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. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom