Canada

Marc Emery's Prison Potcast - Episode #9

jeremiah — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:07:10 -0800

CANNABIS CULTURE - In this episode, Marc talks about the 6000-page 'Marc Emery Papers' made up of classified documents and communications between US and Canadian authorities. All top-secret; all about Marc!

STOP BILL C-15!: New Drug Law Will Drive Up Prison Costs

jeremiah — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:25:06 -0800

A federal bill that would impose mandatory jail time for serious drug crimes would increase the workload of the parole system, and the government intends to inject more than $100 million over five years to ease the burden, according to the commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada.

Commissioner Don Head said at a Senate committee hearing Thursday that if the bill is passed, CSC will receive an additional $116.5 million over the next five years to support an expected increase in cases for the National Parole Board.

STOP BILL C-15!: Eugene Oscapella to the Canadian Senate

jeremiah — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:56:27 -0800

CANNABIS CULTURE - Founder of the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy speaks to the Canadian Senate about the dangers of Bill C-15 and mandatory minimum sentences.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW TO STOP BILL C-15

Over The Edge

jeremiah — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:39:16 -0800

Sam was an extreme sports enthusiast, who thrived on the adrenaline of risk taking. He grew up in the B.C. interior, living in Nelson, where the flourishing mountain biking scene offered him new challenges.On February 23, 2009, 24-year-old Sam Brown of British Columbia was arrested by U.S. authorities in Washington State as he landed a helicopter he had piloted across the border. Sam’s crime: he was attempting to smuggle almost 200 kilograms of marijuana, “B.C. Bud”.

Doda: Drug War Déjà Vu

jeremiah — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:44:04 -0800

I had a weird feeling of Drug War déjà vu when I read this story from the Calgary Times about a new drug called 'doda'.

Calgary police and politicians are in a frenzy over the drug - made from poppies and used predominately by the members of the South Asian community - which they say is illegal, addictive and ruining families everyday.

Marc Emery's Prison Potcast - Episode #8

jeremiah — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:43:38 -0800

CANNABIS CULTURE - Marc reads a letter written for an author friend about books, politics, and more in this episode of the Prison Potcast.

Marc has been writing to friends and fans, answering the many letter he receives in prison. In this letter to the author of a book called Payback (that the author sent to Marc in jail), Marc talks about some of his literary influences and discusses some personal history.

Marc Emery's Prison Potcast - Episode #7

jeremiah — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:44:29 -0800

CANNABIS CULTURE - Marc discusses the history of his continuing conflict with Canadian and US authorities in Episode #7 of the Prison Potcast.

Marc outlines the unrelenting crusade of Vancouver police and American Drug Czar John Walters to see him put behind bars for selling marijuana seeds and using the profits to fund anti-prohibition activists and marijuana legalization groups.

Are We Really Soft on Crime?

jeremiah — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:26:48 -0800

The federal Department of Justice boasts Canada’s biggest concentration of legal brainpower. Of its roughly 4,300 employees, about half are lawyers, and its policy branch alone employs about 200 bureaucrats. Not surprisingly, the department has a long history of producing sophisticated policy papers and commissioning probing research on crime and punishment.

Medical Marijuana vs. Liquor Licence Feud Continues

jeremiah — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:16:39 -0800

The Federal Court has declined to throw out the case of an Ontario restaurant owner who wants one of his former patrons stripped of his right to smoke medical marijuana.

Ted Kindos, owner of Gator Ted's Tap and Grill in Burlington, Ont., is seeking a declaration from the Federal Court that people with a permit to smoke medicinal marijuana cannot do so in a public place or any licensed establishment.

Marc Emery's Prison Potcast - Episode #6: Lest We Forget

jeremiah — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:06:22 -0800

CANNABIS CULTURE - Marc Emery discusses war and sacrifice in this gripping Remembrance Day Episode of the Prison Potcast.

Marc relays several personal stories told to him by his father, friends and others, and discusses Canada's war history and origin of the poppy worn by Canadians in commemoration of members of the Armed Forces and those who gave their lives in times of war.

Seeds of Liberty: Book About Marc Emery to be Published

jeremiah — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:31:48 -0800

As publisher of the Western Standard I have commissioned two writers to co-author a full-length book on the life and work of Canadian publisher and libertarian activist Marc Emery.

Hemp Making a Comeback Despite Idiotic Pot Laws

jeremiah — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:18:19 -0800

The symptoms and side effects of reefer madness are now clearer than ever. Politicians, even those who never inhaled, suffer paranoid delusions.

Over the past century, Canada's ludicrous and draconian marijuana policies wasted billions in criminal-justice resources.

Crime gangs got rich and recreational marijuana users--about as dangerous as contented cats--were fined and jailed by the thousands.

My Grounds for Appeal

David Malmo-Levine — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:31:15 -0800

Editor's Note: David Malmo-Levine is a Vancouver marijuana activist incarcerated at the Fraser Regional Correctional Centre in Maple Ridge, BC, for his establishment of the Vancouver Herb School. David is considering an appeal of his sentence and lays out his reasoning below. He would love your feedback and thoughts. Please click here and here for more information on David's case.

Free Marc Emery Rallies at ALL MP Offices Across Canada

jeremiah — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:48:20 -0800

CANNABIS CULTURE - Marc Emery supporters Canada-wide will be joining together at their local Member of Parliament's offices on Saturday, November 7th, at 2:00pm to demand freedom for the imprisoned activist.

Canadians cannot allow our Minister of Justice to sign a Canadian citizen, Marc Scott Emery over to serve 5 years in the USA! Show you really care this Saturday: grab a group of friends and rally at your local MP's office with a sign saying Free Marc Emery!

Health Canada Demands Medical Pot Users Pay In Advance

jeremiah — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:22:48 -0800

Health Canada is getting tough with patients who use government-certified medical marijuana, demanding full payment in advance before shipping the weed.

The move, effective Nov. 30, is designed to halt the rising number of accounts in arrears - and force more patients to pay off old debts that now total more than $1.2 million.

Restaurateur, Pot-Smoking Patron Take Fight to Court

jeremiah — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:25:01 -0800

Federal government lawyers will ask a judge today to throw out the case of an Ontario restaurant owner who wants one of his former patrons stripped of his right to smoke medical marijuana.

This is the latest manoeuvre in the legal battle between Ted Kindos, owner of Gator Ted's Tap and Grill in Burlington, and former customer Steve Gibson.

The restaurant owner is facing a human rights complaint for asking Mr. Gibson not to light up outside his business.

Marc Emery Could Be Extradited Any Day

jeremiah — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:54:22 -0800

He's waiting for a five year jail term. The prince of pot, is sitting tight until he's extradited to the United States.

Since surrendering in September, Marc Emery has been waiting at the North Fraser pre-trial centre -- a maximum security facility. A justice minister has to sign extradition papers to send Emery south, which still hasn't been done.

Cannabis Religious Challenge Update

Chris Bennett — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:53:36 -0700

My lawyer, Kirk Tousaw, and I have been preparing for a Nov. 3 appearance in Federal Canadian court regarding our religious challenge for a cannabis exemption. Below are documents prepared from Professors, two of whom are slated to appear as expert witnesses in the case:

AFFIDAVIT
In the matter of
CHRISTOPHER BENNETT
versus
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR CANADA and
THE HEALTH MINISTER FOR CANADA

How To Send Me Mail

marc — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:09:45 -0700

I want to thank everyone who has been sending me mail and books while I'm here at North Fraser Pretrial. Unfortunately, I'm still not getting a lot of my mail due to inappropriate content, missing return addresses, and other silly things like included illegal Post-It notes or staples.

Here is a brief podcast about how to send me mail properly and my shout-out of thank-yous to those who have been able to get through!

What Sentence for Marijuana Seed Dealer?

jeremiah — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:42:56 -0700

Is he a hardened on-line marijuana dealer or an enterprising entrepreneur?

A Montreal judge will decide and sentence him in the way he sees fit.

The Crown says Richard Hratch Bagdadlian knew exactly what he was doing when he broke the law and wants him to serve five years behind bars.

The RCMP arrested him for exporting and importing marijuana seeds on the Web.

Investigators say the company got 30 orders a day, at 100 dollars per order, buying and selling seeds all over the world.

Marc Emery's Prison Potcast #4 - Stephen Harper and The End of Days

jeremiah — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:15:03 -0700

CANNABIS CULTURE - In episode #4 of the Prison Potcast, Marc Emery reads his new essay "Stephen Harper and The End of Days (of Canada as we know it): Revelations about the Conservative Party's direction for Canada".

Canadian Medicinal Pot Users Triple

jeremiah — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:41:56 -0700

The number of Canadians legally permitted to use pot as medicine has tripled in the past three years since the Conservatives took power.

At last official count by Health Canada this past June, 4,029 people were authorized to possess cannabis under Marijuana Medical Access Regulations, 2,841 were allowed to grow their own plants and 481 had special permission to grow it on behalf of another patient. That’s up from 1,273 who had permits in February 2006.

Ottawa Just Might Go To Pot

jeremiah — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:24:34 -0700

Men's Giant Slalom Snowboard gold medal winner Ross Rebagliati of Canada shows his delight during the medal ceremony at the XVIII Winter Olympic Games, February 8, 1998. (Photo by Dylan Martinez/Reuters)Ross Rebagliati, whose gold medal in snowboarding at the 1998 Winter Olympics was obscured briefly by marijuana smoke, is seeking the Liberal nomination in a B.C. riding for the next federal election.

Don’t be fooled, this is about the drug war and nothing else

Kirk Tousaw — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:10:14 -0700

Re: "Tories propose tighter parole rules" from CBC News.

Read article.

The federal government said Monday it will introduce legislation to crack down on early parole for non-violent offenders, a move it says will augment proposed tougher sentences for white-collar criminals.

read more

Pot Accounts For 75% of Police Seizures

jeremiah — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:39:53 -0700

Many Canadians think police don't pay much attention to marijuana, and instead focus on busting people for "hard drugs". Think again.

From the Edmonton Sun:

The street value of drugs seized by Canadian cops last year topped $2.4 billion, according to the RCMP.

read more