09-12-04, 08:51
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A little tea with yore smoke?
Oh Master Canadian Pixie Sunray? I know how very much you enjoy tea with yore smokes ... have you seen thi. Guys after yore own wee bittie Pixie Scot heart?  
Quote:
Wed, December 8, 2004
Puffing in prison
Cons roll their own 'tobacco'
By FRANK LANDRY, LEGISLATURE REPORTER
Forget about du Maurier and Players -- convicts are
now smoking Earl Grey and orange pekoe. The
Winnipeg Sun has learned inmates in Manitoba's
provincial jails are getting around a year-old
smoking ban by making "tobacco" from nicotine
chewing pieces and used tea leaves.
'ALL VERY COMMON'
"It's all very common," said Pat Joyce, a spokesman
for the Manitoba Government Employees Union,
which represents more than 900 corrections officers.
"We expected that would be part of the regimen
when the smoking ban was brought in."
Smoking and cigarettes were banned last November
from provincial jails, which include Headingley
Correctional Centre and the Remand Centre in
Winnipeg. The ban does not apply to federal
prisons, such as Stony Mountain Institution.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a
corrections worker confirmed some inmates are
making their own smokes.
The creative puffers are taking nicotine chewing
pieces purchased in jail canteens and placing them
in hot water to remove the nicotine. The liquid is
mixed with tea leaves.
Rolling papers are fashioned from pages ripped out
of Bibles.
Lighters are made using two AA batteries, some tin
foil and staples, the source said, noting the recipe
was outlined in a recent e-mail circulated among
staff. Puffers are going virtually undetected by
blowing smoke into vents inside jail cells, he said.
"The boys are fairly creative once they set their
minds to it," said the source. "It's almost phenomenal to see what they've
done."
Paul Peterson, director of operations in the corrections division of
Manitoba Justice, said he hasn't come across any evidence inmates are
making cigarettes but confirmed an alert was sent to staff that this could
be going on.
"I don't know if it's true or not," Peterson said. "It may be one of these
modern urban myths."
Tory justice critic Gerald Hawranik said the NDP government is cracking
down on puffers who light up in restaurants but is letting inmates get away
with smoking indoors.
"The province is coming down harder on restaurants than it is on
prisoners," he said.
Justice Minister Gord Mackintosh said smoking scofflaws will not be
tolerated in jails. "The department has been directed to ensure there are
enforcement mechanisms in place and follow up on any allegations that
are made about breaches," he said.
Peterson said inmates caught with contraband -- including smokes -- can
be given written warnings and lose privileges.
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