Cannabis

Fiorito: Five ways to make Toronto a better city

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Mon, 03/08/2010 - 6:37pm
By Joe Fiorito, The Star
 

Take a close look at what you see: Toronto’s not too bad, all things considered, if only ... oh, come on; we are far better than that little line of hedges.

This city is one of the great glories of North America.

We are, however, in a state of flux. There is no wind in the world that does not cause our leaves to flutter; we came here, half of us, from someplace else.

Where is here?

I have no idea.

So many people come and go each year that we could not possibly remain as we used to be, and yet we are not close to becoming what we will be.

So how do we make the city better?

Allow me:

Jail rests on boosting prisoner total

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Fri, 03/05/2010 - 8:28pm
 

THE CITY is banking on the federal government sending more people to jail for longer periods of time if its hope of an economy-boosting jail here is to be realized.

A city co-sponsored feasibility study lists three pieces of legislation the federal government wants passed, each one of which would result in more people headed for federal jail cells.

Marijuana masses meet at Vic Cannabis Convention

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Fri, 03/05/2010 - 7:35pm
Bruce Dean, The Martlet
 
The smell of sweet skunk and sounds of cannabis coughing were tell-tale clues for the location of the 11th-annual Victoria Cannabis Convention.

Many members of Victoria’s cannabis community gathered this past Sunday, Feb. 28, in UVic’s David Strong Building, to celebrate and educate people about marijuana’s benefits.

Tories "dropped ball" on selling prorogation: Duffy, PEI Senator also rules out legalizing marijuana and proportional representation

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Fri, 03/05/2010 - 7:07pm
By Desmond Devoy, Ottawa East EMC
 
EMC News - Senator Mike Duffy has admitted that the Harper government "dropped the ball," in explaining the reasons behind its decision to prorogue Parliament.

While the House of Commons has resumed sitting this week for the first time since December, with both a Speech from the Throne and a budget scheduled to be delivered, Senator Duffy felt that the Conservative government could have done a better job selling its decision to suspend parliament.

Jail not sought for Manitoba pot advocate

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Wed, 03/03/2010 - 5:36am
By Mike McIntyre, Winnipeg Free Press
 
WINNIPEG — Manitoba justice officials are not seeking a jail sentence against a medical-marijuana crusader found guilty of trafficking pot to clients across Canada.
 
Grant Krieger said he feared he would die behind bars after jurors found him guilty during his high-profile Queen's Bench trial last fall. But the Calgary resident returned to Winnipeg for sentencing Wednesday, and learned the Crown agrees he can remain free in the community under a conditional sentence.
 
The judge has reserved her decision until next month.
 

Crime bills to be scrutinized, Liberals warn

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Tue, 03/02/2010 - 6:33pm
Shannon Kari, National Post
 
One of the stated reasons for the prorogation of Parliament was that the resetting of Senate committees would better allow the Tories to pass their crime legislation, parts of which had been held up in the Upper Chamber in the past.
 
But the Liberal justice critic says his party is not going to approve speedy passage of all the crime legislation through the House of Commons -- even if that leads to accusations of being labeled "soft on crime" -- when Parliament resumes this week.
 

UN watchdog takes aim at Canada's medical marijuana program

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Thu, 02/25/2010 - 10:48pm

By Steven Edwards, Canwest News Service Published: Montreal Gazette

UNITED NATIONS — Justice Minister Robert Nicholson said Wednesday the government’s medical marijuana regulations are under review after the UN’s drugs watchdog warned Canada needs to tighten up the system.

The Vienna-based International Narcotics Control Board said Canada is operating outside international treaty rules aimed at minimizing the risk criminals will get hold of cannabis grown under the program.

“The whole question of medical marijuana is being looked at by the minister of health with respect to the options that she has,” said Nicholson, whose ministry serves as the umbrella agency for the government’s anti-drug efforts.

Northumberland residents help create nation's first medical marijuana expo

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Thu, 02/25/2010 - 10:41pm
By Bill Tremblay, The Independant
 
BRIGHTON -- A group of east Northumberland residents will help run Canada's first medical marijuana expo.
 
Medicinal Awareness (MA), a lobby group for medicinal marijuana, will operate the vapour lounge at the 'Treating Yourself Expo' at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from July 16-18. MA is primarily based in Brighton and Trent Hills.
 
"Our responsibility will be to teach other med patients how to use the various vapourizers," MA member Al Graham said.
 
A vapourizer allows its user to inhale vapour from marijuana instead of smoke.
 

No busts for this grow-op

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Wed, 02/24/2010 - 7:56pm
 
 
Some local residents are turning to an old-fashioned remedy to treat medical problems, such as severe pain.
 
That remedy is medical marijuana and it’s grown in the area — legally.
 
Jane and John Doe (not real names for security reasons) have a government licence to grow medical marijuana.
 
Jane says they completed a 15-page application and had a criminal record check before the licence for production was issued.
 

Justice Minister wants opposition to reinstate crime bills

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Wed, 02/24/2010 - 7:39pm
By BRYN WEESE, Parliamentary Bureau Toronto Sun
 
OTTAWA - Justice Minister Rob Nicholson is “hopeful” the opposition parties will agree to reinstate 14 crime bills that died with Parliament's prorogation late last year.
 
“What would their motives be not to agree? If a piece of legislation is good for Canadians ... why wouldn’t they give us their complete support?” Nicholson said Tuesday.
 
When Parliament was suspended in December, all government bills died but they can be reinstated where they were in the legislative process before prorogation in various ways, including with a majority vote in the House.
 
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