DULF
Court finds DULF guilty for compassion club "heralded as success"
Convictions are on hold as the compassion club founders prepare for a Charter challenge to begin on November 24.
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Marshall Smith
"I didn't know that was a thing": Calgary Herald pulls Guy Felicella's op-ed after defamation notice
On October 1, Guy Felicella published an op-ed in the Calgary Herald responding to a piece written by Marshall Smith that favoured expansion of police power to address public drug use. On October 6, a defamation notice from Smith to Felicella prompted the Herald to quietly remove the story.
Safe supply
"Everyone knew what was happening," judge admonishes Crown as DULF awaits trafficking verdict
Justice Catherine Murray closed the trial with remarks that showed sympathy for the accused and noted the confusing behaviour of Health Canada, the Vancouver police and all other political entities during and since the 2023 arrests of Eris Nyx and Jeremy Kalicum.
Calgary Police
Calgary Police Commission documents shed new light on Neufeld resignation
Drug Data Decoded has obtained a trove of new documents on the Calgary police chief and deputy resignations. Despite heavy redactions, they reveal a power struggle within the service fuelled by commission messaging.
Alberta model
Saskatchewan government funded two advisory reviews by ROSC Solutions Group
ROSC Solutions Group, a top recipient of AB recovery contracts, was funded for two reports on operations of Saskatchewan recovery centres. Their outcomes are creating a new beachhead for the privatized, abstinence-focused 'recovery-oriented system of care.'
Alberta model
'What's Wrong With Rehab?' wins gold at Alberta Magazine Awards
This story was written the first summer after Drug Data Decoded launched, appearing on the cover of the March 2024 Alberta Views. Since then, its conclusions and predictions have borne out. A look at some of the follow-up work on the Alberta Recovery Model.
Surveillance
Personal health data of My Recovery Plan users are vulnerable to US CLOUD Act
The Alberta government confirmed it is ending My Recovery Plan, the app that ostensibly tracked recovery progress & facility wait lists. However, the app is hosted by Amazon, placing users' personal health data at the mercy of the American Cloud Act.
DULF
The most urgent legal case in drug policy needs money. For Overdose Awareness Day, give what you can.
The question is not whether allowing access to regulated drugs is the right thing to do –– that is now confirmed. The question is whether enough collective will can be mustered to overcome the carceral bureaucracy keeping regulated drugs out of reach. DULF can do that –– with your help.
Surveillance
Province to abandon My Recovery Plan amid Auditor General snooping
Alberta's Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction is quietly terminating its contract with a personal data-harvesting app and replacing it with a publicly-owned 'bed availability dashboard.' The move coincides with reported scrutiny of ministry spending by the Auditor General.
forced abstinence
Alberta government reveals drug jail locations in procurement document
The Alberta government has issued a request for interested parties to participate in the procurement process for two forced abstinence detention facilities, to be located in northwest Calgary and northeast Edmonton – right beside existing carceral institutions.
Calgary Police
Calgary police "image recognition" by Hootsuite identifies individuals in photos & videos posted online
Documents show that two years after being caught using Clearview AI facial recognition software, Calgary police signed contracts for AI software that scours photos and videos for individuals. Have police agencies across Canada taken a secret shortcut to facial recognition?
ROSC Solutions Group
Alberta recovery programs require private 'coaches,' emails show
As one recovery centre admits that recovery coaches supplied by Bowline Health are now mandatory to access its residential services, it is unclear if the Province will mandate its coaches across the recovery system. Meanwhile, the company's vertical integration expands to emergency rooms.