10/17 Canadian weed, climate peril, BC LNG blast, Skagit red tide, marmot breeding

Mary Jame [USA Today]

Canada becomes second country to legalise recreational marijuana
The first recreational cannabis to be legally bought in Canada was purchased at midnight on Wednesday (02:30 GMT) on the eastern island of Newfoundland amid queues of hundreds of people. Canada has become the second country after Uruguay to legalise possession and use of recreational cannabis. (BBC) See also: Canada Makes Marijuana Legal, and a National Experiment Begins Canada on Wednesday became the first major world economy to legalize recreational marijuana use, beginning a national experiment that will alter the country’s social, cultural and economic fabric, and present the nation with its biggest public policy challenge in decades. (NY Times)

Political and corporate leaders ignore climate peril 
 David Horsey opines. (Seattle Times)

Samples show dust from B.C. pipeline explosion isn't a health threat: Enbridge
The company that owns the natural gas pipeline that ruptured and burned one week ago in central British Columbia, says the dust that settled on homes near the blast site does not pose a health threat. The latest post on the Enbridge website says earth sampling near Prince George shows mineral and metal composition is well below provincial and federal standards for urban and residential areas. Enbridge also says construction of an access road to the damaged line continues and repair crews may be able to reach the scene later this week, although the company has said there is no timeline to return the 91-centimetre pipeline to service. (CBC)

Red tide still impacting area waters
Toxic algae known as red tide continues to impact Samish Bay, but some areas are reopening this week to commercial shellfish harvesting. The state Department of Health announced Tuesday that as of Monday, two parcels within the bay were approved to reopen to the commercial harvesting of manila clams and Pacific oysters. The entire bay remains closed to recreational harvesting due to the risk of exposure to the algae, which can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning if contaminated shellfish are consumed. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Marmot breeding programs could lead to problems down the road, biologist says
Captive breeding appears to have saved the Vancouver Island marmot, but genetic problems may lie hidden in the population, says a Vancouver Island University biologist. Prof. Jamie Gorrell is embarking on a five-year study to determine if the marmot recovery program, breeding animals in zoos and introducing offspring into the wild, has led to a wild population whose individuals are more closely related than is healthy.... Gorrell is the recipient of a five-year grant of $24,000 per year from the federal Natural Sciences and Research Council to study the genetics of the Vancouver Island marmot, now numbering about 200 and living on hills near Nanaimo. Richard Watts reports. (Times Colonist)


Now, your tug weather--

West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  300 AM PDT Wed Oct 17 2018   

TODAY  E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft  at 16 seconds. 

TONIGHT  Light wind becoming W to 10 kt after midnight. Wind  waves 1 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 15 seconds.


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