Pubdate: Tue, 05 Jun 2007
Source: Daily Observer, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2007, Osprey Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2615
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n661/a04.html
Author: Russell Barth

HE'S FEELING SINGLED OUT

Editor:

Re.: Lawsuit goes to court; Reimer claims OPP used excessive force in arrest

What Canadians fail to recognize is that these medical marijuana 
"licenses" we are supposed to carry around amount to nothing less 
than legislated medical segregation. In Canada!

Think about that. No, I mean REALLY think about it.

As federal medical marijuana license holders, my wife and I (like Mr. 
Reimer) have to carry "special papers" to avoid arrest because we 
have a medical condition.

"Legislated medical segregation." Ugly, isn't it?

Okay, so it isn't apartheid or the Warsaw ghetto, but this is how 
stuff like that starts out: separate us from the rest of the flock so 
we are easier to pick off later.

Worse yet, sick people have to scrounge for this medicine, then 
scrounge a mountain of money to fight their own government and police 
for their rights in court, against a giant with bottomless pockets.

I have no doubt that Mr. Reimer's case will be thrown out and the 
officers he claims assaulted him will get off scot-free. Worst case 
scenario, they will be convicted and get "suspension with pay," 
followed by a promotion that will officially be called a demotion. It 
is a joke.

It is too bad, too, because the 5 or 10 or 20 per cent of cops who 
might be rogue or even a bit rough make all the other good clean cops 
look bad. Respect for law and order in this country has eroded to 
such a point because of the attitude of too many officers, not to 
mention that of the brass.

So much for Canada being a "just society."

Russell Barth,

Federal medical marijuana license holder,

Ottawa, Ont.
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