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TORONTO – Crack addicts in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside will soon be able to pick up free, clean crack pipes from their local health authority as part of the city’s harm-reduction strategy to curb the transmission of diseases through pipe sharing.

Advocates say the new pilot project, which hits streets in October, will help health care and social workers connect with at-risk drug addicts, potentially bringing them into the health care system and exposing them to rehab options.

“If you can deliver them (harm-reduction programs) in a way where you can get people into other services, that's very beneficial," says Dr. Patricia Daly, the medical health officer for Vancouver Coastal Health. Read more »

The Canadian Press, CBC News

Health officials in Vancouver say they will launch a pilot project later this year to distribute clean, unused crack pipes to drug users.

While heroin users can pick up clean needles from needle-exchange programs or the city's controversial safe-injection site, crack pipes are more difficult to come by.

Some crack smokers can afford to buy small glass or Pyrex stems to use as pipes. Others fashion makeshift pipes from bottles, cans or even hollow car antennas. And in many cases, they just simply share, potentially putting themselves at risk of contracting disease. Read more »

By Dan Ferguson - Langley Times

The police raid that closed the Langley Medical Marijuana Dispensary came after Langley City Councillor Rudy Storteboom complained to Mayor Peter Fassbender.

Both men confirmed there was a discussion in which the councillor brought up the dispensary, which is located in a condo unit next to a suite that Storteboom owns and leases to a hairdresser.

“He [Storteboom] indicated there was some concern,” Fassbender said.

“There was a break-in [at the dispensary] right after it opened,” Storteboom said.

The mayor said he told the councillor that if the strata council that represents the owners believed illegal activities were being carried out, they should go to the police. Read more »

Shane Woodford, CKNW

Will it be fight or fold? One way or another the city of Mission will respond today to a class action lawsuit filed by two residents over a controverial bylaw.

One of the plaintiff's Stacey Gowanlock says he is bracing for a long legal battle even though the city has already admitted they are wrong.

"They haven't broke but they have bent quite a bit here, you know, there has been a moratorium on the entire inspection team and the bylaw and how it operates since January. The city has come out here and apologized to some homeowners, the mayor himself has sent letters out apologizing to some people." Read more »

By Tim Petruk - Kamloops This Week

The number of needles being used by intravenous drug users in Kamloops has risen substantially in the last year, but crack cocaine is still the No. 1 choice among addicts.

That’s the word from Bob Hughes, executive director of ASK Wellness, who keeps an eye on how many needles are handed out to users of injectable drugs.

“We track every month the number of needles that go out and come in,” he said.

“We’re up 25 per cent over last year.” Read more »

By Dan Ferguson - Langley Times

Corey Reid assembles a marijuana joint on the front patio of his Langley townhouse.

“I had to buy this from an illegal drug dealer because the [Langley] dispensary is no longer available to me,” Reid says as he lights up.

“I had to support crime with this. Fantastic.”

Reid, a 24-year-old single dad, has a doctor’s prescription for the marijuana he uses to manage severe chronic pain from Osgood–Schlatter disease, a condition that has caused him several knee dislocations.

His right knee has a fresh seven-inch scar from the latest of five surgeries he’s endured since he was first diagnosed at 14.

His left knee has had one surgery so far, with another expected. Read more »

By Todd Coyne - The Tri-City News

It may seem like a big-city problem of little concern to suburbanites.

But drug addiction in the Tri-Cities — particularly intravenous drug-use — has hit a level where the Fraser Health Authority has called in a mobile needle-exchange van now touring Port Moody, Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam.

Staffed and operated by the Purpose Society of New Westminster, the health van began making visits to the Tri-Cities in June and has already built a clientele within each of the cities. Read more »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2011
Beyond Prohibition Foundation: Burnaby Medical Marijuana Dispensary Raided by RCMP

Almost 4 months after it opened without RCMP complaint, the Metrotown Medical Marijuana Dispensary was raided today by Burnaby RCMP. The Dispensary, the first in Burnaby, follows all the same rules and procedures established by other British Columbia dispensaries, and has offered full cooperation to both the City of Burnaby and the Burnaby RCMP. To date, no complaints have been received from either. Read more »

By Scott Stanfield - Comox Valley Record

Police seized several pounds of marijuana and arrested two people last week at the North Island Compassion Club.

It was the second bust this year at the Sixth Street establishment in Courtenay, the first happening in February when four people were arrested.

Club manager Ernie Yacub, who is also a director of the non-profit society, was arrested last Wednesday but released with a promise to appear. Read more »

Nicole Seguin, End Prohibition Blog

With the next federal election scheduled for October 19, 2015, you may think that you won't have an opportunity to be involved in politics until that time – but don't despair! With 5 provincial and territorial elections happening this fall, and several potential  elections yet to be confirmed, there is still lots you can do to learn political skills, help the NDP, and end the drug war in Canada! Read more »