MAYOR JACK Talstra met with Terrace's top cop because he feared any drug investigation of Marijuana Party challenger Bob Erb during the election might appear politically motivated. Talstra -- whose law firm handles federal drug prosecutions here -- said he urged RCMP Inspector Marlin Degrand to use caution because he didn't want to be accused of directing police forces against his mayoral opponent. "I asked them to lay off Bob," Talstra said Nov. 14, two days before voting day. "I don't need that." [continues 221 words]
JALALABAD, Afghanistan - When the sun peeks over the horizon and a cold, November fog covers the fields, Afghanistan's poppy growers get to work. This is planting season in the country that last year regained the title of world's largest producer of opium. But that distinction, however dubious, may be short-lived. Some farmers this year are not planting poppies, the source of the opium used to make heroin. They say they fear jail because of a new government ban on poppy growing - and their fear could be a first sign that Afghans outside the capital, Kabul, are following the writ of law laid down by Prime Minister Hamid Karzai. [continues 755 words]
The owner of a Spring Road apartment complex in Fernwood that has allegedly become a haven for drug dealers, junkies and criminals has fired the landlord he hired to crackdown on illicit activity in the building. The former landlord, a Fernwood resident named Todd, was hired in mid-September by the building's owner, Inderjit Gill. Todd, who spoke on the condition that his last name not be used, issued 26 eviction notices in less than two months for infractions ranging from non-payment of rent to excessive traffic and creating a disturbance. [continues 416 words]
Adios Wayne! I won't miss you but I do wish you the best of luck in Wyoming (re: "Turn me loose, set me free," Wayne's Word, Nov. 14). I sure hope you and your Libertarian cohorts will do better at taking over Wyoming than the Rajneeshee's did in eastern Oregon. When I look at a typical Libertarian, I see a Republican who smokes dope. But for that difference alone I would much rather be governed by a Libertarian than a Republican. But before you go, I have to mention that your disdain for the majority (those dullards who would take your First and Second Amendment rights away if they could) may be a bit misplaced. [continues 180 words]
A breeze billows the pungent smoke from the marijuana cigarette around his face, and Irvin Rosenfeld immediately feels better. A stock broker, Rosenfeld deals with millions of dollars while smoking up to 12 joints daily - marijuana he gets from the federal government to treat a rare bone ailment. "It has made my life much easier to live and kept my condition in check," Rosenfeld said Wednesday, 20 years to the day he received his first marijuana shipment from the government under a program which today has only six other members. [continues 698 words]
Drugs such as meth, cocaine and prescription pain relievers are as deadly as alcohol on Utah roads, but their users often escape punishment because the drugs are less detectable and harder to measure. The state's current automobile homicide statute makes it incredibly tough for prosecutors to go after offenders who are involved in fatal traffic accidents after using drugs illegally. The most serious charge now available is a class B misdemeanor, hardly what prosecutors and victim advocates equate to justice. [continues 384 words]
In a quest for guns and drugs, the San Antonio Police SWAT team invaded the wrong West Side apartment Wednesday night, leaving one person to be treated at a local hospital and another with minor injuries. Police spokesman Gabe Trevino told KSAT-TV news it was a mistake and the department apologized for the incident around 8 p.m. in the 5900 block of Fairshire Road. "We are sitting here and then all of them arrived," Salvador Huerta, 20, said in Spanish, referring to himself and his two cousins, who were watching a telenovela when police shattered the back glass door. "We were kicked and punched at least 20 times. I couldn't talk. I was good and scared." [continues 182 words]
A former employee of Cascade Steel Rolling Mills in McMinnville is suing the company for $1.46 million, alleging he was wrongfully terminated after testing positive for marijuana. Douglas Heuer, a registered caregiver in the state's medical marijuana program, contends Cascade officials engaged in unlawful employment practices, wrongful discharge and breach of good faith when they dismissed him in July 2001. The firing came eight months after the crane Heuer was operating damaged a power line, prompting company managers to ask the 44-year-old man to submit to drug and alcohol testing. According to court records, the testing turned up traces of marijuana and Heuer was placed on probation. [continues 387 words]
Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week is in full swing and you may have seen some of the signs and messages of awareness around town. On Monday, NVSS students received free pizza in exchange for answering questions about drug and alcohol awareness. The lunch hour event was aptly named, "Food for Thought." Various presentations on the topic were also given to classes throughout the school. Elementary classes from Prairiedale, Sinkut View and W.L. McLeod have been working hard on the liquor store bag campaign. A Public Health Nurse has been speaking with the students about alcohol and harm reduction messages. [continues 262 words]
Daily Crackdowns Not Enough, Police Say VANCOUVER -- The lucrative marijuana trade continues to expand in British Columbia, despite almost daily police raids to close down illegal growing operations. U.S. drug chief John Walters appealed to British Columbia authorities earlier this week to curb the province's marijuana trade. He said in Vancouver he had been told that the B.C. crop is worth as much as $6-billion a year and 95 per cent is sent into the United States. [continues 256 words]
Usually, when science and technology move ahead of culture and wisdom, the general belief is that it is science that is moving too quickly, not culture that is moving too slowly. In areas from nuclear power to genetic engineering, the often justified fear is that we have let the genie out of the bottle -- or Godzilla out of the deep -- and don't know how to control it. But when it comes to the science and the culture of medicine, it seems clear that our feelings have been far too slow to catch up with our technology. [continues 387 words]
