To the editor: This letter is in response to one that appeared on April 5, "Anti- marijuana editorial lauded.' As a retired New Jersey state trooper with 12 years as an undercover drug narc, I've got a sobering response to letter writer Joyce Nalepka's suggestion that leaving the marijuana market on the street is preferable to a legal, regulated system. Based on my experience as a cop and that of my many colleagues who make up the membership of our international organization, we know that an illegal drug market stimulates distribution to minor-aged kids, while also increasing the direct involvement of minors in sales. This is especially true when talking about marijuana, when our teenagers tell us that obtaining pot is much easier than getting access to regulated drugs. [continues 146 words]
Repeat Offenders Next Focus Of Force AJAX -- As one enforcement initiative wraps up, the Durham Regional Police is getting ready for another. "We have some significant issues and we're working very hard. Last fall, we were given the green light by Regional council to use our surplus on extra patrols, to target parks, gangs and youth," Deputy Chief Chuck Mercier told Ajax councillors. The $500,000 "made a significant difference. It's intelligence-led policing. Let's not chase crime after, let's chase criminals beforehand," Deputy Chief Mercier stated to council's general government committee on Thursday. [continues 591 words]
Cash Injection From City Gives Green Light To Alternative Treatment Program Despite a lack of federal funds, a drug treatment court has the green light in Calgary after a homegrown group forged ahead with the idea in the hopes of reducing crime. The Calgary Drug Treatment Court Pilot Project kicks off May 10, said committee chair, lawyer Mark Tyndale. Four years ago, the feds funded four trials in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Regina and Ottawa. Those cities each see $1.6 million over four years. [continues 301 words]
Panel Selects Most Influential Decisions A jury of the country's foremost constitutional experts is in -- and its verdict for the most influential Charter ruling of the past 25 years is a 1986 case, Regina v. Oakes, which provided a crucial blueprint for all future Charter interpretation. The runner-up was a 1985 ruling known as the B.C. Motor Vehicle reference, which greatly expanded the power of judges to interpret the Charter guarantee of life, liberty and security of the person. [continues 765 words]
WINDER -- A six-month undercover sting operation resulted in the arrests Monday of 11 Winder-Barrow High School students. Three juveniles ages 15 and 16 were arrested along with [Name redacted], 17; [Name redacted], 18; [Name redacted], 17; [Name redacted], 18; [Name redacted], 17; [Name redacted], 17; [Name redacted], 18; and [Name redacted], 19. The students face multiple drug-related charges. The arrests began about 9:15 a.m. Monday at the school, about 30 minutes after classes began. "They waited until after the students were settled in their classes to avoid making a big spectacle," said Lt. Todd Druse, Winder Police Department spokesman. "It was all over within about half an hour." [continues 339 words]
To The Editor: In response to the article "Murder in Colombia: the real thing?" as a Colombian, I appreciate the effort to highlight the decades-long internal conflict that has torn the country. However, insinuating that the University is partially responsible for union deaths due to its financial ties to Coca-Cola is preposterous. Multinational corporations use anti-union tactics all over the third world, maximizing their profits by exploiting local workers. The U.S. does far worse things that contribute to the bleeding in Colombia. It pours millions of taxpayer dollars to the government, which are largely spent on ineffective "counterdrug and counterterrorism" operations that only perpetuate homicides, kidnappings, violence and insecurity. [continues 56 words]
Former police detective Howard Wooldridge offered students in Page Hall a stern warning Tuesday: It's time for America to reform its drug laws. Dressed in a beige cowboy hat, jeans and a white T-shirt that read, "Ask Me Why Cops Say Regulate Drugs," Wooldridge spoke in front of nearly 40 people at an event sponsored by The Libertarian Studies Organization and Students for Sensible Drug Policy. He drew from personal experience as an 18-year police veteran near Lansing, Mich., and used government statistics in an attempt to illustrate the damage prohibition has caused to millions of lives. He said former President Richard Nixon's war on drugs has not reduced their use or availability. [continues 475 words]
Sixth-graders at Westridge Elementary School showed they know the damage drugs can cause at a DARE graduation ceremony on Friday. DARE, which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is a national program that teaches students the dangers of tobacco, alcohol and marijuana. Friday's ceremony concluded 10 weeks of DARE sessions at Westridge. "This is kind of a final culmination of all their work," said West Des Moines police officer Scott Davis, who met with the kids once a week to teach them about drugs and how to resist taking them. "It teaches the kids a lot about peer pressure and how to identify it," Davis said. [continues 251 words]
COUNTYWIDE -- The percentage of Clarion County students who have tried or regularly use alcohol and other types of drugs is above state and national averages, according to a recent study. Pa. Youth Survey The Pennsylvania Youth Survey was taken at five of the seven school districts in Clarion County . At those schools, sixth-, eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders were polled and 1,194 surveys were deemed valid. Sheila Snyder, representing Clarion Family Net and Clarion County's Promise which is under Family Net, and Patricia Anderson of the Clarion County Cooperative Extension are visiting Clarion County schools trying to garner support for partnerships which could obtain after-school grants aiming to keep students from falling into drug use. [continues 957 words]
