Pot stores…

     April 23, 2015

 Globe and Mail – Frances Bula
Vancouver to become first city to regulate medical pot dispensaries  

Whatever else, medical marijuana is expected to be profitable.  The city of Vancouver will be the first to regulate the stores.  The fee for a small business operation for pot – there are currently over 80 – will be $30,000.  The regulations will prohibit the stores near schools.  The federal government still insists the stores are illegal.  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/vancouver-to-become-first-city-to-regulate-medical-pot-dispensaries/article24071461/

NationTalk
Federal Budget leaves First Nations behind again 

This article is a commentary on the absence of First Nations in the 2015 federal budget, listing the various pressings needs already identified repeatedly from economic growth to natural resources, from hunger to clean water.  http://nationtalk.ca/story/federal-budget-leaves-first-nations-behind-again   Related article:  Nationtalk    Budget Fails to Balance Women’s Lives   http://nationtalk.ca/story/budget-fails-to-balance-womens-lives

 The Daily News (Danbury, Conn) – Nicole Briggs
Victim’s Father, Killer to Give Danbury Talk about Restorative Justice 

The speakers for the event are Rev. Walt Everett and Mike Carlucci.  Everett, a Methodist pastor and father of six children whose son Scott was killed by Carlucci.  Everett argued early release for Carlucci and they do a tag team at public events in favour of a RJ approach.  http://danbury.dailyvoice.com/schools/victims-father-killer-give-danbury-talk-about-restorative-justice  Related article:   CBC News – Guy Quenneville    Yellowknife RCMP officer touts benefits of out-of-court system – Cpl. Jason Doucet, a restorative justice officer, tours detachments to talk about alternative justice   http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yellowknife-rcmp-officer-touts-benefits-of-out-of-court-system-1.3035083

 The Vindicator (Ohio)
Prison deaths are on the rise across the United States

All while the US argues about the lethal means to execute those on death row across the US – 35 last year – there is a growing problem with the rate of inmate deaths in the state and federal prisons.  In Florida state prisons alone, ten times that number of inmates have died.  The information is still sketchy but the rates are growing.  http://www.vindy.com/news/2015/apr/19/prison-deaths-are-on-the-rise-across-the/?newswatch#sthash.4GGDXZaQ.dpuf   Related article:  The Intercept (US): James Ridgeway    American Outcasts: US Prisons and Modern Day Banishment   https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/04/22/banishment/

 New Scientist /Muslim Village.com (UK) – Kamaldeep Bhui
Radicalisation as a mental health, not religious, issue 

Bhui reflects on the incidents of radicalization and the circumstances in which the process is happening in the UK.  Estimates that as many as 500 from the UK have been radicalized, some think by reason of ideological persuasion, some by reason of personal and deep seated anger.  Bhui applies a public health model in the attempt to understand why.  http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22630160.200-radicalisation-a-mental-health-issue-not-a-religious-one.html?full=true#.VTkLh5NQRUa

 Social Justice Solutions (US)
Poverty Rates Are Lower Than Ever — Why Is Income Inequality on the Rise?

The World Bank is reporting that between 1980 and 2011, extreme poverty in the world declined from 53% to 17% and in its expectation, extreme poverty could be eradicated by 2030.  Still, there is a severe discrepancy in the income disparity experienced, the gap between the rich and the poor is the highest since 1928.  Here are a variety of possible explanations. http://www.socialjusticesolutions.org/2015/04/20/poverty-rates-lower-ever-income-inequality-rise/   Related article: Seattle Times – Tracy Warner   Maybe income inequality is all about housing    http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/maybe-income-inequality-is-all-about-housing/    Related Article: Huffington Post Blogger – Irene Khan    Can Smart Development and the Rule of Law Help Curb Crime?    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/irene-khan/can-smart-development-and_b_7097774.html