Pubdate: Fri, 21 May 2010
Source: Abbotsford Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2010 The Abbotsford Times
Contact:  http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1009
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?196 (Emery, Marc)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?143 (Hepatitis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

WEEKEND WONDERING

Long weekends mean many things to many people: long walks along 
beaches; long lines for ferries to carry you there; and once landed, 
long mornings recovering from longer nights out.

As the door to summer swings open in celebration of the good Queen 
Victoria, we suggest adding an extra extension: a long pause.

What to ponder, we'll leave up to you; though this week plenty of 
people are doing their best to give us all something to think about. 
On Tuesday alone, two separate groups tied loosely by the usage of 
very different drugs staged a pair of unique protests. The first 
squad sauntered into the office of Abbotsford MP Ed Fast to protest 
Canada's extradition of the 'Prince of Pot' (almost apropos 
considering the regal holiday ahead) Marc Emery.

With weed and rolling papers in hand, they sat and sang, holding 
signs championing their man - who's facing five years in a U.S. jail 
for allegedly mailing marijuana seeds south of the border.

To his credit, the MP played the role of gracious host, allowing 
Emery's Army to stay until he asked that his office could close for 
lunch. Shortly before 1 p.m., the dozen or so ambled off, likely 
because Abbotsford police asked them to, but quite possibly because 
Fast's office doesn't feature a snack machine.

Should Emery be shipped south for a lengthy stay in an American 
prison, when the same offense warrants hardly a slap on the wrist 
here in Canada? Maybe. Still, it's worth a pensive pause.

Only a few hours after the Emery affair, a much larger crowd 
assembled outside Abbotsford City Hall carrying coffins and signs 
objecting the city's 'harm reduction' bylaw - which was installed to 
block needle exchanges and, in the misguided thinking of the day, 
reduce drug use. Hep C sufferers say they need a clean needle 
exchange to save others from the disease, but a previous council 
banned needle swaps.

Are people sick from sticking themselves with dirty needles because 
elected officials stuck their heads in the sand? Short-sighted or 
not, it's something to consider this long weekend.

Enjoy that extra day.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom