It's time for Canada to look at legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, says a Liberal MP. "We have skirted the issue," said Hedy Fry, who sits in the federal cabinet as minister of state for multiculturalism and the status of women. "It's time for the debate." Ms. Fry spoke in Ottawa yesterday in light of revelations last week that a Vancouver group called the Compassion Club was distributing marijuana for free or at reduced rates to people using the drug to fight the sideeffects of diseases like cancer, AIDS and multiple sclerosis. Ms. Fry is a medical doctor who practised medicine in Vancouver before being elected as Liberal MP for Vancouver Centre. [continues 185 words]
Two years after his arrest for selling cannabis seeds and seedlings, London, Ont., hemp store owner Chris Clay finally had his day in court in May. Clay and employee Jordan Prentice were charged with cannabis possession, possession for the purposes of trafficking, trafficking and cultivation. While they could face jail terms if convicted, their defence did not focus on contesting the facts of the arrest. Instead, over three weeks of testimony by a battery of expert witnesses, Clay and his lawyer, Osgoode Hall law professor Alan Young, attempted to put Canada’s cannabis laws on trial in a constitutional challenge to the Narcotic Control Act. [continues 686 words]
Despite his modesty, I think Cpl. Power indeed deserves some credit for getting his priorities straight. He seems to realize that the RCMP have more important things to do than bust some peaceful protesters at a pot rally. Perhaps he would agree with Canadian Police Association CEO Jim Kingston, who wrote, I believe we must consider decriminalizing simple possession and treat it as we treat illegal possession of alcohol. . . We must have the courage to admit that our current drug policy of zero tolerance is a failure, and must be abandoned. Knowing when to look the other way is very important, and I'm glad to see Cpl. Power displaying some common sense. Chris Clay London, Ontario [end]
London man challenges cannabis laws A London hemp retailer has launched a constitutional challenge of Canada's cannabis laws, and is selling bonds redeemable for the drug to fund his court case. The challenge by Chris Clay, which goes to court on April 28, is based on "the constitutional right to privacy within your home, and to make choices as it relates to your bodily integrity," said Clay's lawyer Alan Young. He intends to show that cannabis is a relatively harmless and safe psychoactive substance. [continues 292 words]
I'm surprised that all this fuss is being made over the sale of cannabis pipes and other "paraphernalia," especially since owner Nycki Temple wasn't selling bags of grass out of her peaceful shop. Why were scarce police resources wasted when authorities surely had far more important problems to deal with? How much cocaine was sold, how many assaults were there, while police were tied up in the Hemp Ware shop? Marijuana is now known to be far safer than alcohol and tobacco, and 70 per cent of Canadians support decriminalization or legalization according to Health Canada. It is counterproductive to continue branding people criminals for smoking flowers, and the arrest of entrepreneur Nycki Temple merely for selling smoking accessories is a miscarriage of justice. Chris Clay owner of Canada's first hemp store London, Ontario [end]
WHY ALL THE FUSS? I was shocked when I recently learned that Newfoundland police busted the province’s first hemp store, Hemp Ware. I’m surprised that all this fuss is being made over the sale of cannabis pipes and other “paraphernalia,” especially since owner Nycki Temple wasn’t selling bags of grass out of her peaceful shop. Why were scarce police resources wasted when authorities surely had far more important problems to deal with? How much cocaine was sold, how many assaults were there, while police were tied up in the Hemp Ware shop? [continues 78 words]
WINNIPEG (CP) Winnipeg's vice cops have busted so many drug operations this year that they're running out of room to store the evidence. And busts of homegrown marijuana plants aren't slowing down. Two more operations were dismantled Thursday, bringing the total number of pot busts this year to 54, worth more than $6 million. The drug vault is fillingup with driedout bags sealed in baggies and envelopes. Police are looking at expanding the vault and moving the officer responsible for the evidence outside the secure room. One of the problems is delays in court time. Police have to keep drugs from each bust until a case goes to trial. [end]
Is this yet another moral panic, or is the discovery that cannabis and heroin have similar effects on the brain conclusive evidence that smoking marijuana leads to the hard stuff? TWO studies claiming that marijuana produces chemical changes in the brain that could give people a desire for harder drugs have provoked controversy among neuropharmacologists. Until now there has been no firm evidence to support the idea that marijuana is chemically addictive or that it makes people more likely to succumb to hard drugs. But in the latest issue of Science (vol 276, pp 2048 and 2050) two research teams claim that cannabis pushes the same kinds of chemical buttons in the brain as heroin. [continues 489 words]
Chris Clay of London is awaiting a verdict on charges against him of selling marijuana plants. The judge's ruling is expected to have farreaching effects. By Eric Bender, Free Press Reporter Hemp store operator Chris Clay says his notoriety "hasn't hurt." Clay, 26, is awaiting a decision in what could be a landmark case in a court challenge to Canadian marijuana law contained in the Narcotics Control Act. His possession and trafficking trial over a twoweek period at the London courthouse in April and May gained international attention. [continues 466 words]
The Seemans assume we are trying to decriminalize all drugs. However, my case focuses specifically on cannabis. They also imply that illicit drugs are "so terrible for us", yet they don't make a distinctions between marijuana and "hard drugs" like crack cocaine and heroin. In 1972, the Ledain Commission recommended decriminalization of marijuana after years of research. Twentyfive years later, many prominent experts reaffirmed their conclusions during my recent trial, saying marijuana is relatively safe compared to alcohol and tobacco. [continues 76 words]
There are many reasons marijuana remains unlawful, not the least of which are health concerns. By Karl N. Burden (The writer is the chief executive officer of Concerns, Canada, a nonprofit organization specializing in substance abuse.) The battle cry of the drug legalization lobby is: Take the profit out of the illicit drug trade, that will solve all our problems. It seems a reasonable argument, until we look at the havoc caused by the two drugs we've already legalized, alcohol and tobacco. [continues 749 words]
The strictly commercial planting, near Tillsonburg, will be the first in 70 years in Canada. By Eric Bender Free Press Business Reporter Canada's first commercial hemp crop in 70 years will be planted next spring. The recent passage of legislation paving the way for commercial hemp is involving at least one area company. It will have up to 1,000 acres under cultivation. Geof Kime of London, president of Hempline Inc., says he expects the firm to be in full commercial production by next year. [continues 620 words]
The Seemans assume we are trying to decriminalize all drugs. However, my case focuses specifically on cannabis. They also imply that illicit drugs are "so terrible for us", yet they don't make a disctinction between marijuana and "hard drugs" like crack cocaine and heroin. In 1972, the Ledain Commission recommended decriminalization of marijuana after years of research. Twenty-five years later, many prominent experts reaffirmed their conclusions during my recent trial, saying marijuana is relatively safe compared to alcohol and tobacco. [continues 77 words]
To the editor: In a recent letter to the editor (Decline in Principles, May 22), Patrick Carroll laments the introduction of harm reduction policies in Nova Scotia schools. However, experience tells us that our current approach isn't working since cannabis use has doubled among teens in the last few years. The harm reduction approach in the Netherlands, based on a de facto legalization of marijuana, has been very successful. According to Dr. Patricia Erickson of the Addiction Research Foundation, only 5.4 per cent of Dutch young people have tried marijuana, compared with 22 per cent in Canada. [continues 87 words]
MICHAEL JORDAN/The London Free Press Jeff Shurie shows literature that he says contains "misinformation." A Racing Against Drugs pamphlet lies about pot's effects, a critic says. By Noel Gallagher Free Press Education Reporter A former teacher fired for growing pot wants what he describes as the "lies" and "propaganda" in an RCMP antidrug pamphlet sponsored by London's two school boards removed. Jeff Shurie said the alleged "misinformation" is in an 18page booklet given to local Grade 46 pupils visiting Racing Against Drugs, a drug awareness project held recently at Western Fair. [continues 538 words]
LONDON, Ont. – Legalizing marijuana is not the way to protect smallscale users of the drug because police already have the discretion not to lay charges, a court was told yesterday. "The likelihood of incarceration for simple possession is receding dramatically," federal prosecutor Kevin Wilson said. In a trial that could throw Canada’s drug laws into serious question, 26yearold Chris Clay is charged with possession of, cultivating and trafficking in cannabis. His home and his hemp store were raided in 1995 and 1996. Jordan Prentice, an employee of Mr. Clay, faces similar charges. [continues 417 words]
Defence lawyer argues bread spread once also considered harmful and banned Mike Blanchfield The Ottawa Citizen It almost sounded like a dare. After drawing upon Supreme Court precedents, referring to unheeded recommendations by public inquiries, evoking 19th Century civil libertarian ideals, even citing a turnofthecentury ban on margarine, a Toronto lawyer urged a judge to transform his court into "a vehicle for change" and strike down Canada's marijuana law. "Will the decision of this court serve as an impetus for change?" Alan Young asked Mr. Justice John McCart, of the the Ontario Court (general division). "Or is it simply going to be affirming the status quo?" [continues 850 words]
While a court battle to legalize marijuana enters its final phase today, Jeff Shurie will be making his own quiet contribution to the cause by tending a small shop several blocks away from the courtroom action. Mr. Shurie has fought his own war with authorities to legalize pot in Canada. And failed spectacularly. "It cost me my career," says the former school teacher, standing behind the cash register of Hemp Nation. The store's owner, 26yearold Chris Clay, is on trial for cultivation and possession of a narcotic. Mr. Clay's defence lawyers are trying to decriminalize marijuana by having a section of the Narcotics Control Act struck down as unconstitutional. [continues 678 words]
SUSAN BRADNAM / The London Free Press London hemp store proprietor Chris Clay and his lawyer Alan Young talk to reporters Tuesday during a break in the trial. The lawyer for London hemp store proprietor Chris Clay says the ruling should right the 'wrong' done by Canada's law on marijuana. By Eric Bender Free Press Reporter Marijuana is a beneficial, versatile product and "various and sundry remedies" are available to make it legal, an Osgoode Hall law professor told a London court Tuesday. [continues 477 words]
By Pearce Bannon, The Ottawa Citizen LONDON – A U.S. drug expert told a court here yesterday that the only things harmful about marijuana re the laws than penalize its users. "The only thing that’s deviant about cannabis use is its criminalization," said John Paul Morgan at the trial of hemp dealer Chris Clay. Calling himself a "conscientious objector to the war on drugs," Dr. Morgan, who has spent 21 years studying drugs, particularly marijuana, told Mr. Justice John McCart there is no "logical or pharmacological reason" for lawmakers to group marijuana with potentially lethal drugs such as cocaine or heroin. [continues 579 words]
