http://www.drugrehab.ca/alberta.html
"Alberta's Ongoing Drug Problems
The province of Alberta has been battling continuous drug problems that are mainly all fueled from the many gang problems that the province is also dealing with.  The province Justice Minister indicated that the addicts that are using everything from pot to crack play a major role of the gang problems and are not part of the solution. Alberta has been taking measures to stiffen it legislation and drug laws, and for example plans to not take a loose look at marijuana, because many have criticized that marijuana should be legal.  The province has started no official talks about going easy on weed.  In Alberta there are 54 different gangs operating, who all form to make money off of the illegal drug trade, mainly cocaine.  In Calgary there are more than twelve dozen unsolved gang related crimes and even more drive by shootings.  The majority of these crimes are drug related and this affects many innocents. Alberta spends 95% of its gang funding on policing and corrections, rather than early intervention."

 
http://www.drugrehab.ca/alberta/calgary.html
"Marijuana Addiction in Calgary
Marijuana is a very popular drug in Calgary as it is very cheap and easy to come by.  There are many false assumptions when it comes to marijuana. Although there are some medicinal values related to marijuana consumption, people often forget about the addictive nature of marijuana. Although it isn't as bad as some of the stronger drugs, people can still develop a psychological addiction to marijuana.

Furthermore, marijuana producers and dealers often deal in very big amounts of marijuana. For example, two homes in the beginning of 2009 were searched and the people were charged with marijuana production with intent to sell. The police force found more than a thousand pot plants in each houses, for a total value of around 3.5 million dollars. And many other cannabis busts are often between a million and two million dollars in pot plants. So this shows just how available marijuana is in Calgary. The police report that each year, they find and condemn around 100 marijuana growing operations."

Yet another year of activism / advocacy comes to a end and what a year it was too!

Each year Alberta 420 and Calgary 420 have grown with 2009 being a a new all time high in so many ways.

Not only did we gain more Alberta 420 Cannabis Community chapters all so much more happened in 2009!

The Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy (CSSDP) is Canada's only national, grassroots, youth and student network. We are a coalition of student groups working on substance use issues facing our communities.

CSSDP will be holding Just Say No! Bill C-15 Mandatory Minimums Protests across Canada on Dec. 2 / 09.

Calgary now has a new CSSDP chapter at the University of Calgary.

Dec. 2 / 09, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM the Calgary CSSDP chapter will have it's first event at

Tommy Chong - Calgary Shades
Sunday, December 6th, 2009
Tickets are available at The Ranchman's Cookhouse
http://www.calgaryshades.com/

In the 1950's, Tommy Chong, stoner comedian, and Tommie Melton, began one heck of a band and called it the Calgary Shades.

They achieved some serious clout by the late 50s. Truth be told, there were always raucous crowds at their performances and, of course, a lot of trouble.

At some point along the line Calgary's mayor Donald Mackay suggested the Calgary Shades leave town? and the rest is history.

More than four decades later Tommy Chong, Tommie Melton, Dick Byrd, Stan Chong, Wes Henderson and Floyd Sneed gather to have a rare reunion show.

1st annual 420 Film Festival is well under way. Calgary 420 Cannabis Community along with Bongs and Such, Hemp Roots, Hemporium and The Next Level are sponsoring this annual event.

The last 4 years Calgary weather has been good enough to have one outdoor 420 event back in 2006.

See http://www.420filmfest.org/ for more details and to submit 420 videos.