Pubdate: Wed, 23 Dec 2015
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Laura Kane
Page: A6

CANADIANS WITH POT CONVICTIONS WANT PARDONS IF DRUG IS LEGALIZED

Pardons, Now Called Record Suspensions, Seal a Criminal Record to 
Allow Offenders Wjo Have Since Lived Crime-Free to Travel

VANCOUVER- Marcus Richardson is, in the eyes of the law, a criminal.

Never mind that a judge ruled the six kilograms of cannabis police 
found in his car was for severely ill patients at a medical marijuana 
dispensary.

Or that the same judge imposed only a minimum sentence because 
anything more would fail to maintain "a just, peaceful and safe society."

He's a criminal - and so are scores of other Canadians who face 
barriers to travel and work because they were caught with a drug that 
the government now intends to legalize.

"My charge wasn't like, 'He was practising civil disobedience at a 
place that was helping sick and dying people improve the quality of 
their last days on earth,' " Richardson said.

"If the charge read like that, I'd have no problem with it. It reads 
like, 'I'm a marijuana trafficker.' "

Canadians with criminal records for marijuana crimes are eagerly 
waiting to see if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will offer pardons 
when pot is legalized. Tens of thousands of people are charged with 
possession every year, and if convicted face consequences that can be 
devastating.

Richardson was driving across Vancouver's Lions Gate Bridge in 1998 
when police stopped him at a roadblock and found several kilograms of 
marijuana and $6,000 in his trunk.

A judge found the drugs were intended only for B.C. Compassion Club 
Society members and the money was a "float" Richardson carried to pay 
growers. He was convicted of possession for the purpose of 
trafficking and received a suspended sentence and six months' probation.

Today, the 42-year-old father of three holds a federal licence to 
grow and possess marijuana and runs a business selling equipment for 
medical cannabis users.

Richardson is often asked to share his expertise with companies in 
the U.S., but he's barred from crossing the border. He'd also like to 
volunteer on his kids' field trips, but administrators conduct 
criminal record checks.

"I wouldn't want to embarrass my children," he said.

The previous Conservative government overhauled the pardon system in 
2012, making it more expensive and rigorous.

Pardons, now called record suspensions, seal a criminal record to 
allow offenders who have lived crime-free to reintegrate, get better 
jobs and travel abroad.

The Parole Board of Canada has grappled with a backlog of pardon 
applications dating to the government's changes, though it said last 
May it only had 5,000 left.

Richardson became eligible for a pardon in 2008 and applied three 
years later, but he's still waiting. In frustration, he recently 
applied for a $585 (U.S.) waiver that would allow him to cross the border.

Asked whether her government would offer general pardons to people 
with minor marijuana convictions, Justice Minister Jody 
Wilson-Raybould said she's working with the ministers of health and 
public safety to hammer out the details of legalization.

"We will certainly look to have more to say about how we're going to 
move forward," she said. "But that includes actually having 
conversations . . . with different levels of government and ensuring 
we speak to Canadians who have been impacted."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom