Posts Tagged ‘canada’

NDP Supports Decriminalization

Reading over the NDP website, I find that they are supportive of decriminalizing marijuana.

“Decriminalizing marijuana possession with the goal of removing its production and distribution from the control of organized crime.”

“Adopting a harm reduction approach to substance abuse and permitting the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes”

We should all encourage our friends and family to vote NDP.

Also, if you see this post, you are using the new webserver. Please let me know if there are any problems.

Cheech and Chong Slam Stephen Harper [video]

Cannabis Culture reports: “Cheech and Chong have got some pretty blunt advice for Prime Minister Stephen Harper when it comes to Canada’s marijuana’s laws.

“Wise up, you douchebag,” Cheech Marin says with some glee when asked what he’d tell the prime minister.
Chong, who hails from Edmonton, nods in agreement.”

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Classified – Inspiration [music video]

This is one of my favorite Canadian hip-hop artists. Read More for the video. Continue reading

Trailer Park Boys: Motivationals According to Ricky

Those of us who have seen the Canadian mockumentary show, Trailer Park Boys, know the utter genius and rich wisdom to be gleaned from its colorful characters. Richard, commonly known as “Ricky”, as well as “Shitiot” and “Helmet Head”, has delivered some especially poignant thoughts throughout the show. Here is just a small sampling of the “Ricky-isms” generously provided by the man himself. Click ‘Read More’ for the list.

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Marc Emery to be extradited, lawyer confirms

Marijuana activist Marc Emery appears on CTV's Canada AM from the Vancouver studio on Friday, April 30, 2010.

A five-year battle by Canada’s self-styled “Prince of Pot” to avoid extradition to the United States on drug charges appeared to be over Monday.

The federal justice minister has ordered Marc Emery surrendered to American authorities, the final step in the legal process.

Emery, who was charged in the U.S. in 2005 in connection with his Vancouver-based seed-selling business, had turned himself in to sheriffs earlier in the morning to await the federal justice minister’s decision.

Within an hour, his lawyer received an answer.

“The justice minister has surrendered Mr. Emery for extradition,” lawyer Kirk Tousaw said in an interview.

“I imagine there’s some paperwork that needs to be shuffled and arrangements that need to be made. My anticipation would be (Emery would be sent to the U.S.) relatively soon, within the week possibly.”

A spokesperson for the minister’s office said he does not comment on extradition decisions.

Emery has been out on bail since last fall, when he was released from custody while the federal justice minister made his decision.

He made a plea deal with U.S. prosecutors last year, agreeing to plead guilty in return for a five-year prison sentence.

Earlier in the day, Emery called himself a “great Canadian” and told reporters he’s spent his life advocating for the legalization of marijuana. Then he walked into the B.C. Supreme Court building and presented himself to sheriffs. Continue reading

Marc Emery: I Fought the Law (but the Law Might Still Win)

EYE WEEKLY caught up with “Prince of Pot” Marc Emery to discuss the latest on his case and his views on the changing climate of the cannabis world.

Emery will again be speaking at this year’s Toronto Freedom Festival (May 1, 6:30pm, Speakers & Awareness Stage, Queen’s Park North) and his presence is as significant as ever since there have been some shifts happening in government policy for our neighbours to the south — many wonder how close Canada is to following suit.

What’s the latest with your trial?

The US DEA encouraged the justice department to lay three charges against me: conspiracy to distribute marijuana, conspiracy to manufacture marijuana and conspiracy to money launder. They say, “We’re looking for 40 years on these three counts,” because they come with mandatory minimums in the US, “[but] we can offer you one count if you agree to plead guilty to five years.” I agreed. The justice minister has had all the paperwork since January 8th and has not signed it. The Canadian justice department says they’ve received 2,700 handwritten letters urging them not to extradite me, and seven saying they should. It’s something for the minister, Rob Nicholson, to think about with an election coming up. The minister has to make a decision by May 10th to extradite, not extradite or seek an extension.

What about your colleagues Michelle Rainey and Greg Williams?

Originally the agreement was that I would plead guilty to five-year thing and they would not get any kind of jail time, and that’s how it worked out. Michelle Rainey and Greg Williams basically got sentenced to two years probation and are back doing the thing they like to do best. Michelle is growing marijuana for her medical needs and Greg works at the BC Marijuana Party, so I feel good that nobody who was involved with me is going to suffer any jail time.

What do you think the major difference between Canadian and American drug policy is? Which do you feel is more misguided?

Up until now Canada’s never had mandatory minimums and the judges are aware that when you give someone a high sentence, there’s invariably a turf war between gang members over their spot. The Americans have put more people in jail, but they haven’t solved the problem because more people compete to get into that business once someone’s arrested. But, there’s a movement in every state to have a medical marijuana law or an outright legalization law. California’s the most significant because their legislation has proposed it as a November ballot initiative coming up this year. In the United States you’ve got 75 congressmen that have signed on to a bill that will legalize four ounces or less. That’s not happening at any level in Canada.

- Read the the whole article on Eye Weekly.

Go Canada! Nova Scotia to fund medical marijuana for welfare clients

Advocates of medical marijuana are hailing a landmark Nova Scotia court ruling, hoping it leads the way to taxpayer-funded pot supplies for low-income patients across Canada.

Last week the Nova Scotia Supreme Court ordered the provincial government to pick up the tab for the medical marijuana smoked by Sally Campbell, a chronically ill woman on welfare.

Some provinces already pay for the marijuana prescribed to patients under workers’ compensation claims. Since 2008, the federal government has also paid for the marijuana consumed by a handful of military veterans receiving disability benefits.

But until now, no province has covered the cost of doctor-prescribed marijuana for people on social assistance, according to a cross-Canada survey by the Nova Scotia government.

“This is a new and developing area of law. I’m not aware of any precedent in this area,” says Kirk Tousaw, a Vancouver Island lawyer who represents people seeking federal licences for the medical use of marijuana.

Tousaw says the Nova Scotia ruling may not immediately or directly influence the law in other provinces. However, “it does represent a court saying that this particular drug deserves to be financially covered in certain circumstances,” he says. “I think it’s a very positive development.”

Even more optimistic is Chad Clelland, the director of community relations for Medicalmarijuana.ca – a national coalition of doctors, patients and pot-growers that has spent years helping low-income Canadians find affordable sources of medicinal pot.

“It would be fantastic if this case opened the door in other provinces, if it helped needy patients get affordable access to marijuana,” he says.

Less happy about the matter is the Nova Scotia government, which for years fought Halifax resident Campbell’s request for an increase in her provincial income assistance, to pay for her monthly pot supply. Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter has said what worries him about the decision is not having to fork out money for Campbell’s marijuana, but that the ruling may result in the cash-strapped province having to pay for a host of other medications.

Source

Canada Government Provides Pot For Low-Income Woman

Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for marijuana-bud.jpgYou read that right. And we suspect that even some of you conservatives are whispering to yourselves, “Holy Obama-care, I should have supported the health-care bill.” Unfortunately, the Big Brother chronic in question is not USDA-grade, but rather Canadian.

The patient, Sally Campbell, 61, won a Nova Scotia Supreme Court ruling that forces a local Community Services Department to pay for her medical marijuana, according to the Chronicle Herald. (Could you imagine the pandemonium in L.A. if Uncle Sam covered medical-grade pot?).

Canada has a taxpayer subsidized health-care system that provides medical services and prescriptions for free or at very low costs. Although she was prescribed medical marijuana, Campbell was denied the drug by the department.

The ruling would make Nova Scotia the first Canadian province to cover medical marijuana for residents, like Campbell, who are on government-provided “social assistance.”

Campbell said it was “embarrassing” for her to have to go through this process to get her medical pot, but that “”I’m really glad it’s over.” We suspect that first toke of victory will go straight to her dome.

Source

http://blogs.laweekly.com/ladaily/community/government-provides-pot/

Legalize Marijuana in Canada (and everywhere else)

Marijuana needs to be legalized soon; Canada’s prohibition is causing too many problems to be the right choice in our country.  We need to regulate and control the production and sales of marijuana. It will create a safer community and get rid of the black market. There are so many medicinal benefits of the drug and it would be insane to keep it illegal for any time longer. It’s time for a change.

A regulated market for the production and consumption of marijuana would reduce crime tremendously and give people a safer way to buy what they already do. All the drug dealers would be put out of business, and the jails would empty out. Millions of people smoke marijuana in Canada and the number is rising. Prohibition has failed for over seventy-five years, and it’s not a method we should be using. Marijuana is the largest cash crop in North America, and it’s being grown and used all over the world. Not only would it be safer to buy marijuana from a store or something similar, but it would also reduce the amount of money going to gangs, and anyone else involved in the illegal drug trade. Also, we would know exactly what is in our marijuana, whereas the black market there can be many harmful things added to it, such as glass particles, harmful chemicals, and other drugs. We have to try our very hardest to tax and regulate marijuana, for the many benefits it will bring to our country.

Prisons all over the US and Canada are filled with offenders who have been charged with something to do with marijuana; be it trafficking, possession, or cultivation. The sad part is that marijuana smokers are some of the nicest people around. Sure, many of these people are probably gang members and criminals as well, but the majority of these offenders haven’t even harmed a bug. The result of all these arrests is very expensive to our countries. The tax payers would have to pay a lot less, because the money we can make on taxing marijuana could double the amount the government makes. Not only will the jails be emptier, but we wouldn’t need to pay taxes to jail all the marijuana offenders. It’s a victimless crime, and we shouldn’t be putting people away for it.

Marijuana is a totally harmless drug, and there are so many medicinal benefits to it. Compared to alcohol and tobacco, marijuana isn’t even on the chart. Alcohol and tobacco have millions of deaths around the world each year, and the number of deaths resulting from marijuana is zero. Seems pretty strange such a harmless drug is illegal when two legal drugs are killing people all over the world. Now keep in mind, smoking anything is bad for your health, but there are a few alternatives to avoid smoking. You could ether vaporize, or cook the marijuana in to your food. Now people like to smoke marijuana to relax or for fun, but many people are consuming marijuana for their health. The THC can cure many health issues including, but not limited to; cancer, nausea, vomiting, stimulation of hunger in chemotherapy patients, and pain in many sorts of diseases. The pure THC oil created from a weed plant is almost a super cure for anything, but there are a few reasons you don’t see or hear about it. First of all it’s still illegal to produce, unless you have a medicinal license to grow marijuana and make it yourself. And one of the craziest things is that medical companies won’t produce it. The reason for that is the fact you can’t patent a plant. So technically you can’t make any money off it, so they chose to use dangerous harmful drugs instead. Marijuana needs to be legalized, not just for the recreational uses many people like, but for the many medicinal attributes it has.

Marijuana laws are in dire need of a revision. Canadians need to do speak out, protest, and get the country thinking. The money that the regulation of marijuana could bring in, could supply more police, better health care, new safer medicinal drugs, and free up our prisons. Marijuana needs to be legalized soon, because this prohibition is harmful for our country and the people in it.

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