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| Pot Advocate Claims Refugee Status |
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Posted by CN Staff on May 22, 2002 at 09:05:32 PT By Keith Fraser, The Province Source: Province 
Medicinal-marijuana advocate Steve Kubby has been ordered to leave Canada, but a refugee claim and criminal charges may delay deportation for at least a year. Kubby fled California on drug charges last year and moved to Sechelt, where there is a growing colony of so-called drug refugees from the U.S. Last month, immigration officials and the RCMP arrested the 56-year-old. After 160 marijuana plants were found in his home, he was charged with cultivating marijuana and possession for the purpose of trafficking. At an immigration and refugee board hearing Friday, adjudicator Daphne Shaw-Dyck ruled that because of a prior drug conviction in California, Kubby was inadmissible to Canada. She issued a conditional departure order. Under such an order, Kubby must leave voluntarily within 30 days or face a deportation order and a ban from entering Canada. But Kubby has filed a refugee claim that the U.S. government is persecuting him and the application for the claim must be heard before he can be removed. Meanwhile, he's got an adjournment until next month on the Canadian drug charges and may not go to trial until next year. Kubby's wife, Michele Kubby, who also faces marijuana charges in Canada, says they can't leave the country while they face criminal proceedings. "Meanwhile, we're staying at home. We're continuing on with business as usual, although we've now had to wrap up our fundraising efforts again and become professional defendants again." Another Californian arrested in Sechelt at the same time as Kubby, 35-year-old Steve Tuck, also got a conditional departure order. He is making a political refugee claim. Canadian Alliance MP Randy White, vice-chairman of a national committee examining drug abuse, said the case just means Canada can expect more trafficking and drug problems. And he added: "It's so typical of our refugee system being abused when Americans can claim refugee status for whatever they see as persecution." Note: Kubby's claim could delay departure order. Newshawk: puff_tuff Related Articles & Web Sites: The Kubby Files Canadian Links Canadian Court Rules Kubby Not Fugitive Laws on Medical Pot Draw Americans to Canada Pot Activist Held for Three Days in Canada California Men Face Hearing in Canada Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #2 posted by 2Spooky on May 23, 2002 at 07:11:31 PT |
| I was wondering just those things you mentioned myself. Being in the US (and thankfully not a potential refugee, at least at the moment), I find it difficult to get news and info on the scene there from many other places besides this site. Good luck to you. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by Naaps on May 22, 2002 at 12:00:47 PT |
| I wish the best for all the medicinal marijuana advocates who’ve fled to Canada to avoid draconian drug laws in America. These aren’t as The Province says “so-called drug refugees” these are genuine refugees – the same circumstances of their illness and use of herbal medicine here in Canada won’t merit the same harsh treatment that they face in California or elsewhere in America. Presumably, the throwaway comments of MP Randy White are included to present a balanced view. The article identifies MP White as the Vice-Chairman of a national committee examining drug abuse. This committee has been obliquely mentioned in other news stories, but I haven’t been able to find out any information pertaining to their activities, mandate, schedule, etc. To this end, I emailed MP White politely asking for further information, especially anything on the Internet, which allows interested parties to understand what they are doing with our tax dollars. If I obtain a response, particularly a web address, I’ll post it. At the Richmond Senate hearings I spoke with the librarian of the committee and he had little information regarding the House Committee. While, the keywords of the Senate Committee are rigorous and transparent. The House Committee so far is anything but ostensible in their activities. [ Post Comment ] |
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