TORONTO, June 20- The Canadian government passed a law late on Wednesday that would allow its citizens with a criminal record for marijuana.
Source: Canada passes law to speed pardons for pot possession
SHOULD THERE BE SPECIAL RULES FOR SENTENCING BLACK OFFENDERS LIKE THERE IS FOR INDIGENOUS OFFENDERS? – Social change is always controversial however in a country with a fundamental principle that no-one is above the law and that the law applies equally to all, should there be special rules for disadvantaged minorities? We know what’s next. “What about” refugee groups, LGBTTQQIAAP communities and every other identifiable historically disadvantaged groups?
‘When it comes to black people, the sentencing seems to be consistently void of any consideration of that additional source of disadvantage that they face’
EDIBLE CANNABIS RULES – Here is a summary of the new rules for edibles. It mainly requires single dose packaging with each dose not to exceed 10 mg. and to be in child-resistant packaging.
THC AND DRIVING – The government was advised and knew this law defied logic, ignored science and fact, and was unconstitutional but they enacted it in spite of this in a knee jerk response to criticism of the legalization of marijuana. This law has to go.
Lead author of five-year study says Canada laws penalizing drivers with less than five nanograms/ml of THC in their blood may be too strict.
LEGAL AID SERVICE CUTS – If you’re applying for Legal Aid and you want to know what’s going on, here’s a good summary.
During this past year, the plethora of funding cuts from Doug Ford’s government has been well documented. From autism funding, health care and education to the environment, it seems no sector of society has been unaffected.
Source: Here’s What Legal Aid Services are Affected by Doug Ford’s Cuts
Bail hearings will no longer be covered by Legal Aid Ontario – TWO TIER JUSTICE – Just as the Supreme Court of Canada stressed the need for the efficient and effective conduct of bail hearings. Ford is removing an option. No longer will you be able to have your own lawyer on a Legal Aid Certificate represent you at a bail hearing. Either you hire a lawyer privately or use duty counsel.
Legal Aid Ontario, which provides services to those who cannot afford to pay for a lawyer, is facing a 30 per cent cut in funding by the Ontario government.
Source: Bail hearings will no longer be covered by Legal Aid Ontario
IMPAIRED DRIVING CAUSING DEATH SENTENCES ARE STEADILY RISING – Often the difference between getting home safely and killing someone (maybe yourself) is a fine line.
The driver who caused the death of a 21-year-old University of Toronto student and fled the scene last March has been sentenced to jail.
Source: Impaired driver charged in death of University of Toronto student sentenced to 7 years in jail
WE TOLD YOU SO – Give the police power and they will use it. Duh!
With Canada’s drunkest drivers continuing to cause carnage on our roads, the government is targeting asthmatics and people buying wine
Source: Chris Selley: The Liberals’ police-state impaired driving law has to go
WHEN THE GOVERNMENT TAKES CONTROL OVER A COMMODITY MARKET BUT CAN’T SUPPLY THE MARKET AS WELL AS THE EXISTING SUPPLY CHAIN INSTEAD OF FIXING IT PROPERLY THEY SIMPLY STRONG-ARM THE COMPETITION SO NOBODY WINS. BUILD THAT WALL TORONTO!
Toronto officials are now using giant concrete slabs to block entry to illicit dispensaries. The move comes as Toronto officials continue to have difficulty culling the remainder of unlicensed cannabis dispensaries in the city. Despite numerous police raids on illegal shops in recent years, many still remain open. Now law enforcers are resorting to extreme measures, such as stacking concrete blocks in front of illicit shops to prevent people from entering. Strange as that tactic sounds, it actually works, according to Mark Sraga – Toronto’s director of investigation services for municipal licensing standards.
Source: Toronto Is Using Cement Barricades to Close Illegal Pot Shops
“TO SERVE AND PROTECT” – Beware of calling the police to do a “welfare check”. This is not an isolated incident and not unique to Durham police.
The mother of a 16-year-old boy who was arrested by Durham police last month says was “shocked and appalled and hurt” to see video of an officer punching her son after she asked police to conduct a wellness check.