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4 Tuesday May 26 2015 The Northern Journal is an independent newspaper covering news and events in the western Arctic and northern Alberta. 2013 CCNA BLUE RIBBON CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2013 C M C A AUDITED The Northern Journal is published weekly by Cascade Publishing Ltd. Printed at Star Press Inc. Wainwright AB. Publisher................................................................................. Don Jaque 867-872-3000 ext.21 donnorj.ca Editor.........................................................................Meagan Wohlberg 867-872-3000 ext.24 newsnorj.ca Reporter....................................................................... Dali Carmichael 867-872-3000 ext.25 reporternorj.ca Comptroller ..................................................... Dixie Penner 867-872-3000 ext.23 dixnorj.ca Advertising.............................. Heather Foubert Hay River 867-874-4106 adsnorj.ca Administration............................................Jeremy Turcotte 867-872-3000 ext.26 adminnorj.ca Production Manager ......................................Sandra Jaque 867-872-3000 ext.22 sandranorj.ca Graphics........................................................Paul Bannister 867-872-3000 ext.27 graphicsnorj.ca Letters to the Editor Policy The Northern Journal welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and include a phone number so the author can be veried. Names will be withheld on request in special circumstances where the reasons are determined to be valid. The Journal reserves the right to edit letters for length libel clarity and taste. Opinions expressed in letters and columns are not necessarily those of the publisher or editor. Advertising Deadlines Display ad deadline is Thursday at 400 p.m. Classied ad deadline is Thursday at 500 p.m. Email adsnorj.ca Subscription Rates Prices include GST. 47.25 in Fort Smith 52.50 elsewhere in Canada 105 in the USA overseas 164.30. EDITORIAL COLUMN The compelling case to control and manage pot Police said the bikers involved in the shoot- out in Waco Texas last week were criminal gangs involved in selling drugs such as co- caine marijuana and methamphetamines. Marijuana is the cash crop. Marijuana also got the Mexican drug cartels started over 70 years ago and remains a mainstay of their business today as they overow the US border and reach their tentacles into Canadian cities. Marijuana continues to be popular as a rec- reationaldrug throughouttheUS andCanada fetching fat prots for those who offer it. The underground supply chain is sophisticated and pervasive. Since it is a sought-after and illegal drug it fosters criminal enterprises even grows criminal empires. It is the fuel for the re. All that violence and chaos and criminality with marijuana at the base of it continues to worsen after over 60 years of the war on drugs. Meanwhile change is in the air. There is a rising awareness that marijuana may not be evil as once thought and indeed may actually have a benecial side. More and more positive medical uses are being proven to the point that doctors are allowed to prescribe it and even the government of Canada has licensed marijuana grow operations. Polls have determined 45 per cent of Ca- nadians have used the drug recreationally which means millions of Canadians have per- formed a criminal act. In fact a large portion of the population continues to do so. They are criminals under current laws. Almost all human societies indulge in some sortofstimulantthatreducesstressandimparts euphoria. If you believe the beer commercials Canadiansarehappiestwhentheyareholding a brown bottle or cold can full of that golden nectar.Alcoholispervasiveinoursocietylegal and condoned seen as a necessity of life. Alcohol is also the catalyst for most crime in the North. In particular it is the root cause of most family violence. Its depraved effects necessitatewomenssheltersineveryNorthern community so mothers can take their chil- dren to a refuge from their drunken spouses. By contrast those who prefer to indulge in marijuana typically do not hurt anyone. They just get the munchies. Studies over the last three years by differ- ent pollsters have shown consistently that two thirds of Canadians feel marijuana should be decriminalized. Possibly more signicant a Gallop poll last month in the US determined that 50 per cent of Americans feel marijuana should be legalized. Unlike Canadian prov- inces American states are somewhat auton- omous when it come to making and enforc- ing laws. The experiment in Colorado where marijuana has been legalized is being repli- cated in other states and although federal laws against it should dominate federal of- cials are turning a blind eye. In effect federal law is being guided by initiatives at the state level. What happens culturally in America invariably overows the 49th parallel into Canada. It is just a matter of time before we Canucks follow along. The case for marijuana to be controlled and managed through government regulation in order to thwart it as a ladder fuel for crimi- nal criminal activity is strong but the need is equally compelling for it to be monitored and managedforthesakeofyoungpeople.Thehigh- est percentage of regular users of marijuana are the young. Recent studies have shown that chronicuseofpotimpactsthedevelopingbrain of a teenager. As it is now widely available il- legally there is no recourse. Unlike alcohol which is carefully dispensed and managed distribution not to mention quality control of marijuana is left to criminals. Marijuana has become the elephant in the room in Canadian society. Many people who areproductiveotherwiselawabidingcitizens partake of it. Although some people become dependant on it it is seemingly less addictive than alcohol. It is no more a gateway drug that leadstoaddictionfrommoreseriousdrugslike cocaine and heroin than alcohol is. Regardless which party is elected this Oc- tober in Canada that new attitude toward marijuana in the US will in time be emulated in Canada. As that happens the billions of dollars once garnered from it by criminal gangs will be redirected to legitimate enter- prises. It will be a huge economic opportunity. There is already a new small scale economy around the production of medical marijuana. Provincial governments with foresight that support such initiatives will pave the way for the much more lucrative wave of mainstream growers and retailers that will follow. It is time for Canada to come to its senses. Marijuana is not nearly as bad as it is made out to be not as bad for the individual or so- ciety as alcohol. The reasons for legitimizing it so it can be controlled and the negative im- pacts mitigated are numerous and compel- ling. Lets get on with it. Polls have determined 45 per cent of Canadians have used the drug recreationally which means millions of Canadians have performed a criminal act. By TERRI FLEMMER Public Health Promotion Facilitator Alberta Health Services Did you know that wearing a bicycle hel- met can greatly reduce the risk of brain in- jury Its the time of year where Albertans are taking out their bicycles and enjoying the benefits of cycling. Wearing a helmet while biking not only reduces the risk of injury its also the law for cyclists under the age of 18. The law applies to both rid- ers and passengers including children in bicycle trailers. Follow these tips to make sure your bike helmet ts properly Make sure the helmet is level from front to back when it is on. Check that the front edge of the helmet sits one to two finger widths above the eyebrows. Add or remove sizing pads or adjust the ring fit system to make sure the helmet fits snugly. Adjust the straps to form a V just below and in front of the earlobes. Fasten the chinstrap. Adjust the chinstrap so that it can fit the width of one finger between the chin and chinstrap. Ensure the helmet does not move when you nod or shake your head. Replace the helmet every ve years if it has not been in a crash. If the helmet has been in a crash replace it immediately. Do not paint or put stickers on the helmet as this may affect the safety of the helmet. Fol- low the manufacturers instructions which provide detailed information about the use and care of helmets. Second hand helmets are not recommended. Always be sure to wear the appropriate helmet for the appro- priate activity. By using your noggin and wearing a helmet you can help reduce the risk of being injured. For more information contact HealthLink Alberta at 1-866-408-5465. Helmet Safety Use Your Noggin PhotoJohnBlyth The Standoff A wolf puts aside its cravings for a feathered supper after an endangered whooping crane demonstrates its sizeable stature. The pair were spotted on the Salt Plains in Wood Buffalo National Park near Fort Smith on Friday evening.