Monday, April 10, 2017

Tuesday, April 11. 2017

Today's schedule is C-D-A-B

C Block Social Studies 11 - Today we're back in the library for the second day of research for your World War 1 Inquiry project. Don't forget the guided inquiry question you need to frame your research around is:

What effect did (Your selected topic) in the First World War have on Canadian society and its status as a nation?

You’ll need to find specific primary source data that will help explain or show the impact your selected topic had on Canada using:

1. Original Documents (excerpts or translations acceptable): Diaries, speeches, manuscripts, letters, interviews, news film footage, autobiographies, maps, official records -OR-
2. Creative Works: Poetry, drama, novels, music, art

Look at yesterday's blog for online resources and don't forget the library has these things called books...they're full of information and stuff that can help you. Don't forget a sources cited list using APA formatting (check out BibMe or Citation Machine or Concordia University's citation guide)

D Block Criminology 12 - Immoral acts are distinguished from crimes on the basis of the social harm they cause. Acts that are believed to be extremely harmful to the general public are usually outlawed, whereas acts that only the harm the actor themselves are more likely to be tolerated. Acts that are illegal because they are viewed as a threat to morality are called public order crimes. I'll remind you that we already looked at the difference between what is deviant and what is criminal and this topic covers crimes that straddle the line between the two. People who lobby hard for their morals to become law are called moral entrepreneurs or crusaders. The power of moral entrepreneurs can be quite strong and we'll see that today.

Think about Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD). From Craig Reinarman's article Social Construction of an Alcohol Problem:

The credibility of MADD, especially at its outset, was impeccable. The parents of children who have been killed in drunk-driving accidents are exceptionally strong symbols. There are few groups of victims who can inspire as much sympathy and adherence as the grieving mother. And this is one of the central foundations of MADD's success. The organisation was started in August of 1980 in Sacramento, California by a woman named Candy Lightner whose daughter had been killed by a hit-and-run drunk driver with multiple DUI (driving under the influence) convictions some 4 months prior. During the criminal proceedings Lightner was appalled by the apparent leniency and lack of concern demonstrated by the justice system towards drunk drivers and the rights of the victim. The campaign began with her tireless lobbying in the initial months and a strong push to make drunk driving a political issue where it had previously not been. 

Consider the following: Sir Patrick Devlin stated…

Without shared ideas on politics, morals, and ethics no society can exist…. If men and women try to create a society in which there is no fundamental agreement about good and evil, they will fail; if having based it on common agreement, the argument goes, the society will disintegrate. For society is not something that is kept together physically; it is held by the invisible bonds of common thought. If the bonds were too far relaxed, the members would drift apart. A common morality is part of the bondage. The bondage is part of the price of society; and mankind, which needs society, must pay its price. 
As you can see, the power of moral entrepreneurs can be quite strong. After we discuss moral entrepreneurs (crusaders) and then I'll add three questions:
  1. Should drugs be legalized? Why? If you believe drugs should be legalized, think about whether all drugs should be legalized or just a select few. Why should certain drugs be legalized and others not? 
  2. Should prostitution be legalized? Why? If you believe it should be legalized, should all the forms of prostitution described in your text be legalized, or only a select few? If prostitution were legalized should government be able to exercise some control over it? 
  3. Does pornography lead to violence? Why? Is it harmful? Why Consider all forms of pornography (what is currently legal and illegal) when you answer this question.

For the sex trade question "Should we legalize prostitution"? Think about the two opposing views:
  • Sexual Equality View The prostitute is a victim of male dominance. In patriarchal societies, male power is predicated on female subjugation, and prostitution is a clear example of this gender exploitation 
  • Free Choice View Prostitution, if freely chosen, expresses woman’s equality and is not a symptom of subjugation.
To help, we will understand the different types of sex trade workers (street walkers, circuit travelers, bar girls, brothels, call girls and escort services). We'll look at some high profile cases (like all the way back in 2008 former New York state governor Eliot Spitzer or 1990's Hollywood "Madame" Heidi Fleiss who was quoted as saying, "I took the oldest profession on Earth and I did it better than anyone on Earth. Alexander the Great conquered the world at 32. I conquered it at 22."). It is important to note:

The Supreme Court of Canada struck down the country's anti-prostitution laws in a unanimous decision, and gave Parliament one year to come up with new legislation — should it choose to do so. In striking down laws prohibiting brothels, living on the avails of prostitution and communicating in public with clients, the top court ruled that the laws were over-broad and "grossly disproportionate." The government replaced the law with Bill C-36 (2014) which received Royal Assent and became law on December 6, 2014.

A Block Introduction to Law 9/10 - Today you'll continue your work on arrests, arrest procedures, and your rights upon arrest. You will work on the R. v. Macooh (1993) case, questions 1, 3, 4, and 5 on page 90 and questions 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 on page 97 of your All About Law text. Marks have been updated in MyEdBC (except for projects). Please check your grades to find out what you have handed in and what you need to hand in. After some time, we'll examine the court room and we'll look at the three court levels in BC (Provincial, Supreme, and Appellate). After, we'll focus on courtroom organization and then we'll discuss the roles and responsibilities of the judge, the crown prosecutor, defense counsel, the court clerk, court recorder, and sheriff.

B Block Law 12 - Today, we'll begin our look at the Controlled Drug and Substances Act in Canada. We'll examine the legal definition of a "drug" (with the LeDain Commission explanation) and discuss what depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens are. We'll examine schedules I - VIII in the act that prohibit and restrict substances (Opium Poppy, Coca, Cannabis, Amphetamines, Barbiturates, Anabolic Steroids, and a host of others that I can not spell or pronounce). You'll have four questions to complete:

1. What is the legal definition of a drug?
2. What are the elements of a charge for possession?
3. Describe two situations in which someone may be charged with possession while not physically possessing the drug.
4. What is "Intent to Possess"? Is intent necessary for a charge of possession?

After this, I'll have you get together with a partner and discuss the R. v. Parker, 2000 case from the text. I'll expect that you will be able to discuss the questions (1-4) on the case and have a conversation about medical marijuana together and with the class as a whole. The case enabled the use of marijuana for medical purposes in Canada. We'll discuss who is allowed to obtain legal permission to possess through the old MMAP (Marijuana Medical Access Program).

Category 1: This category is comprised of any symptoms treated within the context of providing compassionate end-of-life care; or the symptoms associated with the specified medical conditions listed in the schedule to the Regulations, namely:
  • Severe pain and/or persistent muscle spasms from multiple sclerosis;
  • Severe pain and/or persistent muscle spasms from a spinal cord injury;
  • Severe pain and/or persistent muscle spasms from spinal cord disease;
  • Severe pain, cachexia, anorexia, weight loss, and/or severe nausea from cancer;
  • Severe pain, cachexia, anorexia, weight loss, and/or severe nausea from HIV/AIDS infection;
  • Severe pain from severe forms of arthritis; or
  • Seizures from epilepsy.
Applicants must provide a declaration from a medical practitioner to support their application.

Category 2: is for applicants who have debilitating symptom(s) of medical condition(s), other than those described in Category 1. Under Category 2, persons with debilitating symptoms can apply to obtain an Authorization to Possess dried marihuana for medical purposes, if a specialist confirms the diagnosis and that conventional treatments have failed or judged inappropriate to relieve symptoms of the medical condition. While an assessment of the applicant's case by a specialist is required, the treating physician, whether or not a specialist, can sign the medical declaration.

The newer Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) allows individuals authorized to use cannabis for medical purposes by a health care practitioner to continue having the option of purchasing safe, quality-controlled cannabis from one of the 34 producers licensed by Health Canada. They will also have the option of producing a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes, or designating someone to produce it for them.With the appropriate medical document from their health care practitioner, individuals can apply to register with Health Canada to produce a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes or to designate someone to produce it for them. With registration, individuals will be allowed to produce a limited number of plants based on a formula that takes into account the individual’s daily dose (i.e. quantity authorized by their physician) and the average yield of a plant under certain growing conditions, such as indoor or outdoor growing.

The amount of dried marijuana you can possess is the lesser of thirty times the daily amount stipulated by your healthcare practitioner or 150 grams. For example, if your healthcare practitioner recommends 3 grams per day, you would be allowed a maximum of 90 grams at any one time (30 days × 3 grams)

For more see:
CBC News Health
CBC News: Medical Marijuana Law Under Review
Ottawa Citizen: Most Medical Marijuana Users are Middle-Aged Men

According to recent reporting by CBC News, the current government's goal is to make legalization a reality in Canada on or before July 1, 2018 which will include:


  1. A minimum age of 18 to buy marijuana, though provinces and territories will have the option of setting a higher age limit.
  2. Allowing Canadians to grow four marijuana plants per household.
  3. Licensing of producers, as well as ensuring the safety and security of the marijuana supply, will be a federal concern.
  4. Provinces and territories will set the price for marijuana and decide how it is distributed and sold.

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