News Feed

The Beacon Herald, 27 Feb 2010 - Methamphetamine trafficking and use remained a prevalent issue in Stratford in 2009, but police have not being seeing production of the highly addictive drug here in the city. Deputy Police Chief John Bates made the comment Thursday in presenting an annual report on drug unit occurrences to the Stratford Police Services Board.

The Telegram, 27 Feb 2010 - Unproclaimed 2007 Act Targeted Bootleggers, Drug Dens And Brothels A controversial law targeting drug houses, brothels and bootleggers is dead in the water. The Williams administration passed the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, or SCAN, nearly three years ago.

The Standard, 27 Feb 2010 - Signs used by Niagara Regional Police to alert the public when it's conducting marijuana grow-op raids are unlike ones that landed police in another Ontario city in hot water with the provincial privacy commissioner, the service's deputy chief says. Cornwall's police department came under fire last year after it began a controversial practice of posting signs on the lawns of homes that had been searched for illegal drugs.

Ottawa Citizen, 27 Feb 2010 - Ottawa, Montreal Police Unite In Cocaine, Hashish Busts Police broke up a multi-million-dollar drug ring dealing in cocaine and hashish and laid 68 charges against 10 people as part of a joint operation to staunch the flow of drugs from Montreal to Ottawa.

Summit Daily News, 27 Feb 2010 - Bins For Volutary Medicine Drop Off Are Found At Both Dillon And Breckenridge City Market Pharmacies SUMMIT COUNTY - To promote pharmaceutical-free drinking water in Summit County, a voluntary Take-Back Program is collecting unwanted medicines at local City Markets. The program kicked off in early December, and it's placed "take-back" bins at both Dillon and Breckenridge grocery stores.

Ottawa Citizen, 27 Feb 2010 - Defence Lawyer Plans Appeal Over Judge's 'Error' In Addressing Jury A drug supplier and money launderer found guilty of first-degree murder Friday plans to appeal the verdict after his defence lawyer accused the judge of making an "error" when addressing the jury during their deliberations.

Wall Street Journal, 27 Feb 2010 - The sentencing of infamous Mexican drug lord Osiel Cardenas Guillen this week in a Houston court underscores a longstanding struggle in the Mexican drug war: Cartels continue to prosper along the Mexico-U.S. border even under a law enforcement strategy where top leaders are captured and sent to the U.S. Mr. Cardenas, leader of Mexico's Gulf Cartel, was sentenced to 25 years in prison under a plea deal Wednesday, almost seven years after his initial capture in Mexico. The Gulf Cartel, one of Mexico's largest, has smuggled thousands of pounds of cocaine and marijuana into the U.S. mainly through South Texas, according to U.S. authorities. Mr. Cardenas pleaded guilty to five counts that included money laundering, drug distribution and the attempted murder of federal agents.

Northwest Herald, 26 Feb 2010 - We're pleased to see some forward movement on establishing a drug court in McHenry County, but it's long past time for this to be just a discussion. A state deadline required the county to have a drug court in place by last month, but the county was granted a two-year extension. Let's hope county officials can meet this deadline. There are already nearly 20 drug courts up and running across Illinois.

Calgary Herald, 26 Feb 2010 - Marijuana grow operations are time bombs that could lead to a repeat of a devastating fire that left several families homeless and a Calgary man facing a multitude of arson charges, says an officer with the arson unit. With light bulbs that should be used on sports fields and hard cords carrying so much electricity they are soft to the touch, marijuana grow operations are a huge safety concern, Det. Scott Sampson said Thursday.

The Brownsville Herald, 26 Feb 2010 - As drug violence continues in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, Brownsville law enforcement officials continue their work to prevent any spillover of the violence into the U.S. and to ensure a safe Charro Days. However, Brownsville Police Department Chief Carlos Garcia urged border residents to exercise prudence when visiting Mexico.

Bangkok Post, 26 Feb 2010 - Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will set up a committee to reinvestigate the extra-judicial killings of drug suspects during the Thaksin Shinawatra administration's war on drugs. Mr Abhisit announced the formation of the panel yesterday after being questioned in parliament by Chalerm Yubamrung, chief of the Puea Thai Party MPs.

El Paso Times, 25 Feb 2010 - EL PASO -- A new State Department travel alert advises U.S. citizens to "exercise extreme caution" when visiting Juarez, Chihuahua state and other violent regions of Mexico. The latest alert, which updates one issued in August, has stronger language than those in the past two years as drug violence has flared in different parts of the country.

The Independent, 25 Feb 2010 - Lobby Group Will Run Vapour Lounge At Event Campbellford -- 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.

Deh Cho Drum, 25 Feb 2010 - Drugs Suspected In Teen's Hospitalization Drugs Suspected In Teen's Hospitalization SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Drug use is suspected in the case of a thirteen-year-old Yellowknife girl found unresponsive in her home on Feb. 20.

El Paso Times, 25 Feb 2010 - EL PASO -- The U.S. Embassy in Mexico denied news reports that the U.S. government is embedding agents in Mexican anti-drug units in Juarez. Embassy officials said cooperation between both countries was limited to equipment, training and sharing of law enforcement intelligence.

Calgary Herald, 25 Feb 2010 - 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 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.

Ottawa Citizen, 25 Feb 2010 - Act Gives Authorities Power To Shut Down Nuisance Dwellings A law designed by an Ottawa MPP to rid neighbourhoods of crack houses, booze cans, brothels and marijuana grow-ops was suddenly given new life Wednesday after opposition parties abandoned a filibuster and allowed the legislation to pass through committee.

Ottawa Citizen, 25 Feb 2010 - An Ottawa technology consultant who told a judge he possessed more than a kilogram of marijuana because he was using it to help a sick friend avoided a criminal record when the judge gave him an absolute discharge Wednesday. Ontario Court Justice Jack Nadelle said a discharge for Lyle "Rick" Tweedy was appropriate and not against the public interest given the extraordinary circumstances in the case, which involved Tweedy possessing a little more than 1.2 kilograms of the drug. He was, he testified, planning to make hemp oil out of marijuana to help his friend Margot MacLeod ease the pain caused by her cervical cancer. She died Jan. 12.

Calgary Herald, 25 Feb 2010 - Police Say Accused Fled Home Without Calling 911 A 33-year-old man now charged in connection with the massive fire that ripped through a northwest neighbourhood in December discovered the blaze in the basement marijuana grow op he was allegedly operating -- but fled the scene without calling 911 or alerting his neighbours, say investigators.

National Post, 25 Feb 2010 - Under Review Justice Minister Robert Nicholson said yesterday the government's medical marijuana regulations are under review after the UN's drugs watchdog warned Canada needs to tighten up the system.