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| Canada Arrests Third Pot Activist |
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Posted by FoM on April 21, 2002 at 20:07:48 PT By Jeremy Hay, The Press Democrat Source: Press Democrat 
Canada appears to be cracking down on Americans seeking sanctuary from drug-related charges in the United States. On Thursday, Canadian immigration authorities arrested former Petaluma resident Kenneth E. Hayes.Hayes, 34, fled north in January, shortly before U.S. prosecutors charged him with marijuana trafficking -- charges similar to those a Sonoma County jury acquitted him of last year. He used a Proposition 215 medical defense in the Sonoma County case but federal law doesn't recognize any legal uses for marijuana. Hayes was the third American medical marijuana activist facing drug charges in the United States arrested in as many days in British Columbia for alleged immigration violations. The charges are "specifically having to do with having criminal convictions in the United States," said Angela Battiston, a Canadian immigration spokeswoman. U.S. officials who want Hayes returned here to stand trial applauded the action. "We commend the Canadian authorities," said Richard Meyer, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman. "It's unfortunate that many people are viewing Canada as a haven to avoid U.S. justice." Humboldt County pot grower Steve Tuck and 1998 Libertarian Party gubernatorial candidate Steve Kubby were arrested Tuesday on the Sunshine Coast, north of Vancouver. Kubby also was charged, along with his wife, Michele, with marijuana cultivation. Tuck and Kubby are out on bail. Hayes is in detention in Vancouver. They all face deportation hearings. Battiston couldn't provide details about the criminal convictions Canadian immigration police cited in arresting Hayes. His attorney -- who also represents Tuck and Kubby -- said he was unaware of any convictions for Hayes. Hayes also is awaiting trial in Canada on pot cultivation charges, stemming from a February arrest in Vancouver. In the United States, he faces far more serious charges. U.S. prosecutors say he heads an organization that dealt hundreds of pounds of marijuana through a San Francisco medical pot club he operated. He and three co-defendants face possible prison sentences ranging from five years to life. All three of the Americans arrested in Canada last week have said they would seek political refugee status in Canada if the United States asked for their extradition, or if Canada attempted to deport them. None of them deny growing or smoking pot but they say it's for medical reasons, which is allowed under Proposition 215, a ballot initiative approved by California voters in 1996. Hayes, Kubby and Tuck have prevailed in marijuana cases in California. But all three face other charges; in Hayes' case, federal pot charges where a medical defense isn't an option. Tuck, 35, faces six felony pot trafficking charges in Humboldt County where authorities reject a medical use claim they had accepted from him in a separate case two years ago. Kubby, formerly of Placer County, is locked in a legal battle over a 2000 conviction for peyote possession that prosecutors want to raise to a felony from a misdemeanor. Ten days ago, a California appellate court ruled that Kubby must return to California within 30 days or lose his right to argue that case. The Canadian arrests follow a burst of media attention in the United States and Canada on a small but growing number of Americans who have fled or moved north of the border leaving drug-related legal trouble in the United States. "Immigration probably got annoyed at all the publicity and said, 'We'll show them that there's consequences,'" said John Conroy, the Vancouver attorney representing Hayes and the others who were arrested. He said Hayes couldn't be deported while the pot charges he faces in Canada are undecided, but "a concern is that (Canada) will drop the drug charges and just ship him to the border." Note: Ex-Petaluman who won Prop. 215 case faces federal charges. Source: Press Democrat, The (CA) Related Articles & Web Sites: DEA Raids Medical Marijuana Club Kubby Faces Marijuana Charges in Canada California Men Face Hearing in Canada Ex-Petaluman Says He's an Attractive Target Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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Comment #8 posted by Jose Melendez on April 23, 2002 at 06:20:16 PT:
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| from: http://www.marijuananews.com/news.php3?sid=495
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Comment #7 posted by kaptinemo on April 23, 2002 at 04:59:07 PT:
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| Computer not fast enough to receive the stream? [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by FoM on April 22, 2002 at 22:16:44 PT |
| Here it is and I can't wait until I can get it too. Not too much longer and I'll get to see and hear what I've been missing.
May 1st, Good IDEAS vs Bad IDEAS Pot TV Manager Chris Bennett gives the BC cannabis community their call to duty. On May 1st the Drug Free America Foundation and a coalition of other American funded prohibitionist organizations invade Vansterdam to hold "a conference intended to examine Canada's permissive drug policies." Canadian drug policies are a soveriegn issue! On May 1st just say "NO" to the International Drug education and Awareness Symposium and other bad IDEAS! http://www.pot-tv.net/archive/shows/pottvshowse-1292.html [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #5 posted by kaptinemo on April 22, 2002 at 07:52:03 PT:
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| Have you noticed something? The anti-cannabis operations in Canada, in BC in particular, have all taken place starting from the time the DEA established an 'office' in Vancouver. You Canadians ought to read about the Roman general Fabius: Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctator http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=34111 and keep something in mind: the DEA is doing the exact same thing. That's what Fabius did; slowly and surely encroached, evers so slowly, into enemy territory...until it was all locked up in Roman fortifications and fighting was a sure means of seeing one's ancestors ahead of time. The pattern is always the same; Ever so gently, they come calling, ingratiatingly asking if you need 'help'. First they give 'advice'. Then they provide 'support'. Then they begin to lead 'training missions'. And finally, before you know it, they are ordering you around in your own country - through Canuck proxies. The flags on your LEO's uniforms may have Maple Leaves sewn on...but the orders they are carrying out come from Washington. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #4 posted by Ethan Russo MD on April 22, 2002 at 06:28:22 PT:
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| There were a lot of Canadian activists at the NORML meeting. They are an impressive group of people, and it is only a matter of time before there are wholesale changes there. I spent some time with John Conroy, the attorney mentioned, at the NORML reception at Tony Serra's temporary offices in North Beach, above one of those hip clubs. It was like being in a San Francisco '60's museum. What a scene. It's a good thing that I am the king of the contact high. John is a fine fellow, and will do his best to get justice for these refugees of American (in)justice. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by qqqq on April 22, 2002 at 05:56:19 PT |
| ,,,just because you go to Canada doesn't mean you're safe......Canada better not mess with the US,,or we might "accidently",bomb them!....like the "accidental" bombing of Canadians in Afghanistan recently.......tell me;, Am I the only one who finds it quite alarming that bombing has become so common of an everyday activity,,that one lands on some Canadians!!!..........It's time for everyone to Wake Fucking Up!!!..the military monster has been unleashed!....First,,the grotesque spectacle of the US "war on terror",in Afghanistan,,,Military fools,and assholes ,,,huge sums of unaccounted for tax money,,slaughtering babies and their Moms!,,and then,,Isreal gets in the act BIG TIME,,and decimates untold numbers of innocent civilians,in a grizzly bloodbath of hitleresque proportions! .
...OK,,,here's what's gonna happen next,,the Chinese are gonna join the fun,,,,,but,,wait,,,nope,come to think of it,,,the Chinese are loving this "terror war",shit!.....,,Just imagine,,the US saying to China,;,,"Hey,,China...Quit abusing human rights!"............and all China needs to do is say,,;"No,,,you dont understand,,All people we have killed or locked up are terrorists!..we are fighting honorable war on terror!,,We are for fight on terror,,not against!"... [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by BGreen on April 22, 2002 at 05:07:49 PT |
| "It's unfortunate that many people are viewing Canada as a haven to avoid U.S. justice." If U.S. and justice weren't oxymorons, NOBODY WOULD HAVE TO FLEE! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by hempity on April 21, 2002 at 21:18:43 PT |
| [CCC] 3rd US Med MJ Patient thrown in Canadian jail this week! Medical marijuana patient Ken Hayes, who ran the Harm Reduction Center in San Francisco, California was arrested in Canada on Friday morning due to an immigration matter that is not yet known. Ken suffers from congenital hip disease . He is being charged with cultivation of medicine to suply club members with and he currently faces a 10 year to life sentence if he is returned to the US. Hayes, his common-law wife and 3 year old daughter are hoping that their family will not be split up due to the US War on Drugs and are praying that Ken will be granted refugee status here in Canada instead. Ken's hearing is scheduled for this Monday morning at 9am at the Immigration Courthouse, located at 300 W. Georgia St, in downtown Vancouver, on the 16th floor. Once again, it is extremely important that we pack the courtroom in order to show our support for Ken. If you are living in the Vancouver area, please come and join us this Monday morning. Ken's immigration attorney, Alex Stojicevich, is very concerned that the Canadian authorities are going to try and deport him. If enough of us show up at his hearing, it is more likely they will allow Ken and his family to remain in Canada where they are together and safe. We might be their last hope for freedom. Let's do all that we can to help these beautiful people! Thank you! In unity and love, Renee Boje http://www.reneeboje.com rboje@hotmail.com Good luck, mitaoyate [ Post Comment ] |
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