According to Dr. Michael O'Malley and Dr. Kiri Simms (via CBC), marijuana-induced psychosis has increased in the last 10 years. I do not dispute their claims. THC in pot sold on the street contributes to the problem. In fact, as with any illegal street-sold drug, the more potent the active ingredient, the better for sales. Yet, it's highly unlikely that the seller is concerned about the amount of THC in the pot he sells on the street, except for repeat sales. [continues 312 words]
While it's a good idea for the Prince Edward Island government to seek public input on plans to legalize marijuana, the broad strokes of any such legislation are very likely already written. Last week, Premier Wade MacLauchlan said his government is seeking Islanders' thoughts on what cannabis legislation should look like, an engagement process that's long overdue since Ottawa tabled its intentions in early April to legalize and regulate cannabis by July 1, 2018. Legalization is a federal decision but many of the rules and regulations fall under provincial responsibility so the 10 provinces are scrambling to deal with Ottawa's proposals. Most complain the narrow window won't allow enough time to get proper public health, pubic safety and public education guidelines in place. [continues 394 words]
Canada should declare opioid crisis: Doctor The head of Portugal's addictions directorate is urging Canada to declare the opioid overdose crisis a national health emergency. On a tour of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, the innercity neighbourhood home to many people who struggle with addictions and mental health, Dr. Joao Goulao said the sheer number of deaths caused by the tainted supply of illicit drugs warrants the declaration. Portugal is often held up as a model of progressive drug reform. Policy changes started in the late 1990s in that country included decriminalizing drugs, something many public health advocates are now advocating for Canada as the only truly effective way to remove the risk of ingesting illicit drugs tainted with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid. [continues 243 words]
Issues related to the legal production of marijuana are making increased demands on Norfolk County's time and resources. Norfolk council members have been surprised in recent months by the number of complaints they are receiving from rural residents who find themselves living next door to legal grow-ops. At Tuesday's meeting of Norfolk council, Mayor Charlie Luke warned that complaints about odour and noise can only increase once the federal government legalizes marijuana for recreational purposes next summer. "Smell is a big issue with a lot of folks," Luke said. "But we don't license them. It's difficult for us to meet the expectations of people as to what we should be doing. [continues 408 words]
I am so tired of hearing about Liberals picking and choosing what laws they will abide by or enforce. Pot is illegal. Close the illegal pot shops down. Heroin is illegal, yet police stood by and watched people break the law and did nothing. What happens if somebody dies or nearly dies? I bet they will sue the city for allowing them to take illegal drugs in an illegal supervised-injection site. Occupying a city park is against the law yet there is no bylaw enforcement. I am a conservative-minded person and I don't condone this behaviour. I am sure that there are few people who support this illegal activity. [continues 134 words]
Government has consulted more than 50 organizations, list shows The province of Ontario has met with at least 50 organizations to seek their input on how it should handle the legalization of marijuana - groups ranging from the LCBO to Indigenous organizations to a policing group and local municipalities. On Friday, Attorney General Yasir Naqvi and other ministers are expected to provide some answers as to how the province is planning to deal with pot legalization, something the federal government is hoping to accomplish by July 2018. [continues 639 words]
VANCOUVER - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has closed the door on decriminalizing illicit drugs to combat a national overdose crisis but British Columbia's addictions minister says unprecedented deaths are a "wake-up call" to reconsider that stance. Trudeau said decriminalization is not the approach Canada will take to deal with deadly overdoses often involving the opioid fentanyl. "We are making headway on this and indeed the crisis continues and indeed spreads across the country but we are not looking at legalizing any other drugs than marijuana for the time being," Trudeau told a news conference Thursday at the end of a caucus meeting in Kelowna. [continues 267 words]
IF Canada's experience with legal recreational marijuana parallels what is taking place in U.S. states, we have much to anticipate in terms of entrepreneurial ferment, job creation, wealth expansion and boosted tax receipts. Legal recreational marijuana has been law in Colorado for three and a half years, and a little more than three years in Washington. Oregon staggered its rollout of recreational marijuana between 2015 and last year, Alaska and Nevada's programs are up and running and soon to follow are Massachusetts, Maine and the cannabis behemoth known as California. [continues 638 words]
Educating lawmakers and the general public will be a key component of the recently formed legislative committee tasked with tackling medical marijuana, according to one of the legislators heading up the panel. "I think one of the goals is to make sure that the people and the advocates and the patients are aware of what we're doing and make sure that they give feedback to their elected officials," said Sen. Steve Dickerson, R-Nashville, who along with Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, are heading up a legislative committee to study the issue. [continues 723 words]
In a decision that could change the way future medical marijuana permits are awarded in Pennsylvania, the state has ordered the Pa. Department of Health to reveal the identities of the panelists who determined the winners to grow and distribute cannabis products. The Pa. Department of Health in June awarded 12 permits to grow and process marijuana and 27 permits to distribute the medicines in a process that many of the unsuccessful applicants criticized as unnecessarily opaque. A secret panel, comprised of about a dozen Pennsylvania state employees, reviewed and scored hundreds of lengthy applications for the potentially lucrative business permits, following a model originally set by New Jersey. Other states have followed different selection processes. Ohio, for example, hired an Atlanta-based consultant to determine its winners, according to Cleveland.com. [continues 163 words]
The Trump administration announced Friday that the president has tapped Rep. Tom Marino to lead the Office of National Drug Control Policy. In Congress, Marino has worked to expand access to treatment for people struggling with opioid addiction. The 64-year-old Republican congressman lives outside Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and is a former county prosecutor who served as U.S. attorney in Pennsylvania's Middle District under President George W. Bush. Marino was an early supporter of the president and the first Pennsylvania congressman to endorse Trump in the presidential primary contest. He had previously withdrawn his name from consideration in May, citing a family illness. [end]
