familiar. Weed, both smoked and unsmoked, is more pungent than it once was. It's gone through decades of horticultural experimentation to strengthen its kick. And there's likely to be a lot more of that pungent to go around once smoking a joint isn't a criminal offence anymore. [continues 554 words]
During his election campaign, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to legalize marijuana if we chose him as our leader. That day is near, and marijuana might be legalized on Canada Day 2018. Such a decision should not be taken lightly. Our country is not ready for this change. To clarify, I don't want to come across as cynical. I know that medical marijuana has its place in treating patients with chronic or terminal illness. I also don't agree with throwing people in jail for carrying small amounts for personal use. I see this as a waste of time, money and resources. At the same time, however, I don't think that the legalization of marijuana is what our country needs. And I certainly don't think it will make our country healthier, happier or safer. The decision to legalize marijuana has implications for health, society and our youth. [continues 547 words]
A Corporate Research Associates (CRA) survey last week probably sent chills down the spines of finance ministers and premiers in Atlantic Canada. After they left Ottawa earlier in the week with a lucrative tax-sharing deal on the sale of legalized marijuana, their visions of windfall revenues were quickly dashed with a reality check. The CRA survey suggests that 20 per cent of Atlantic Canadians plan to buy pot once it becomes legal July 1. It's about the same percentage that uses pot today - illegally. [continues 408 words]
During his election campaign, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to legalize marijuana if we chose him as our leader. That day is near, and marijuana might be legalized on Canada Day 2018. Such a decision should not be taken lightly. Our country is not ready for this change. To clarify, I don't want to come across as cynical. I know that medical marijuana has its place in treating patients with chronic or terminal illness. I also don't agree with throwing people in jail for carrying small amounts for personal use. I see this as a waste of time, money and resources. At the same time, however, I don't think that the legalization of marijuana is what our country needs. And I certainly don't think it will make our country healthier, happier or safer. The decision to legalize marijuana has implications for health, society and our youth. [continues 467 words]
McDonald believes production facility should be located in rural area St. Anthony Mayor Desmond McDonald believes the province's marijuana production facility should be located in a rural area. He also sees opportunities for business with the province's plan to legalize marijuana. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced on Dec. 8 that it has signed a deal to lock in a supply of cannabis and cannabis products from Canadian company Canopy Growth, ahead of the legalization of marijuana for recreational use in July 2018. [continues 311 words]
An argument against the legalization of marijuana We should not let underground drug lords pressure us into legalizing something that could be quite harmful for our health. During his election campaign, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to legalize marijuana if we chose him as our leader. That day is near, and marijuana might be legalized on Canada Day 2018. Such a decision should not be taken lightly. Our country is not ready for this change. To clarify, I don't want to come across as cynical. I know that medical marijuana has its place in treating patients with chronic or terminal illness. I also don't agree with throwing people in jail for carrying small amounts for personal use. I see this as a waste of time, money and resources. At the same time, however, I don't think that the legalization of marijuana is what our country needs. And I certainly don't think it will make our country healthier, happier or safer. The decision to legalize marijuana has implications for health, society and our youth [continues 545 words]
Liberals say still in the process of securing supply for legalization The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is busy making sure people have access to cannabis for personal use if they want it, once it becomes legalized in July 2018. As announced, the Liberals will have the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation (NLC) providing all of the cannabis needed here, as obtained from Health Canada-certified suppliers and sold through the NLC and NLC-certified retailers. Questions coming now from the province's Progressive Conservatives are: who will be our initial suppliers, for how much and for how long? [continues 205 words]
Independent sellers licensed; discouraging stocking with alcohol The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has revealed some - not all - of the details on its plans for legalized marijuana, with the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corp. (NLC) playing a lead role. The powers are being brought in as amendments to the Liquor Corporation Act and Liquor Control Act, with legislation coming in spring 2018. Right now, there are a few clear policy stances: Legal age will be 19 and it will be illegal for youth to be in possession of any amount (a provincial, not federal, offence) [continues 237 words]
Think about it not as marijuana, but as smoke - and then think about just how complicated the federal, provincial and municipal regulation of the drug will be. Consider this admittedly ludicrous example: say you were in Vancouver, you were having company in and wanted to show off to your guests by burning a big batt of weed in your old-style fireplace. Once the stuff is legal, you can do what you like, right? Well, maybe not - and not because it's weed, but because it makes smoke, and that smoke could threaten air quality. [continues 384 words]
One man acquitted as a result; trial for his co-accused is underway in St. John's A Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court judge has ruled evidence in a drug trafficking case - 62 pounds of marijuana - is inadmissible at the trial of one of two men charged. As a result, 29-year-old Matthew Bernard McGuire of Mount Pearl left the St. John's courthouse cleared of the charges Thursday morning, while his co-accused remained to stand trial. McGuire was acquitted of charges of trafficking marijuana and possessing marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, which were withdrawn by the Crown after Justice Robert Stack ruled in favour of an application made by McGuire's lawyer, Erin Breen. [continues 242 words]
Inside Newfoundland
