cannabisnews.com: Supreme Court Upholds Marijuana Law Supreme Court Upholds Marijuana Law Posted by CN Staff on December 23, 2003 at 07:48:50 PT By CBC News Online Staff Source: CBC Ottawa -- The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that possession of marijuana will remain a criminal offence until the government decides to change the law. The highest court has rejected the appeal of three B.C. men who argued it is unconstitutional to use the law to punish a harmless activity. The court ruled 6-3 that making marijuana possession a criminal offence does not violate Charter of Rights guarantees of liberty and security of person. Lawyers for the three B.C. marijuana users – David Malmo-Levine, Chris Clay and Victor Caine – had argued that the government has no right to tell people what they can put in their bodies. Malmo-Levine is a Vancouver marijuana activist has fought for 10 years to legalize marijuana. He arrived at the court in May, admitting to reporters that he had taken a few tokes of the drug before making his argument to the court. However, the top court rejected his argument and agreed with lawyers for the federal government who maintained that the law should be upheld and that Parliament should set drug policy for the country. They challenged the assertion that the effects of marijuana are benign – with a report that connects use to a number of problems including driving accidents, psychiatric disorders and drug addiction. Prime Minister Paul Martin said last week that the government will reintroduce a marijuana bill that died in November when Parliament was prorogued. The bill would decriminalize the activity, which means people caught with small amounts would face fines rather than prison. A Victoria medical marijuana advocate says the Supreme Court made the wrong decision, and says Tuesday's ruling won't make society any safer. It's a great early Christmas present for the black market and for the criminal gangs involved in cannabis distribution because this guarantees their lock on profits for the holidays, " says Philippe Lucas of the Vancouver Island Compassion Society. Lucas says possession of small amounts of pot is bound to become a major issue in the next federal election. Source: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Published: December 23, 2003Copyright: 2003 CBCContact: letters cbc.ca Website: http://www.cbc.ca/Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmLaw Banning Possession Does Not Violate Charterhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18027.shtmlHigh Court To Rule on Minor Pot Possessionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18026.shtmlA Hazy Approach To Pot Lawhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18025.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #15 posted by CorvallisEric on December 23, 2003 at 14:55:45 PT Nuevo Mexican - comment 14 This WAS the appeal. The particular issues addressed have now been settled by the highest court of Canada, unless and until the same court (possibly with different justices) re-visits the issues again in the future. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by Nuevo Mexican on December 23, 2003 at 10:27:29 PT There is always hope, can they appeal? I would think so, unless this was the appeal.Looking to the stars for the answer:One glitch is our favor is this decision is that it was released under the most feared aspect in Astrology, (the planet of communication, written decisions, paperwork), Mercury Retrograde! Which would've been a problem if they ruled in our favor, as it would be 'reviewed' and after the predictable American backlash, and likely 'undone'. So when Mercury, the messenger is RX, it always leads re-doing, re-viewing, re-winding. Plan on it!As it is Retrograde (4 times a year, three weeks at a time)on a New Moon, the effects should be boosted, and beneficial to our case! Once a optimist, always an optimist!I was hoping the Retrograde would work in our favor in todays decision, but we will have to wait for the 'fallout'! This is not the last word on the matter.The Canadian media will trumpet this as the last word on the matter, just watch how CNN spins it: Canadian court says getting stoned is not a constitutional right! (But getting drunk, stockpiling cases of beer, whiskey, wine etc. NO PROBLEM, we're used to the deaths, violence, profits and mayhem that come from its abuse, but POT, NOOOOOOO way! Welcome to the Theatre of the Absurd!Thus a seemingly negative ruling, but upon 'review' should be found 'faulty' and reasons for an appeal should be easily found. We all know this is a wrong decision, let's wait until is disected and appealed. Unless decisions by the Supreme Court, cannot be appealed if 'they say so'.My hope was that the New Moon in Capricorn and Mercury Rx will undo this mornings terrible news, I still have hope! This decision should have plenty of 'backfire' ramifications, has laid the foundations for a better decision next time, 3 justices did vote in our favor, let's find out what they think and make it known, obviously we didn't completely lose out on this one altogether, (6-3) and it can still be turned around. The other disasterous aspect in play right now, another most 'feared' degree, which seems to be in our favor, is Uranus at the 29th degree, of Aquarius, the 'critical' degree or 'super-hero' degree. It goes one way or the other, to the 'extreme'.Everything falls apart under this degree, in effect til December 30th, not to return for 84 years! (the earthquake degree, ala Cambria, California!)I was hoping for the best, bracing for the worst, with this major aspect in play, more reason to think it will be undone. Uranus at 29 degrees Aquarius also lead me (and others here) to believe bush would raise the terror alert, as he did, before the end of the year, (partly as a distraction from the bad economic news from Christmas retailers, partly because he 'had' to, for a boost in the polls, let the media do your bidding, thats what they've been paid off to do!). Will their be an act of terrorism? I think bush is an 'act of terrorism' and everything he does puts the world and the U.S. at greater risk, thus he is the terrorist that I fear the most, but how can we fear an idiot? Cause he has the nuk-u-ler breifcase in his hands! The ultimate test of ones faith in the Universe! Carl Rove is a genius, as he knows he can count on Americans ignorance. Most Amerians are still going along with the Orwellian times we live in, (so they must deserve it, Rush Limbaugh and his following prove this is probably true)! My opinion, most Rush-listening 'Muricans are complete idiots, and I don't think anyone will argue that point!Always the optimist! Let's watch how this 'cosmic dance' plays out before we get despondent! I agree with GCW, prohibition is dead, keeping the corpse around doesn't mean it has any life in it!For the bigger picture on how easily manipulated 'Muricans are, watch todays' Democracy NOw with Amy Goodman as she exposes the fake capture of Saddam! Today, a first in the 'mainstream' media on Saddam fake capture.This show is carried on Rupert Murdochs newly aquired DISH network, channel 9415, and will probably get pulled now that he owns it, so watch it while you can folks, it is the Cannabis News of Free Speech Tv! And Amy is the FOM!www.democracynow.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Virgil on December 23, 2003 at 09:20:09 PT SCG There is no need to rush it. People have to have time to develop a feel for you, see where you are coming from, that you have knowledge, that you have conviction, and even that you have an agenda. That agenda is that we are trying to make the world a better place.Some people you will never convince. The main thing we are trying to do is wake people up. The number one thing you have to preach is that the media is herding your thoughts. I will put up something after it turns dark about the media, probably Rupert Murdoch getting his red meat from the FCC to acquire DirectTV and the fact it was not reported by the media. First, we will try to wake them. Then we will give them something to think about and give them a new vocabulary concerning laughing grass. Where people are feed the word "pot" by the media we will introduce "prohibition."There is an old Persian saying that someone might state more correctly than this.If a person knows not, and knows not that he knows not, shun him. If a person knows not, and knows he knows not, teach him.If a person knows, and knows not that he knows, wake him.If a person knows, and knows he knows, follow him.We want to teach, although shunning will have to be employed. You will have a chance for me to tell the braindead, I do not want to hear crap and do not listen to them. I am too old. I do not have time for crap.I have work to do and daylight is burning. Did you know winter started at 2:04 last night? Just can't help but teach. Don't need lessons on sentence fragments either. It is still writing. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on December 23, 2003 at 09:06:44 PT SystemGoneDown I don't know if you want to know this or not but what I think is next in Canada is perfecting their medical marijuana laws and how co-ops might work. In the medical area MMJ patients might try to perfect different strains for different ailments. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by SystemGoneDown on December 23, 2003 at 09:02:24 PT Virgil Explain how this message board works, who are we debating with here? [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by SystemGoneDown on December 23, 2003 at 09:00:38 PT I suppose I'm a victim of my surroundings... Virgil, I guess I'm coming to grips with the fact that I've been dependant on the media since I was a little kid. Now that I'm grown up, this marijuana prohibition makes me feel like I've been lied to all my life. by the media, by tv, by that stupid D.A.R.E program that was teaching us in 3rd grade. What do you guys think is the next upcoming occurences after the Canadian court ruling? [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Virgil on December 23, 2003 at 08:58:50 PT Okay, SCG, let's team up on them Here is a messageboard from the Juneau Empire newspaper messageboard. I will be here until Bush is given the mandate he has always wanted. It will be a mandate to go home, but it will be a mandate which he has always wanted.The battle is not over until the losing side quits. It will not be us pal. The prohibitionists do not have to be down to kick them. You can kick them as much as you want and hear them go stupid.http://forums.juneauempire.com/cgi-bin/bb/ultimatebb.cgi [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Virgil on December 23, 2003 at 08:48:22 PT SGD We have a revolution on our hands to overthrow those that impose this dreadful prohibition on us. It is as simple as voting them out of office.We do not keep an informed presence on the messageboards. Find a messageboard in Alaska and we will join it. Just put it up here or I will maybe later tonight. We already have enough voting power to throw everyone out that supports prohibition. We just have to make it a litmus test for the minimal acceptable definition of freedom for a voter.The battle still goes on. It is time you engage. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on December 23, 2003 at 08:26:48 PT SystemGoneDown Remember this always. A defeated army has already lost the war. I don't know where that came from but it's true. Hang on! It is going to be quite a ride! [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by SystemGoneDown on December 23, 2003 at 08:21:27 PT FoM... Man, I wish I could be as optimistic as you... It's just hard. I feel like an X-men mutant that has the power of absorbing harsh and unpleasant truths...I sure hope your right, I just don't see it.........yet. I pray I will so I can sleep better. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on December 23, 2003 at 08:19:37 PT SystemGoneDown I knew you didn't mean me or us here on CNews. This election year is going to wake many people up! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by SystemGoneDown on December 23, 2003 at 08:16:31 PT FoM not you. I'm talking about the shallow-minded Americans that elected Bush as president. The ones that are letting Dean be the front-running democratic candidate. The ones that don't think anything of the fact that Dr. Phil gets more press time than Kucinich. I'm talking about the general public that needs to wake up and smell the truth. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on December 23, 2003 at 08:07:02 PT SystemGoneDown I know I'm not a zombie and I don't think we have any zombies on CNews but America is slowly waking up. The Internet is showing all of us how what we see on the news on tv isn't the truth. Don't lose faith! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by SystemGoneDown on December 23, 2003 at 08:02:08 PT Am I wrong for thinking... ...that most Americans are zombies? An outstanding population of Americans watch news and believe every lick of it like it's true. They buy whatever's popular, they watch TV and "eat seeds as a past-time activity". They believe that marijuana is illegal, without the slightest curiosity to question it's hypocrisy. They are taught through TV, advertising, and school that the world is the way it is and your job and paycheck will define you as an individual regardless. This is my expirience as an America, my opinion, and my observations. TV, local, and national news are all censored and the term "American Pride" is indented in many Americans to believe you are unappreciative if you don't have it. Today's news will not reach mainstream America. Sadly, you all are the only place where it is a big deal. George Bush will continue to slur his speech to look like an "ordinary" American to the people. And most people will be watching Survivor, American Idol, and TRL today. Today they will come home from work or school and click on the TV for entertainment in their boring consumerhood lives. Today they will be oblivious to the Canada Supreme Court ruling. Through this blindness, is a much bigger picture of the American Way. No longer is the search for reason anywhere in the culture of the 'ordinary' American. No longer can one control their thought process. TV is required, news is required, to keep themselves updated on the world around them. But as long as TV keeps them contained and encouraged to consume, the search for reason and truth will slowly elude their minds, and we as marijuana advocates will be further from our goals. And while we may have been set back today, I have achieved a truthful outcome from this, and have reassured one thing: America is a powerful empire that has tooken human nature out of humans. Canada isn't part of America, yet there is absolutely NO QUESTION that they had a forceful influence on the decision today... This should anger me, but I'm past that. I'm alienated as an American, as a human being. Something as natural as a plant that blesses humanity as a medicine is being genocided by our government. I am no longer angry, I have a blank face, supressed emotion and no fear. If I can multiply me times whatever it takes to overthrow the powers that be, I will be liberated... [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by The GCW on December 23, 2003 at 08:02:07 PT Kucinich gets My vote & I do vote! For anyone who is just dropping by,& haven't heard: Democratic Presidential nominee, Dennis Kucinich, put in writing that as PRESIDENT He WILL: "DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA" -"in favor of a drug policy that sets reasonable boundaries for marijuana use by establishing guidelines similar to those already in place for alcohol." (POSTED ON His website!)http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17917.shtml http://www.kucinich.us/issues/marijuana_decrim.php The process demands that people register to vote and in some cases it requires that You REGISTER AS A DEMOCRAT!That gets You in the door to vote for which Democratic candidate You want to run against the Jr. Bush.You must register in advance! In Colorado for example, it requires that You Register as a Democrat and do so 30 days before the election.If this Cannadian Supreme Court news seems unacceptable, than please react, and include this aspect of Your efforts. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment