Room 611: Monday, May 5. 2025

Today's schedule is ABCD

A Block Physical Geography - Today we'll look at the composition and vertical structure of the atmosphere focusing on the bottom two layers (Troposphere and Stratosphere) through this we'll complete the Atmosphere in the Vertical activity along with a few questions on the atmosphere. The atmosphere can be divided into layers based on the atmospheric pressure and temperature profiles (the way these quantities change with height). Atmospheric temperature drops steadily from its value at the surface, about 290K (63°F; 17°C), until it reaches a minimum of around 220K (–64°F;–53°C) at 6 mi (10 km) above the surface. The atmosphere has 4 layers: the troposphere that we live in near the surface of the earth; the stratosphere that houses the ozone layer; the mesosphere, a colder and lower density layer with about 0.1% of the atmosphere; and the thermosphere, the top layer, where the air is hot but very thin.

Every day we are going to start by looking at the synoptic forecast along with weather maps.

Envrionment Canada: Weather Office Comox
The Weather Network Courtenay BC

B Block Criminology - In the class today with a notebook cart. Gangs are often considered "immoral" and their profit comes from many "immoral" things. 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. So, to curb the power of cartels or gangs should we take some radical action? Should we cut off their source of income (like drugs and sex trade workers)? Here is question for you to answer:

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? Use the resources below to help shape your answer

Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime - The global illicit economy: Trajectories of transnational organized crime, March 2021.

For the legalization of drugs question as you probably already know, the federal government legalized non-medical cannabis on October 17, 2018. So why? Part of the reason was that the proceeds from the illegal drug trade support organized crime and greater threats to public safety, like human trafficking and hard drugs. The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse estimates that the cost of illicit drug abuse runs $22.8 billion per year. For your question, remember...British Columbia was granted an exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) by federal government in November 2022 which will run until 2026. Under the exemption, up to 2.5 grams of the following four drug types can be legally possessed:

Cocaine (crack and powder).
Methamphetamine.
MDMA.
Opioids (including heroin, fentanyl and morphine).

CBC What you need to know about the decriminalization of possessing illicit drugs in B.C.

In BC, illicit drug toxicity death is the second-highest cause of years of potential life lost (only cancer was higher), and the highest cause in the 19-39 year age group. The impacts of decriminalization are monitored by the Province of BC and through a federally funded evaluation. So, to that end effective immediately, it's illegal to consume hard drugs in public in B.C. Police will enforce the law against drug use in all public places, including hospitals, restaurants, transit, parks and beaches with the ability to compel the person to leave the area, seize the drugs when necessary or arrest the person, if required. This change does not recriminalize drug possession in a private residence or place where someone is legally sheltering, or at overdose prevention sites and drug checking locations.

Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces

For more check out this Vice article here or the video below..

Now it's not all sunshine and rainbows but 20 years ago, in 2001, Portugal decriminalized the personal possession of all drugs as part of a wider re-orientation of policy towards a health-led approach. Possessing drugs for personal use is instead treated as an administrative offence, meaning it is no longer punishable by imprisonment and does not result in a criminal record and associated stigma. Check out the article here.