Police (406 items)
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| May 7, 2007 |
Marchers Advocate Legalizing Pot
Saskatchewan - The smell of hot dogs and cannabis lingered in the air outside of City Hall on Saturday, as more than 50 marijuana legalization advocates gathered on the building's front lawn to celebrate the Global Marijuana March. The local march began at Vimy Memorial and culminated with a barbecue at City Hall, which was sponsored by the Saskatchewan Marijuana Party. The mood at the late afternoon gathering was mellow, but there was no mistaking the politicized nature of the event. Cannabis flags blew in the breeze and placards read "No U.S. Drug War in Canada" and "Repeal Cannabis Prohibition." Leaders of the Saskatchewan Marijuana Party wanted to spread the message that cannabis prohibition is an issue affecting all Canadians. |
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| May 4, 2007 |
Ill Canadians Rally for Improvements to Medical Program
Halifax - Halifax March on Saturday One of Hundreds Worldwide Medical marijuana patients and advocates, cannabis consumers and freedom supporters, will rally in the Halifax North Commons from 1 to 4 p.m., May 5, to mark the annual Global Marijuana March as we join over 200 cities worldwide to seek changes to current cannabis laws. Last month Canadians learned about Health Canada gouging critically and chronically ill Canadians a whopping 1,500 per cent markup for medicinal marijuana. Maritimers Unite for Medical Marijuana Society ( MUMM ) is a registered non-profit organization that educates others about the safety of medical marijuana while advocating and lobbying for the rights of consumers, distributors and producers of medical marijuana. |
| May 2, 2007 |
Tories' Drug Bill Violates Basic Civil Liberties
Picture this: Your 19-year-old daughter is pulled over by police on suspicion of impaired driving. She is tested for "physical co-ordination," then taken to a police station where she is required to submit urine and blood samples. The test results indicate the presence of marijuana in her urine, although it cannot be ascertained when the drug was consumed or whether she was only exposed to the smoke - remember Ross Rebagliati? |
| Apr 27, 2007 |
4/20 Day A Real Bust For Students
National Smoke Up Day was a bust for almost three dozen Burlington high school students. Halton police officers made 36 arrests April 20 for drug-related offences, after police and the public school board co-ordinated an investigation at two randomly chosen Burlington high schools, Lester B. Pearson and M.M. Robinson. [Is this why we need more cops... because they are so busy busting kids they have no time to solve murders, robberies and other real crimes?] |
| Apr 26, 2007 |
Larsen Named Federal NDP Candidate for Local Ridin
Former Marijuana Party candidate Dana Larsen last week was declared the candidate for the federal New Democratic Party ( NDP ) in the riding that includes Whistler. ...The vast majority of people in British Columbia are in support of changing our marijuana laws, and I think that goes for people in all classes and all stratas of society," he said. "I think if you're the kind of person that thinks people who smoke marijuana should go to jail, then you probably weren't going to vote NDP anyway." |
| Apr 26, 2007 |
Rita MacNeil Brings The Old And New To Th'yarc
At a point in her career when there was nothing left for her to do as a musician, Rita MacNeil did the only logical thing someone in her position could -- she harvested weed with the Trailer Park Boys. MacNeil laughs when asked about the now legendary episode of the popular TV show where the boys hijack her tour bus and force MacNeil and her band to help them pick their crop. In the show, MacNeil happily picks five-foot tall marijuana plants while singing her trademark, Working Man. |
| Apr 25, 2007 |
Celebration Up In Smoke
Local pot activist Ted Smith launched the 4/20 celebration last Friday by urging the crowd to "smoke 'em if you got 'em." And smoke 'em they did. More than 700 people huddled in circles at the 10th annual gathering at Victoria city hall for the 4/20 event, symbolically held on April 20. |
| Apr 20, 2007 |
More Than Just Stoners at Pot Events
If you happen to bump into Marco Renda today, make sure to not wish him a "Hippy New Year." The former Dundalk-area medical marijuana activist, who still has charges pending in Guelph courts for allegedly exporting pot to the U.S. and Great Britain, is organizing a Cannabis Awareness Forum at a rather hoity-toity downtown Toronto hotel. |
| Apr 19, 2007 |
Pro Pot Activists Bring Cause To Home Of Justice
Marijuana activists have one more reason to like Niagara Falls, now that it's the home of Canada's justice minister, says Matt Mernagh, the organizer of Saturday's annual pro-pot protest. Saturday will be the fourth annual protest Niagara Falls has seen where scores of protesters take to the streets, demanding the legalization of marijuana. |
| Apr 14, 2007 |
Canadian, American Cops Say It's Time To End Drug Prohibition, Save Live
But some former law enforcement officials in Canada and the United States who have spent years fighting the ongoing war on drugs say it's a losing battle....They include Senator Larry Campbell, a former RCMP drug squad officer and Vancouver mayor who ran on a platform of reducing harm from drug use. ...Const. John Gayder of the Niagara Parks Police in Niagara Falls, Ont., is a founding member of LEAP. He says in the film that he gives drug calls a low priority because arresting such people isn't helping them. ... Jerry Paradis, who retired as a B.C. provincial court judge four years ago, is also a LEAP member and after 35 years on the bench, he echoes Gayder's sentiments . |
| Apr 12, 2007 |
How Much Is Too Much?
The cost of policing in North Bay is continually rising. We learned recently 13 members of the North Bay Police Service earned more than $100,000 in 2006. A new contract and overtime costs are driving the budget higher and municipal taxpayers are reeling with tax hikes almost triple the rate of inflation. At the same time, the police board tells the public crime is declining in the city. |
| Apr 5, 2007 |
Thinking Outside The Hot Box
Given the inconsistencies in Canada's drug laws, it's difficult to discern when and where we should take an active stance for or against illegal drug use. Existing laws cloud our perceptions of drugs and how some may be different from others. Ritalin and alcohol, while legal, have potentially deadly side-effects on the heart and liver, respectively. On the other hand, marijuana has fewer detrimental effects, especially if it isn't smoked. The seemingly baseless standards on which these laws are created complicate the ethics of punishment. While some cases are clear-cut -- certainly those supplying cocaine should be policed -- others aren't so easy. |
| Apr 5, 2007 |
Crime Stoppers Needs Funding Or It's Finished
Cornwall Ont - If the city police can't find close to $12,000 a year for Crime Stoppers, the local agency may be forced to fold.... Johann said the group has relied heavily upon the sale of pull-tab tickets, commonly known as Nevadas, to fund their operations. [A program that relys on gambling revenue to reward snitches - what a stupid society we live in] |
| Apr 5, 2007 |
This Is Your Vue On Drugs
If you notice a bit of a common thread running through this week's edition of Vue, try not to freak out, as it's entirely intentional. You are not high. Well, actually, chances are you might be, which is kind of the point. Based on information both official and anecdotal, it's clear that drugs are, well, everywhere these days. |
| Apr 2, 2007 |
Cops Target Pot-Smoking Teens In Jackson Park
Undercover Windsor police officers involved in a special operation busted a group of teens for smoking marijuana around Jackson Park. In a news release, Staff Sgt. Stephen Bodri said young officers in plain clothes have been working on the problem of high school students using drugs in Jackson Park during their school breaks. They busted the teens Thursday. [There must be a lack of serious crime in the area] |
| Mar 30, 2007 |
Marijuana Advocate Pleads Guilty to Pot Possession
Driving a car plastered with marijuana leaf logos and stickers is bound to catch the eye of police -- particularly if you're on the way to the annual Hempfest celebration. That's what happened to a Montreal man nearly seven years ago, a Sault Ste. Marie judge heard Thursday. Marc Boris St-Maurice was leader of the Marijuana Party at the time of the July 21, 2000 stop. Since then he has joined the Liberal Party and plans to seek the nomination in a Montreal riding, he says. |
| Mar 29, 2007 |
The Numerology Of A Stoner
The sub-culture of the pothead has always had a special language when trying to endear themselves to society in general. The first term I learned in my youth was "Mary Jane" when referring to marijuana. Nowadays that seems pretty "square-man" But the language developed in the sub-culture has not really changed all that much. Lingo or codes are used that many folks just don't get, and parents tend to lay a blind eye towards. Sure, if you look in little Johnny's bedroom and see a Canadian Flag with a three-pointed leaf in the middle, chances are he may be more familiar with the illegal substance than you wish. |
| Mar 24, 2007 |
Dude, Where's My War?
Canadian Adam Mann sees himself as an envoy for peace in the Middle East. But that may simply be a pipe dream. The 22-year-old University of Calgary political science student has recently been recruited by one of Israel's most unusual political parties to help gather Canadian support and know-how. This includes lobbying expertise in the last word in calming an unstable region -- pot. |
| Mar 15, 2007 |
Holy Smoke Owners Enter Plea
Holy Smoke Culture Shop co-owners Paul De Felice and Alan Middlemiss as well as associates Kelsey Stratas and Akka Annis entered not-guilty pleas in Nelson court last week and are now waiting for a trial date to be set. |
| Feb 21, 2007 |
Officers Abused Lawyer's Son: Lawsuit Claims
Edmonton police officers detained and strip-searched the son of Edmonton defence lawyer Tom Engel after they threw away the evidence -- a marijuana cigarette -- of his alleged crime, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday. |
| Feb 20, 2007 |
PUB LTE: Refreshing Read
Thank you to John Gleeson for writing such a sensible and honest article ( Drug profits and the big picture, Point of View, Feb. 18 ). It was so refreshing to read a drug-prohibition news piece backed up with science, facts and logic instead of quotes from police about their "beliefs" and ( questionable ) statistics. When discussing public health and safety issues, it's absolutely essential to be unbiased, unemotional and factual -- especially by referring to reputable and independent studies, such as the Fraser Institute report, which Gleeson mentioned. This is the kind of newspaper article we should see more often. Kudos to the Winnipeg Sun for running this important information. |
| Feb 16, 2007 |
The Quiet Americans
Quietly and deliberately, over the past decade, the U.S. consulate on West Pender Street has built its own police service. Dubbed the Law Enforcement Working Group, or LEWG, it now has 12 agents. More are expected as Vancouver and Whistler prepare to host the 2010 Winter Olympics. Vancouver and Toronto are the only cities in Canada with U.S. law enforcement hubs, although one is in the works for Montreal. Senior U.S. agents in Ottawa oversee the work of the hubs. But the total number of U.S. agents in Canada remains classified. |
| Feb 7, 2007 |
Marijuana Party To Contest Byelection
Saskatchewan Marijuana Party Leader Nathan Holowaty plans to run in the March 5 provincial byelection in Martensville. The other declared candidates are Nancy Heppner of the Sask. Party, New Democrat John Tzupa and Liberal Nathan Friesen. Candidates have until Feb. 17 to file nomination papers. |
| Feb 5, 2007 |
Weeding Out The Competition
By Regulating The Drug Trade, Canada Could Cut Down On Law Enforcement, Protect Its Citizens And Make A Little Bit Of Extra Cash On The Side As Well Because of crimes that are related to the drug trade--most notably the killing of the four police officers in Mayerthorpe two years ago--many have been pushing for increased punishment for drug-related crimes recently. While a tactic such as increased jail time would theoretically make criminals think twice before becoming involved in the trade, there's no statistical evidence that supports this claim. The fact remains that it's just too profitable an industry to be deterred by harsher punishment. Instead we need to end this failed experiment called prohibition and regulate most, if not all, drugs. |
| Jan 30, 2007 |
Knock The Law Not The Cops For Making Pot
What was James Breau thinking when he decided to run the Mid Island Compassion Club and distribute marijuana without a proper licence? Did he think the police wouldn't find out that he was supplying 85 people with highly priced weed? Despite the fact that a 2006 Maclean's Magazine poll concluded 93 per cent of Canadians support the legal use of marijuana for medical purposes, it's still illegal to distribute the drug without a licence. |