The Ontario government's decision to enter the world of online gambling had me confused. Isn't gambling an addiction? Won't that just encourage more people to gamble, creating more gambling addicts with all of the problems that entails? Isn't online gambling a gateway to worse addictive behaviour? But then I realized the government is doing little to nothing to enforce the existing laws that prohibit online gambling. Many people flout current gambling laws. Indeed there's an estimated $400 million being spent by 400,000 to 500,000 Ontarians each year on illegal online gambling. [continues 509 words]
Joyceville 'Completely In Chaos': Official Six visitors to a federal prison in Kingston were arrested and drugs worth $30,000 seized, the latest in a string of incidents that have turned the penitentiary into a powder keg. On Saturday, during a family social day at Joyceville Institution, staff intercepted 300 grams of marijuana, tobacco and drug paraphernalia, according to Corrections Canada. Five visitors were charged with possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking and one person was charged with possession. More charges are expected. [continues 570 words]
There'd be huge benefits to the government getting into selling marijuana The Ontario government's decision to enter the world of online gambling had me confused. Isn't gambling an addiction? Won't that just encourage more people to gamble, creating more gambling addicts with all of the problems that entails? Isn't online gambling a gateway to worse addictive behaviour? Won't it turn every house into a virtual casino? But then I realized the government is doing little to nothing to enforce the existing laws that prohibit online gambling. [continues 541 words]
Unfair, dysfunctional and unconstitutional. That's a pretty fair description of the system that is supposed to allow Canadians with chronic or terminal illnesses to use marijuana for pain relief. At the moment, Lee Petherick is caught in the system. Four years ago he consulted a doctor, filled out all the necessary forms and was certified by Health Canada as a licensed medical marijuana user. He can legally grow up to 15 plants and process the pot as medication for his chronic back pain, the result of an injury. [continues 440 words]
When he learned police had raided his room, seized his pot and charged him with producing and possessing marijuana, Les Petherick said he was stunned. "I didn't actually believe it. I thought I was safe as I could be," he said. The 46-year-old has been a licensed medical marijuana user since May 2009. He's allowed to grow up to 15 marijuana plants, store 1,500 grams and possess 120 grams. He consumes it as medication for a serious back injury that causes him constant pain. [continues 810 words]
United States customs officers are seizing more drugs at the International Bridge in Sault Ste. Marie, although why depends on who you ask. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said in a recent report that Asian organized crime groups are increasingly targeting northern points of entry, including Sault Ste. Marie, Port Huron and Detroit, to smuggle in the potent strain of indoor-grown marijuana known as B.C. Bud, along with a smaller level of MDMA, or Ecstasy. "Hydroponic marijuana is highly sought after by drug traffickers because it has a higher THC content and is that much more potent," said DEA supervisory special agent Andy Eiseman from Detroit on Friday. [continues 703 words]
The Cornwall Regional Task Force (CRTF) seized 8,860 marijuana plants over the past three weeks in six different farmer's fields. Sgt. Michael Harvey, a member of the local RCMP detachment, said the seizures were made because of four days of flyovers that led to officers spotting the crops. Three plots were found in South Glengarry, two in North Glengarry and one in South Stormont. Harvey said no arrests were made as a result of the seizures, but intelligence was gathered that could aid future investigations. [continues 216 words]
Editor: Re: Medical marijuana study wasteful letter to editor of Sept. 4. Thank goodness Mr. Eibisberger is not in charge of medical research in this country. His is a perfect example of warped logic. In one paragraph he states that a study showing a benefit to people with chronic pain by using marijuana should never have been done, yet he says he feels compassion for these people. So, don't use a scientifically validated therapy, or further study it, because others don't like you doing it. In other words, I feel bad that you have a condition that is making every minute of your existence misery, but don't you dare use or study a drug that helps you because I don't like it. Better you should suffer. [continues 484 words]
KITCHENER - Three children were removed from a Kitchener home in April after police discovered their parents were growing marijuana plants in the basement. The 33-year-old man and his 24-year-old common-law wife have a four-year-old child, and the man has two sons, one who is 13, Kitchener's Ontario Court heard. Although the marijuana grow operation was extremely small at only four plants, Family and Children's Services took the children after a police search of the rented Weber Street East home on April 30. (To prevent the identification of the children, who had been in care of FCS, their parents are not being named in this story.) [continues 229 words]
BRAMPTON - Already facing prison, convicted Peel Police officer Sheldon Cook could also lose his financial interest in his Cambridge home under a forfeiture application filed by federal crowns. David Rowcliffe and Anya Weiler want to seized his stake in his home as proceeds of crime following his drug-related convictions. On June 23, Justice Casey Hill convicted Cook, 42, of unlawfully attempting to possess an illegal substance for the purpose of trafficking, three counts of breach of trust, theft and unlawful possession of stolen property, and possession of marijuana. [continues 318 words]
It would be unfortunate if a therapy program for a particular human disease is singled out as a threat to the community. Lepers rang bells giving people a chance to scatter for fear of contracting leprosy. AIDS victims were barred from restaurants. People were afraid to shake their hands. Pregnant teens left town to have the baby and give it up. Enlightened societies acknowledge the ignorance that influenced the decisions of the day regarding leprosy and AIDS and pregnancy out of wedlock. [continues 669 words]
Re "Murderous Mexican standoff" (Mercedes Stepenson, Sept. 5): Great column. However, all the great minds of the ages don't seem to understand the most basic concepts of economics - and yet they run governments. It is impossible to ban anything. It is against the law - the law of supply and demand. Whatever you do to a supply curve will be undone directly and proportionately by the demand curve vis-a-vis the price. There's nothing that can be done except to legalize narcotics with a control system. That is why the prohibition of alcohol didn't work. The loss of supply raised the price to fill the demand and organized crime prospered. By legalizing narcotics the price will fall drastically, putting organized crime out of business. The government could give away the drugs with attendance for counselling. The war on drugs is causing a downward spiral. We will have a global narco economy if we're not there already. George Freund Toronto (We're not there already) [end]
I've been reading how the Chiefs of Police across Canada want to keep the failed long-gun registry in effect. I think every police chief should be fired for lying to the public about the dangers of marijuana and keeping it illegal. I have a criminal record for simple marijuana possession and its difficult to find a job because of it. I've been reading all week about new studies at McGill University in Montreal that have found marijuana helps with neurological pain, which I have. I wish Prime Minister Stephen Harper would give amnesty to everyone charged with marijuana possession. After that, the prime minister can get rid of every police chief in Canada, starting with Bill Blair of the Toronto Police department. Chris Lawson Barrie [end]
Marc Emery's Extradition A Violation Of Canada's Sovereignty Marc Emery, Canada's self-proclaimed "Prince of Pot," is set to be sentenced in a United States Federal Court on September 10. Emery was extradited to the U.S. on May 20, 2010, to serve a five-year prison term for the sale of marijuana seeds over the Internet. Canadian police worked with the U.S.'s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to have Emery extradited and charged under America's vastly more severe drug laws rather than having him serve his prison term in his home country. [continues 603 words]
Following on the barefoot heels of hot yoga, circus yoga and hip hop yoga, cannabis-enhanced classes offer a way to cut through inhibitions David Silverberg, From Thursday's Globe and Mail They chat away breezily between vaporizer tokes, sometimes veering off into conspiracy theories about the government or discussions of the healthiest way to smoke marijuana. Then the 12 yoga lovers extend their arms and breathe deeply. Yoga mats cover the floor. A guitarist strums chords as incense weaves its tendrils across the room. [continues 901 words]
Oblivious Canadians Romp on the Beach As Thousands Executed in Vile Drug War What conflict has resulted in more than four times the deaths of allied casualties of Iraq and Afghanistan combined? Would it help to know it's a country where more than one million Canadians vacation every year? Would you be surprised to know it's right here in North America? It's Mexico. As we contentedly sip margaritas on the beach from behind protected resort walls, more than 28,000 Mexicans have lost their lives in a vicious drug war. [continues 602 words]
Oblivious Canadians Romp on the Beach As Thousands Executed in Vile Drug War What conflict has resulted in more than four times the deaths of allied casualties of Iraq and Afghanistan combined? Would it help to know it's a country where more than one million Canadians vacation every year? Would you be surprised to know it's right here in North America? It's Mexico. As we contentedly sip margaritas on the beach from behind protected resort walls, more than 28,000 Mexicans have lost their lives in a vicious drug war. [continues 604 words]
If I were prime minister for a day and could have carte blanche on any changes I wanted for this land of ours, I wouldn't waste the opportunity. In fact, just in case it ever happens, I have a list all ready. First, I'd legalize marijuana. I don't smoke pot -- my preferred poison comes from a cold can with, patriotically enough, the name 'Canadian' on it -- but the truth is that many Canadians do and will continue to. [continues 545 words]
(Re: 'Cameron figures he'd rule as PM for a day' in the Sept. 1 edition of the Examiner) "First, I'd legalize marijuana." This will never, ever, happen. When -- not if, but when -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper gets his majority government, he will shut down the Medical Marijuana Program at Health Canada the very next day. This will be in open violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but we all know how Harper feels about that pesky Charter. [continues 261 words]
Inside Ontario
