cannabisnews.com: Canada Renews Plan To Decriminalise Pot Possession
Canada Renews Plan To Decriminalise Pot Possession
Posted by CN Staff on November 01, 2004 at 11:25:59 PT
By Reuters
Source: Reuters
Ottawa -- The Canadian government has signalled its intention to re-introduce legislation to decriminalise the possession of small amounts of marijuana.Similar legislation, which drew sharp criticism from U.S. officials and raised fears of tightened security at the Canada-U.S. border, got scuttled by the June federal election, which automatically kills all outstanding bills.
Ottawa said the new marijuana bill would be introduced on Monday afternoon. The idea is to replace criminal sanctions with fines for small amounts -- 15 grams or about half an ounce in the previous legislation.U.S. drug enforcement officials have warned that the relaxed laws could mean a surge in smuggling of potent Canadian marijuana -- it's already a business worth about C$5 billion (2.2 billion pounds) in the Pacific province of British Columbia.Opponents in both countries have also warned this could lead to longer lineups at the border because of tighter security. Canada and the United States have a trading relationship worth more than $1 billion (550 million pounds) a day.But Prime Minister Paul Martin has said he did not want young users to have criminal records that could hurt their job prospects and block entry into the United States.Canadian police have also warned that reliable tests need to be developed for marijuana-impaired driving before decriminalising the drug. To that end, the government said it was introducing a separate bill on Monday regarding drug-impaired driving.Source: Reuters (Wire)Published: November 1, 2004Copyright: 2004 Reuters CannabisNews Canada Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/Canada.shtml
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Comment #90 posted by global_warming on November 02, 2004 at 17:15:26 PT
Bedybytime
4ME..
EV"s B66, K77
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Comment #89 posted by Sukoi on November 02, 2004 at 16:36:53 PT
global warming
Wow, you certainly have a succinct way of putting things into perspective!
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Comment #88 posted by global_warming on November 02, 2004 at 16:22:15 PT
RE:84
"An alternative scenario is that Chief Justice Rehnquist resigns and that President Bush makes a recess appointment, which does not require Senate confirmation. If Bush were to appoint a new justice without Senate confirmation who then cast the deciding vote to make Bush president I fear for the future of the country."Now there is some scary stuff...but also imagine that such legal subterfuge would hasten a civilization towards its ultimate end, for if such hazy and confused decisions were considered respectable jurisprudence, then the law would no longer have respect and the social contracts that bind all mankind would be become meaningless.If the Supreme Court, missing a member, is the highest court, and if human civilization has advanced beyond some contrived semblance of evolution, then these decisions shall be respected by all mankind, both the professional and common man, and the record shall preserve these decisions, for posterity and for all mankind to respect and to observe and study, in the times of need, along with some inner hope, some intrinsic need for redemption, man shall move forward, with justice in one hand and compassion in the other.-gw
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Comment #87 posted by Sukoi on November 02, 2004 at 16:18:38 PT
Siege
Ah, Tennessee! I guess that like Texas there aren't too many people there willing to take the chance to try and make this a better country; I deal with that kind of mentality every day! All that I can say is kudos to you and the young people that helped you out!!!
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Comment #86 posted by siege on November 02, 2004 at 16:09:59 PT
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Al Gore country
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Comment #85 posted by Sukoi on November 02, 2004 at 16:07:29 PT
Siege
Boy you sure do have some guts, especially in Bush country; are you a glutton for punishment? Just kidding about the glutton for punishment part! I live in Bush country as well; Texas, where are you at?
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Comment #84 posted by Sukoi on November 02, 2004 at 16:01:16 PT
SCOTUS news on Rehnquist
FoM, it does sound/look encouraging but it's still early yet. I really think that Kerry will pull ahead - at least I hope so! What's scary is that if it's close, we may not know for days or even weeks. Here's something else that may possibly be good for MMJ but could be bad if the election is close:"SCOTUS news: Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist announced last week that he was going to return to the Supreme Court yesterday. He did not return. According to the New York Times his office released a terse statement saying that the Chief Justice spent 7 days at Bethesda Naval Hospital where he was treated for thyroid cancer. He underwent a tracheotomy so he could breathe and he is now being given both chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Medical experts say this evidence suggests that the cancer was not successfully removed and that even with heroic treatment, patients with this type of cancer usually die within a year. Should the election end up in the Supreme Court, it is not known whether Rehnquist will particpate in the case and vote on the outcome. Should he decline to participate due to ill health, the deadlock in the country might end up in a Court itself deadlocked 4-4. In such an event, the lower court ruling stands but no legal precedent is set. An alternative scenario is that Chief Justice Rehnquist resigns and that President Bush makes a recess appointment, which does not require Senate confirmation. If Bush were to appoint a new justice without Senate confirmation who then cast the deciding vote to make Bush president I fear for the future of the country. Let us hope somebody wins big today with no litigation. Do your part and vote."
http://www.electoral-vote.com/
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Comment #83 posted by siege on November 02, 2004 at 15:59:25 PT
Vote place
I just come from the Vote place here. I sat across the road with a sign on the top of the truck.
I'm tired of going to the Bushs to sh*t lets put two Johns in the white house.
And had a 42 inch Tv in the back of the truck
playing,, Peace Train,, RichManWar,,The Revolution Starts Now and W Nelson and then
MOSH this when on back to back for 10 hours. this is Bush country Ha Ha Ha some got nasty I just ask them if they had kids or grand kids if they said I SAID [[[ TO BAD THEY WILL BE COMING HOME IN BODY BAGS!!]]]
I got hit over 10 times the young people step in and stoped it. I think they young people voted for kerry by the way they talked. and I had FUN today..
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Comment #82 posted by FoM on November 02, 2004 at 15:52:04 PT
Sukoi
I'll shout out a Woo! Woo! Woo! LOL!
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Comment #81 posted by FoM on November 02, 2004 at 15:43:19 PT
global_warming
That was beautiful. As far as Alaska their polls are open until 1 I heard on the news. We should hear about Missouri first because it's only a one hour off of East Coast Time. Maybe Ann Arbor could come first. I'll be looking and I know others will be too.
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Comment #80 posted by Sukoi on November 02, 2004 at 15:38:49 PT
Predictions-n-Stuff
Zogby International's 2004 Predictions
(as of Nov. 2, 2004 5:00pm)2004 Presidential ElectionElectoral Votes:Bush 213Kerry 311http://www.zogby.com/Here’s what’s interesting; on October 23rd, Al Giordano predicted this:
"MY ELECTORAL COLLEGE PREDICTION: KERRY 310, BUSH 228"http://www.bigleftoutside.com/archives/000441.phpAwfully close predictions between Zogby and Giordano!Early exit polls: AZ CO LA PA OH FL MI NM MN WI IA NHKerry 45 48 42 60 52 51 51 50 58 52 49 57Bush 55 51 57 40 48 48 47 48 40 43 49 41"In 2000, the early numbers favored Bush. In 2002, exit polling was terribly innacurate. Exit polling also doesn't account for absentee and early ballots. And it's still early in the day. PA and MN will be much closer than these number indicate.
So please, please take with a giant grain of sand."http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/11/2/14333/4849In other news…Willits declares moratorium on marijuana dispensaries
http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/Stories/0,1413,91~3089~2508050,00.html
Pot growing on city agenda
http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/Stories/0,1413,91~3089~2508049,00.html
Alcohol Prohibition is Platform of One Presidential Candidate
http://www.jointogether.org/sa/news/summaries/reader/0,1854,575071,00.html
Trials on medicinal marijuana out soon
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3606523&thesection=news&thesubsection=general
Grits revive marijuana legislation
http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=8c9d395b-93ff-436e-9b33-56c3de0c9879
Prosecutor targets 'marijuana queen'
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11273335%255E401,00.html
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Comment #79 posted by global_warming on November 02, 2004 at 15:15:54 PT
Whats Happening In Alaska
Has anybody heard what is going on there..??Heavy turnouts indicate that Kerry is likely, yet, still no real news,...maybe America is coming to its true moral sense and compass, maybe this election is truly a referendum on the war in Iraq and many other countries on this planet..maybe when the final ballots are counted, Americans will stand up, come forward and be known for what is in their hearts and dreams, a world that can grow together towards the future.I think that Kerry is an American boy, who went to the line, and regardless of his ambivalence, much like most Americans, he will be a better leader for the American Dream, he will not sell us out to the highest bidder, he will remain an American boy.If I could utter that prayer, "God Bless America" it would be with a humble heart and mind, to ask for a blessing from God requires the supplicant to be of clean heart and soul, is my heart and soul clean, somewhere between the shadows and reality I struggle to find truth, that light that lights up the world, that love that trembles at the expectation of the revelation of the shadow that is cast by the Unknown God, the God with no name.
-gw
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Comment #78 posted by FoM on November 02, 2004 at 15:15:39 PT
afterburner
You're welcome and it looks like good news. Both Missouri and Montana early polls said they seem to be in the lead. Alaskas polls are open until 1 so we might not here until morning on Alaska but maybe we'll have an idea later tonight. I haven't found anything else yet though but am looking.
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Comment #77 posted by FoM on November 02, 2004 at 15:12:39 PT
Early Exit Polls: Kerry Leads
Early ExitKerry leads.By Jack ShaferTuesday, Nov. 2, 2004The first wave of exit-poll data reaching my desk comes from a variety of sources. In some states the sources disagree about the specific margin by which a candidate leads, but never about which candidate is out in front. Some of the confusion may stem from the mixing of morning exit-poll numbers with early afternoon numbers. With those provisos and the understanding that the early numbers are predictive of nothing without their accompanying computer model, here's what I've heard: Complete Article: http://slate.com/id/2109053/
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Comment #76 posted by afterburner on November 02, 2004 at 14:41:39 PT
Thanks, FoM
I just noticed this link at the bottom of this article:CannabisNews Canada Archives
http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/Canada.shtml D'oh! Enjoy the election results. The message I've been getting here, on CNN and from relatives is heavy voter turn-out. Hurrah! "The whole world is watching."Relaxed pot possession bill returns http://tinyurl.com/4yl97Excerpt:"The Liberals will need voting help in order to decriminalize possession of marijuana....."The Bloc Quebecois has only minor concerns with the legislation, said one party official in an indication the Liberals could find that support. "The Conservatives appeared more likely to oppose it, with the party's justice critic warning it could hurt economic ties with the United States. .... "The NDP has some concerns and will push for further loosening of the law."
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Comment #75 posted by The GCW on November 02, 2004 at 14:40:58 PT
Just hold your horses
Just hold your horsesPolitical animals of all stripes likely will wait for vote resultsBy Gabrielle Crist, Rocky Mountain News
November 2, 2004Colorado voters should not expect final race results tonight, due in large part to backlogs of absentee ballots, an expected last-minute crush of provisional ballots and high turnouts, election officials warned Monday."I would be very surprised if anybody could absolutely be declared the winner unless they have no opponent," said Adams County Clerk and Recorder Carol Snyder. "You're going to be waiting awhile" - days or even weeks, she said.Cont.http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/election/article/0,1299,DRMN_36_3297871,00.html
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Comment #74 posted by FoM on November 02, 2004 at 13:06:46 PT
MSNBC Presidential Poll
Regardless of who you have or will vote for, who do you think will be the next President of the United States? Current Results: * 415412 responses
Pres. Bush -- 32% Sen. Kerry -- 68% Please Vote: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/
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Comment #73 posted by dongenero on November 02, 2004 at 12:40:29 PT
Columbia,MO
Go Missouri!!
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Comment #72 posted by FoM on November 02, 2004 at 12:37:12 PT
afterburner
On the front page and on the right you will see NEWS TOPIC. Scroll down a little. Canada isn't there because Matt didn't add it after he made the archive. Also you can click on the icon ( medical, cannabis etc.) on any article and it will take you to that particular archive.If you want to see all the article I post if they are on the front page or archived go to: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/ then to the left on the front page and you will see Breaking News from Cannabis News. I don't do many articles that I archive only though. I haven't done any for awhile. Does this help? http://www.cannabisnews.com/
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Comment #71 posted by afterburner on November 02, 2004 at 12:28:09 PT
FoM, How Do We Get to the Archives?
Can you please post the link?
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Comment #70 posted by FoM on November 02, 2004 at 12:22:07 PT
Exit Poll on Missouri
All three initiative petition proposals in Columbia were favored by large margins in the Tribune’s survey of voters at city precincts, including a proposal that would allow the medicinal use of marijuana, favored by 66 and opposed by 18 people interviewed. A proposal to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana was favored by 58 voters, compared to 16 who opposed it.http://www.columbiatribune.com/2004/Nov/20041102News002.asp
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Comment #69 posted by FoM on November 02, 2004 at 11:50:10 PT
Druid
Yes I watched it and it was very good. I'm glad you got to see it. I am back from voting and waiting to hear how the Initiatives turn out. I figure around 8 or 9 tonight we'll know. We voted at a little Mennonite Church and it was packed. Everyone is voting even in our rural area.PS: Go Kerry! I will be so bummed out if Bush wins and Kerry loses.
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Comment #68 posted by john wayne on November 02, 2004 at 11:28:11 PT
Sam Adams
right on, right on!That's about as succinct a summary of the whole drug war strategy as I've seen.In election news, I just voted for libertarian anti-drug war fighter ex-Judge Jim Gray for Cali senate and "yes" on Oakland measure Z (legalization of cannabis).Oh, and Leonard Peltier for prez. Let's keep those poll workers busy!
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Comment #67 posted by afterburner on November 02, 2004 at 10:32:17 PT
Interesting Canadian Programs on US Election Eve
Watch for possible reruns if you can get CBC Newsworld.Title: The Passionate Eye.
Episode: A Family at War.
Description: An American family struggles to understand the U.S. mission in Iraq after losing a son in the conflict.
Showing: Date Time Channel.
11/1/2004 1:00AM CBC Newsworld.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: The Passionate Eye.
Episode: U.S. Media Blues.
Description: The role that the U.S. media will play in the Presidential election.
Showing: Date Time Channel.
11/1/2004 8:00PM CBC Newsworld.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: The Passionate Eye.
Episode: The World According to Bush.
Description: An investigation of the power base within the Bush administration.
Showing: Date Time Channel.
11/1/2004 10:00PM CBC Newsworld.
11/2/2004 1:00AM CBC Newsworld.
Best of luck cannabists (or break a leg if you are superstitious). Either way get out and VOTE NoW! Neither rain nor sleet nor snow will stay us from our appointed rounds!
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Comment #66 posted by dididadadidit on November 02, 2004 at 10:10:21 PT
Marc: On Border Threats
U.S. threats to tie up the border are hollow. The U.S., as the runaway largest energy importer in the world, imports mucho oil and gas from Canada. Shut the energy flow down and see how long the U.S. wants to play stupid border games over pique about Canadian decrim efforts.If dealing with Buschco and crowd, it would help if Canada would go nucUlar. The Bushies don't screw with countries that actually have WMD!Just in passing, the difference between Iraq and Vietnam.Busch had a plan to get out of Vietnam.Cheers?
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Comment #65 posted by Druid on November 02, 2004 at 09:49:54 PT
Unconstitutional: The War on Our Civil Liberties
Anyone else watch this on sundance last night?Scared the &#$ right out of me! I thought I new alot about the patriot act but I learned some stuff.Ashcroft is an evil evil man.Thanks for the heads up on this terrific program! I watched it twice :)
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Comment #64 posted by FoM on November 02, 2004 at 08:01:02 PT
Dongenero
Thank you! What a wonderful day this will be. I soon will go vote once I know there isn't any more news to post until later. I really like Kerry. I haven't liked a president since I was very young and John F. Kennedy was our President. Go Kerry! We need you! I hope that all the Initiatives pass and tonight will be a great victory for all of us who care.I'm proud to be an American today!!!!
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Comment #63 posted by dongenero on November 02, 2004 at 07:53:42 PT
another CNN link
Another CNN link FoM...
http://audience.cnn.com/services/cnn/memberservices/member_register.jsp?url=http%3A//www.cnn.com/pid=cnn.scorecard&source=cnnThis page allows you to register with CNN and then you can customize the results you follow. For insatnce you can set it to follow just the Presidential race and the races in your state. Then you can add in the Alaska, Montana and Oregon referendums. You can track up to 20 races/issues.
You do have to fill out their form though. Check the box not to receive their junk mail.Then all the info you are looking for is customized into one page that gets updated as results come in.
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Comment #62 posted by FoM on November 02, 2004 at 07:49:17 PT
A Little News from Montana
Initiative 148: This measure would legalize the use of marijuana for people with debilitating diseases. Polls have shown it with a substantial lead.http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041102/NEWS01/411020303/1002
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Comment #61 posted by FoM on November 02, 2004 at 07:41:48 PT
Thank You dongenero
Here's the link!http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/
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Comment #60 posted by dongenero on November 02, 2004 at 07:26:22 PT
CNN election tracking
Thought you all may be interested...
CNN has an election tracking feature you can use to follow the percentages as they are reported by the polling places. It will give you the major national races as well as your larger local races.
The cool thing is that you can select it to follow the Alaska, Montana and Oregon marijuana referendums as well.
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Comment #59 posted by potpal on November 02, 2004 at 06:58:31 PT
Daily Show
Also on live at 10 tonight...
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Comment #58 posted by goneposthole on November 02, 2004 at 06:50:43 PT
it's a joke
harassment of minority groups, a photographer being accosted by a law enforcement officer in Florida.This is a free country? What a joke. A cruel joke on Americans, to be sure.This is not an election, it's voting for more of the same of what is not really wanted at all.We're being taken for a ride.
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Comment #57 posted by 13th step on November 02, 2004 at 06:47:12 PT
Mayan
We use the scantron type machines, and have always used ball point pens for it. Unfortunately, a lot of people color in the circle so hard, they cut through the ballot!I had to ask for a pen, the lady in front of me walked off with it. Thankfully they were prepared for this, and had an unbelievably large cache of bic's on hand. There must have been a hundred boxes of pens there!
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Comment #56 posted by mayan on November 02, 2004 at 06:31:55 PT
Just Voted
We had to fill in the circles next to the candidates of our choice with felt-tipped pens. The pens weren't even tied down and some people were leaving with them. One of the election supervisors said that a ball-point pen "might" work! Unbelievable. Luckily, I live in a dark blue state!unrelated...Medical marijuana movement still faces much opposition:
http://www.dmregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041102/NEWS08/411020370/1001/NEWSSigning up in the war on pot:
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/TorontoSun/News/2004/11/02/696915.htmlThe way out is the way in...LA Citizens Grand Jury Condemns US Government Roll In 9/11 And Subsequent Cover-up:
http://rense.com/general59/9111g.htm9/11 Truth LA:
http://www.911truthla.us/
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Comment #55 posted by 13th step on November 02, 2004 at 06:13:48 PT
Totally off topic, but hey..
..Just got back from voting.It feels so good to know that my vote probably will not matter, but I did vote my conscience.I voted AGAINST the evil: John Hostettler, Evan Bayh, Bush II, and many local evils.All it did was remind me here in Indiana,we had so many uncontested elections, and many with equally bad REPUBLICRATS, that we need to be able to vote 'no confidence' or 'none of the above'. Sigh.I hope you all voted, and voted your conscience, not the lesser of two evils.MMM. Also, voter turnout was already above last time (local) and above last federal election. There were , within the first hour of voting at my precinct only, more people than voted last time.(Over 350 already!) It was the first time I had to wait in line to vote. Even in '94, when there was an anybody but Bush mentality, I didn't even wait in line.I like to see that.I hope you all have a good day.8-)
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Comment #54 posted by Sam Adams on November 02, 2004 at 04:47:56 PT
Marc
I totally sympathize with you. Apparently, the Bush Cabal regards Canada as their "bitch", not even worthy of the respect of an internal US state.What do you think the DEA offices are doing up there? Not walking the beat with cops. No, I'm sure they spend their days meeting & lobbying government officials at all levels - "This is how you do the Drug War thing, this is how you use it to gain more power, this is how you increase crime & justify more militarization of law enforcement, this is how you take away all those civil rights you always wanted to repeal....this is how you create the perfect boondoggle!"
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Comment #53 posted by Marc Paquette on November 02, 2004 at 03:23:42 PT:
BULL!
Hi my Friends;There are many states in the US that will vote for either legalization or for a better decrim than proposed in Canada.What is Washington doing against those states?Why would Canada be treated differently with such harshness and threats?We can't make our own laws without the US approval now?Long line-ups at the borders if we decriminalize?How about NO line-ups at all?What if most Canadians stopped spending their dollars in US and stopped buying American products...wouldn't that hurt them more?Canada could always divert it's market to other countries in need...like before NAFTA.At least in those days, we were an independant country...not the US puppet as it is today!Marc
http://www.medpot.net/forums
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Comment #52 posted by WolfgangWylde on November 02, 2004 at 03:02:46 PT
Canada is on the verge....
...of passing a U.S. style asset forfeiture law (all property is assumed to be "guilty", unless the owner can prove otherwise). Coupled with this decrim, its a disaster for Canadian growers.
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Comment #51 posted by Nuevo Mexican on November 02, 2004 at 02:28:35 PT
The youth will determine who wins!
As I watch Eminems new video 'Mosh' for the 4th time in 4 hours on MTVs' Rock the vote series. Perfect! And to top it all off, they are playing the Rock the Vote concert cut of Patti Smiths' 'People have the power', with Bruce, Mellencamp, Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, REMs' Michael Stipe, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Brown and many, many more, singing this powerful song whose lyrics I've posted here at C-News a year ago. You gotta see this one FOM and all, your hearts will sing, as you sing along! Talk about optimism!ON the election:
The word has gone out from 'on high', Carl Rove style, steal this election, by hook or by crook, otherwise, we're going to jail! See second article, this is happening everywhere, and will foment a revolution instantly. In the meantime, sign the pledge to hit the streets Nov. 3rd if the media helps bush commit his crime, you know they will, but this time it won't work. Because we're not asleep! Pledge of Action to Stop A Stolen Election
Stolen Election I remember the stolen presidential election of 2000 and I am willing to take action in 2004 if the election is stolen again. I support efforts to protect the right to vote leading up to and on Election Day, November 2nd. If that right is systematically violated, I pledge to join nationwide protests starting on November 3rd, either in my community, in the states where the fraud occurred or in Washington DC." Initiated By: No Stolen Election Campaign www.Nov3.us See:http://nov3.us/If young voters vote, Bush is a gonerRuben Navarrette Jr.Dallas — I've figured out a way for John Kerry to win the White House hands down: Limit voting to people under 30.
When polls examine all likely voters, most of them show President Bush maintaining a razor-thin lead over Kerry or the two men locked in a tie. But among younger voters, it's a different story. There, Kerry is beating the daylights out of Bush.In an ABC News poll of likely voters aged 18 to 29, 57 percent chose Kerry while only 38 percent lined up behind Bush. That's consistent with another recent poll of young voters conducted by a public affairs firm for Newsweek.com and The Associated Press. In that survey, Kerry led Bush 52 percent to 42 percent among likely voters under 30.http://springfield.news-leader.com/opinions/today/1101-Ifyoungvot-215511.htmlGOP demands IDs of 37,000 in city
City attorney calls new list of bad addresses 'purely political'Citing a new list of more than 37,000 questionable addresses, the state Republican Party demanded Saturday that Milwaukee city officials require identification from all of those voters Tuesday.If the city doesn't, the party says it is prepared to have volunteers challenge each individual - including thousands who might be missing an apartment number on their registration - at the polls.The move, which dramatically escalates the party's claims of bad addresses and potential fraud, was condemned by Democrats as a last-minute effort to suppress turnout in the city by creating long delays at the polls.http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/oct04/271173.aspCharges of Fraud and Voter Suppression Already Flyingn Lake County, Ohio, officials say at least a handful of voters have reported receiving a notice on phony board of elections letterhead saying that anyone who had registered through a variety of Democratic-leaning groups would not be allowed to vote this year.http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/01/politics/campaign/01voting.html
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Comment #50 posted by Nuevo Mexican on November 02, 2004 at 01:37:02 PT
The fix is in in Ohio, but the Dems are ready!
Ohio is a must-win for bush, and this is how they plan on taking it, through intimidation tactics, and scaring off first-time and minority voters. Will it work? No, it will backfire! People are willing to wait in 6 hour long lines, in the heat, the rain, the cold. Too little to late, little bushie boy! Bye, bye bushie!http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6375327/Appeals court OKs challengers at Ohio polls
Ruling a victory for GOP, which seeks to monitor voting areasA three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (news - web sites) ruled 2-1 to grant emergency stays of two federal judges' orders Monday that barred voter challengers from political parties. The judges also consolidated the two appeals, which stemmed from separate lawsuits in Cincinnati and Akron. Both cases had been appealed the 6th Circuit decision to the U.S. Supreme Court (news - web sites). It was unclear whether the high court would issue a ruling before polls opened Tuesday morning. The federal appeals court said that while it's in the public interest that registered voters cast ballots freely, there is also "strong public interest in permitting legitimate statutory processes to operate to preclude voting by those who are not entitled to vote." http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6375327/
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Comment #49 posted by dr slider on November 02, 2004 at 00:37:18 PT:
off topic
The story of C.J. Rehnquist is fascinating. It would seem, in light of his chemo and radio-therapies, that his thyroid cancer may be an anaplastic tumor. If this is so he may face the same choice many of us have...cannabis or death.
Fascinating timing indeed.64% Kerry 36% Bush (minus what third party candidates siphon off, mostly from Kerry) Just my guess.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #48 posted by afterburner on November 02, 2004 at 00:24:05 PT
Wake Up, and Go VOTE!
Drug War Rant's Voting Guide 2004
http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/stories/2004/08/01/2004VotingGuide.html***Pot Harvest Promoted At Book-Store Signing, Fri, 29 Oct 2004,
Victoria News (CN BC)
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n1556/a02.html?397***Hemp Is The Word Wed, 27 Oct 2004, Metro, The (CN MB)
http://www.weeklies.ca/metro/b.html"Mike Fata's Little Idea Has Grown Into A Million-Dollar Operation." ***PUB LTE: Pot, Booze Go Hand In Hand Fri, 29 Oct 2004, Annex Guardian (CN ON)
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n1556/a04.html?397Congratulations, Tim on your promotion. Thank you, for all your good work.***Newshawks - November 1st,
Newshawks with Pot-TV,
Running Time: 15 min
Date Entered: 01 Nov 2004
' Opening of "The Coffe Pot" - a compassion club - style coffeeshop in Montreal and interview with it's proprietor, David Mackenzie, more critcism and this time, defence of Pierre Berton's joint rolling episode in CBC, and Chappelle jokes about his "crops" with Leno. '
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Comment #47 posted by afterburner on November 01, 2004 at 23:15:34 PT
John Kerry, Do Not Forget Us, Like Paul Martin
Medical cannabis, spiritual cannabis, social cannabis: some of us are voting you into power. Do not betray our support by increasing harassment and punishments.
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Comment #46 posted by FoM on November 01, 2004 at 22:14:01 PT
A Video Message from John Kerry
Hopefully tomorrow night we will know who will be leading our country for the next four years. It has been 24 years since I voted but wind, snow, sleet or hail won't keep me away this year. Tomorrow, Americans Will Face a Choice: http://www.johnkerry.com/features/video/
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Comment #45 posted by ekim on November 01, 2004 at 21:30:30 PT
our home is our castle
thanks Druid. now the sniffer makers will have the nod we have small flashlite size here allready in the hands of leos. Comment #9 posted by Druid on November 01, 2004 at 14:52:27 PT
and the official judgement
http://www.lexum.umontreal.ca/csc-scc/en/rec/html/2004scc067.wpd.html
thanks Kapt and narcnews seems someone wants to have a lock on growing. i wonder who has done the research on the cloths that Jesus wore and if cannabis oil was used by him does it say any thing about this. seems that to map the dna of a plant would be used for good. any information should be used by farmers here to increase our job base and add to our food, energy, and fiber crops for the good of all the people of the planet. DNA Database Tracks Pot Trafficking
Posted by CN Staff on July 20, 2003 at 09:18:46 PT
By Matt Apuzzo, Associated Press Writer
Source: Associated Press Meriden, Conn. -- State forensic scientists are compiling a DNA database to track the nation's marijuana distribution network. It is built upon two principles: Genetic material does not lie, and drug dealers always grow the most potent marijuana possible.
In three years scientists at the state Forensic Science Laboratory have mapped the genetic profile of about 600 marijuana samples taken from around New England. As the database expands, scientists foresee a new way for investigators to trace the drug from grower to smoker. Using a single marijuana bud seized anywhere in the world, police would be able to quickly deduce whether a suspect is a homegrown dope dealer or part of an international cartel.The success of the DNA database hinges upon a cultivation technique drug dealers use to keep only the best, most potent marijuana on the street.Waiting for marijuana seeds to grow into plants takes too long for high-level dealers who move thousands of pounds at a time, police say. Instead dealers usually plant cuttings from their most potent plants.That results in a shorter growing period and ensures top-quality drugs in every harvest. But it also means an entire marijuana crop is comprised of just a few plants, cloned over and over. Genetically those plants are identical.An officer who makes a drug bust in Connecticut might normally have no idea, however, that the pot came from the same harvest as a load seized on a California highway.While small-scale marijuana operations are local, top-level drug cartels are international. Breaking up a basement drug business is often as easy as getting one buyer to confess. Infiltrating a major drug cartel is not so simple."It's next to impossible, unless you have a good informant, to know the size of that kind of an organization," said Sgt. Lilia Gutierrez, a narcotics officer in El Paso, Texas, where authorities in February seized 12,000 pounds of marijuana coming across the Mexican border.A few months before that bust, federal agents in San Diego, Calif., seized 10 tons of dope in what is believed to be the largest marijuana bust in history."Relatively few of the drugs that cross into San Diego remain in San Diego," said Michael Turner, special agent in charge of the city's Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office. Turner said marijuana that crosses the California border can turn up in cities like Detroit and Chicago.The database being developed in Connecticut is not nearly complete enough to begin tracking that effect. But Heather Miller Coyle, a Connecticut forensic scientist, said the state plans to request a renewal of its $340,000 federal grant early next year. If the grant continues, she hopes federal agencies will begin sending their samples for analysis."We are seeing correlations," Coyle said. "Correlations between individuals and correlations between locations."Research assistant Eric Carita is responsible for bringing the genetic signatures into a searchable database. On his computer screen each sample looks like a stock market chart, punctuated with distinct peaks and valleys.A computer program converts that plot into a long, unique string of ones and zeros. If the computer matches that number to one already in the system, the samples are identical.Officials hope the effort will pay off in the courtroom. A court case pending in Connecticut Superior Court will be the state's first attempt to get marijuana DNA admitted as evidence. Police have not laid out the details of that case, but scientists say DNA data suggests that two drug operations were actually part of one organization.Coyle said she hopes that courtroom acceptance of human DNA evidence will make it easier to introduce plant DNA data. Scientists can even print out the DNA plots from Carita's computer and show a judge or jury that two samples are identical.There are hurdles. While a genetic match can nearly guarantee that a suspect was at a crime scene, a plant DNA match does not by itself prove that two growing operations are related. When combined other evidence, however, officials hope DNA data can help eliminate reasonable doubt."If they keep cloning (pot plants), there's no way around this," Coyle said.The DNA mapping technique cannot be used to track more dangerous designer drugs like cocaine and heroin. Though both are plant-based narcotics, drug synthesis isolates the mind-altering chemicals and the organic material is eliminated.Forensic experts believe efforts like this represent the future of forensic science, which for years have been focused on the analysis of human evidence like blood, semen and hair."We don't know all of the frontiers yet," said Kenneth E. Melson, president of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the U.S. Attorney for Virginia. "As our experience and capabilities increase, forensic science can be used any number of areas we haven't even thought of yet."Not everyone is convinced that marijuana dealing should be the cutting edge of forensic science."It's a huge, monumental waste of taxpayer dollars," said Allen St. Pierre, executive director that National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Foundation.Law enforcement officials, however, believe a genetic database could give police another advantage over creative drug dealers, who have concocted some ingenious growing and trafficking techniques."Certainly, if they're able to do enough fingerprinting to tell that this load came from same field as another load, we can begin to show patterns and trends," said Turner, the federal agent."If they could do it, it'd be one more tool in the arsenal."Source: Associated Press
Author: Matt Apuzzo, Associated Press Writer
Published: Sunday, July 20, 2003
Copyright: 2003 Associated Press
http://www.thehia.org
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Comment #44 posted by FoM on November 01, 2004 at 21:03:13 PT
lombar
Why can't they talk so that people can understand what they mean? I don't like the way laws are explained because they make loopholes. It guarantees lawyers a job and the courts will be busy. How can a person possess cannabis if it isn't grown somewhere? That guarantees an illegal market and more problems. The courts need to think like they are a reasoning group of people. Reasonable people are what courts and judges and laws should be about.
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Comment #43 posted by lombar on November 01, 2004 at 20:48:26 PT
Here's a bit of the prohibition renewal bill.
5) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) is, if the subject-matter of the offence is the substance referred to in subitem 1(1) of Schedule II in an amount that is not more than one gram, guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to a fine of not more than the amount referred to in item 1 of Schedule VIII. Punishment
(5.1) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) is, if the subject-matter of the offence is the substance referred to in subitem 1(2) of Schedule II in an amount that is not more than fifteen grams, guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to a fine of not more than the amount referred to in item 2 of Schedule VIII. Punishment (5.2) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) in any of the circumstances set out in subsection (5.3) is, if the subject-matter of the offence is the substance referred to in subitem 1(1) of Schedule II in an amount that is not more than one gram or the substance referred to in subitem 1(2) of Schedule II in an amount that is not more than fifteen grams, guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to a fine of not more than the amount referred to in item 3 of Schedule VIII.
Circumstances (5.3) The circumstances referred to in subsection (5.2) are the following:
(a) the person is in possession of the substance when they operate a motor vehicle or railway equipment within the meaning of section 2 of the Criminal Code, or an aircraft or a vessel within the meaning of section 214 of that Act, when they assist in the operation of an aircraft or railway equipment, or when they have the care or control of a motor vehicle, railway equipment, an aircraft or a vessel, whether it is in motion or not;
(b) the person is in possession of the substance when they commit an indictable offence; and
(c) the person is in possession of the substance in or near a school that is attended primarily by persons under the age of eighteen years, or on or near the grounds of such a school.
Punishment (5.4) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) is, if the subject-matter of the offence is the substance referred to in subitem 1(2) of Schedule II in an amount that is more than fifteen but not more than thirty grams,
(a) guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both; or
(b) guilty of a contravention under the Contraventions Act and liable to a fine of not more than the amount referred to in item 4 of Schedule VIII. Production: (3) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) by producing cannabis (marihuana) from
(a) not more than three plants is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to a fine of not more than the amount referred to in item 5 of Schedule VIII;
(b) more than three but not more than twenty-five plants is guilty of an offence and liable,
(i) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years less a day, or
(ii) on summary conviction, to a fine of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term of not more than eighteen months, or to both;
(c) more than twenty-five but not more than fifty plants is guilty of an offence and liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term of not more than ten years; or
(d) more than fifty plants is guilty of an offence and liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term of not more than fourteen years.
(4) If the Governor in Council makes regulations under subsection 65.1(1) of the Contraventions Act with respect to a province and designates the offence referred to in paragraph (3)(a) as a contravention under paragraph 8(1)(a) of that Act, that offence shall be prosecuted in that province as a contravention by means of a ticket.(article 10) SCHEDULE VIII (Sections 4, 7 and 60) 1. $300 or, in the case of a young person, $200 2. $150 or, in the case of a young person, $100 3. $400 or, in the case of a young person, $250 4. $300 or, in the case of a young person, $200 5. $500 or, in the case of a young person, $250 In this Schedule, “young person” means a person who, at the time the offence is committed, is or, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, appears to be twelve years of age or more but under eighteen years of age.
------------------------------------------------------I clipped out the relevant sections. The full text of it may be had:
http://www.parl.gc.ca/38/1/parlbus/chambus/house/bills/government/C-17/C-17_1/C-17.html
Note section (5) They can give a person up to a $300 fine for ONE JOINT! Then it is only a $400 fine for one to fifteen grams. I believe that passing a joint still constitutes trafficking and is subject to much higher penalties. It also does not address what happens if you cannot pay the fines. Decrim if you can pay, jail if you can't, boy what an improvement. Drug laws already target the poor disproportiantely. Nothing new here.Three plants can net you a fine of $500. 3 to 25 plants can land you in the klink for 5 years less a day OR 18 months and a $25,000 fine. 25 to 50 plants can get you 10 years, and over 50 may cost 14 years of your life. There is no differentiation between fully grown plants or clippings so a tray of clones could potentially see you in jail for ten to fourteen years. I am not a lawyer so I cannot really interpret this stuff but I do not believe I deserve to be punished at ALL. Growing plants and smoking a herb DOES NOT HARM SOCIETY or anyone in it. If they pass this horrid bill, parliament will not address this issue again for another 30 years. This bill solves no problems EXCEPT those of the police and the courts. Judges may be inclined to hand out harsher sentences for growing.They must have decided that they can simultaneously tax cannabis users, STEAL growers properties, AND maintain the high price of cannabis to keep the criminal gangs happy. This bill coupled with the supreme courts decision to allow infrared surveilence adds up to a major crackdown shaping up. They went from the senate advocating legalisation, to a parlimentary committee that wanted decrim to this lame-duck bill which basically changes nothing. It is still a crime, you can still go to jail for a herb. This is a defeat for us, not a win...
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Comment #42 posted by FoM on November 01, 2004 at 19:40:49 PT
The Poll Is Really Going Up Fast
Regardless of who you voted for, who do you think will be the next President of the United States? Current Results: * 8238 responses Pres. Bush -- 30% Sen. Kerry -- 70% http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/
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Comment #41 posted by FoM on November 01, 2004 at 19:37:29 PT
CorvallisEric
I sure like your predictions too. I checked out the link and it went woo right over the top of my head!
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Comment #40 posted by FoM on November 01, 2004 at 19:29:17 PT
New MSNBC Presidential Poll
Regardless of who you voted for, who do you think will be the next President of the United States? Current Results: 4956 responses Pres. Bush -- 35% Sen. Kerry -- 65% http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/
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Comment #39 posted by Sukoi on November 01, 2004 at 19:28:48 PT
CorvallisEric
Well I hope that my prediction about Kerry comes true but if your does then that would be just fine by me! I guess that we'll find out soon!!!
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Comment #38 posted by CorvallisEric on November 01, 2004 at 19:21:00 PT
My predictions
OK, y'all started this, so ...Big win in Montana and the local stuff in Mass. and Calif. Probably also win Ann Arbor. I somehow feel hopeful (that's one step below confident) about Kerry for various reasons (especially cell-phone-only voters who weren't counted in the major polls) but doubtful about a landslide. If he wins, I'll be so happy I won't care about the issues I haven't mentioned.Hey, FoM, how about "f0m"? (that's a zero if your browser doesn't display it distincly). Then you can be 23 again (or maybe 14) and a l33t h4x0r ;) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leet
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Comment #37 posted by Sukoi on November 01, 2004 at 19:12:54 PT
Hope
Thank you; that means a lot to me and I really appreciate it! I'm normally not very vocal (as far as writing goes) but I'm glad that you can see through that!
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Comment #36 posted by Hope on November 01, 2004 at 18:53:39 PT
Sukoi
You are an intelligent and energetic activist. I could see that from your very first posts. You're full of fire and intelligent to boot. You're a great asset for our side.Your sweet humility is admirable, too. It provides much firmer footing for life's paths than arrogance.
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Comment #35 posted by siege on November 01, 2004 at 18:25:07 PT
checks
every one gets it sent to the bank there no home delivery of these checks.
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Comment #34 posted by mayan on November 01, 2004 at 18:19:37 PT
Weird Timing
The timing is curious, isn't it? Here are some related & unrelated links...Liberals unveil pot bill for second time
http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pageID=cbc/canada_home&articleID=1755145Now, if Supporters Can Just Remember to Vote:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=6675259State voting to legalize marijuana:
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/11/01/state_voting_to_legalize_marijuana/State Marijuana Crop Nearly Eradicated - Methamphetamine Production Taking Place Of Pot Growing:
http://www.channeloklahoma.com/news/3879407/detail.htmlThe way out is the way in...On Election Eve, 9/11 Doubters Surface:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=202754&page=1RE-OPEN 9/11:
http://reopen911.org/Trade Towers Rescue Hero Files 9/11 RICO Suit - Bush & Company Slammed With Another 9/11 Lawsuit:
http://www.americanfreepress.net/html/trade_towers_rescue.htmlToward a New Criminal Investigation into the Events of September 11, 2001:
http://www.justicefor911.org/
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Comment #33 posted by FoM on November 01, 2004 at 18:07:18 PT
siege
Could it be because of elections messing the mail up? I hope someone can help you. Hopefully your check will come tomorrow.
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Comment #32 posted by FoM on November 01, 2004 at 18:04:09 PT
Sukoi
Don't feel dumb! You now look like you grew up! LOL!siege, I don't get any thing from the government so I don't know.
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Comment #31 posted by siege on November 01, 2004 at 18:01:05 PT
OFF TOPIC SOCIAL SECURITY
NO ONE IN THIS TOWN GOT THERE [[[SOCIAL SECURITY]]] OR [[[SSI]]] OR [[[VA]]] CHECKS TODAY! DID ANY ONE GET THERE MONEY FROM THE GOV'T. THIS REALLY SUCKS AND THE BANK SAID THEY DON'T KNOW..
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Comment #30 posted by Sukoi on November 01, 2004 at 17:52:01 PT
It Works -
Boy do I feel stupid!!!
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Comment #29 posted by Sukoi on November 01, 2004 at 17:50:38 PT
FoM
I'll see if it works, I've never tried it here but on other sites no matter if you use upper or lower case, it always displays your original user name; thanks anyway:)
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Comment #28 posted by FoM on November 01, 2004 at 17:28:25 PT
Yuk
Boy did that look dumb! LOL!
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Comment #27 posted by fOm on November 01, 2004 at 17:26:56 PT
test
Just a test.
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Comment #26 posted by FoM on November 01, 2004 at 17:24:59 PT
Sukoi
Have you ever tried using a capital letter? Give it a try and if you can't I'll try to change it for you. You shouldn't need to feel like a lower case person! We all are smart and equal. No one is better then another in my opinion.
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Comment #25 posted by sukoi on November 01, 2004 at 17:19:07 PT
FoM
I'm watching it now, thanks!!! This may sound trivial but when I first signed up to CNews I was humbled by all of the great people here so I used a lower case "s" in my user name. I'm still humbled but I think that I have earned an upper case "S", can you change that for me? I know that this sounds stupid but I really felt/feel that way, humor me!
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Comment #24 posted by FoM on November 01, 2004 at 17:07:24 PT
Sukoi
This is on now and we bought the DVD and saw it before and it is really good. I hope you get to see it.Uncovered: The Whole Truth About The Iraq War
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Comment #23 posted by Sukoi on November 01, 2004 at 17:00:35 PT
Thanks FoM
I found it!!!
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Comment #22 posted by FoM on November 01, 2004 at 16:32:06 PT
Ssaturday Night Live Special Information
10/9pm Monday, November 1SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE PRESIDENTIAL BASH 2004 On the eve of the election, SNL goes primetime with a one-hour special celebrating its long history of political satire. Featured clips include Darrell Hammond as President Clinton and Vice President Dick Cheney Seth Meyers as Senator John Kerry and Will Forte as President George W. Bush.http://www.nbc.com/nbc/Movies_&_Specials/
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on November 01, 2004 at 16:23:18 PT
sukoi
Channel 549.http://www.sundancechannel.com/08:00 PM Uncovered: The Whole Truth About The Iraq War
directed by Robert Greenwald 09:00 PM Unconstitutional: The War on Our Civil Liberties
directed by Nonny de la Pena 10:10 PM Bush's Brain
directed by Michael Paradies Shoob and Joseph Mealey
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Comment #20 posted by sukoi on November 01, 2004 at 16:09:58 PT
Sundance
FoM what channel is that on Direct TV?
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Comment #19 posted by FoM on November 01, 2004 at 16:07:16 PT
sukoi
I know but it made me smile! You could very well be way more accurate then the polls have been. I think Kerry will win with a landslide too. I hope all the Initiatives pass. That would make my day when night comes tomorrow and we know. Tonight a special edition of SNL on elections at 10. That should be good and the Sundance Channel is showing some good movies tonight.
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Comment #18 posted by sukoi on November 01, 2004 at 15:57:09 PT
FoM
Not a "pollster", just a gut feeling but let's just hope that I'm right!!!
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on November 01, 2004 at 15:47:40 PT
sukoi
You're my kind of pollster! LOL!
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Comment #16 posted by goneposthole on November 01, 2004 at 15:44:08 PT
250 billion dollars per year
trading agreement between the US and Canada.A surge in BC bud cannabis smuggling over the border into the United States is going to threaten that agreement? I don't think so.How can there possibly be anymore BC bud getting into the US than there already is? Cannabis is everywhere you go from coast to coast. I guess there is room for more. :o)
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Comment #15 posted by sukoi on November 01, 2004 at 15:40:30 PT
For What It's Worth
Although I’m no psychic, I have some predictions just based on a “gut feeling” and nothing else:The current polls will not be accurate; voters that haven’t been reached for polling will come out in masses.All of the MMJ initiatives will pass by a fairly large margin.The Alaska legalization initiative will pass by a slim margin.Kerry will win by a landslide – electoral votes of 300 or more.Well that’s what I think and I hope that I’m right; I guess that we’ll find out soon!
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on November 01, 2004 at 15:24:10 PT
cloud7
It sure would. We have three big Initiatives tomorrow and a few smaller ones but Alaska is the most important to me. It would finally allow the sale and growing of this wonderful plant. It would bring Cannabis into the open and then people will see that it isn't a demon weed like it has been made out to be. Cannabis at least in one state would be re-legalized and could blaze a trail for everyone.
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Comment #13 posted by dongenero on November 01, 2004 at 15:21:54 PT
Walters' doesn't know what to think
Hey said he supported decriminalization for the city of Chicago!Hell, the guy has zero credibility. Likewise for his entire organization. He may dupe a few like minded citizens but that's about it.
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Comment #12 posted by cloud7 on November 01, 2004 at 15:15:49 PT
"Will It Matter if Alaska Legalizes Tomorrow?"
Well, it will at least make the drug czar look sillier every time he goes to preach to Canadians why they are wrong to decriminalize.
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on November 01, 2004 at 15:01:57 PT
Will It Matter if Alaska Legalizes Tomorrow?
If we win in Alaska tomorrow could it influence Canada? If Kerry wins too. Just a thought.
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Comment #10 posted by sukoi on November 01, 2004 at 14:57:52 PT
Some Stuff
Supervisor's turnaround on pot clubs
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/11/01/BAG6M9JR6U1.DTL
Cannabinoid Research Gains Interest, Respect
http://www.jointogether.org/sa/news/summaries/reader/0,1854,575065,00.htmlHEMP SIGN BRINGS FINE FOR MASEL
http://www.mapinc.org/norml/v04/n1545/a06.htm HEMP IS THE WORD
http://www.mapinc.org/norml/v04/n1552/a06.htm
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Comment #9 posted by Druid on November 01, 2004 at 14:52:27 PT
and the official judgement
http://www.lexum.umontreal.ca/csc-scc/en/rec/html/2004scc067.wpd.html
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Comment #8 posted by Druid on November 01, 2004 at 14:45:04 PT
Bad News for Growers in Canada
Did you all see this yet?*******************
Top court frees police to use infrared devices
Finding marijuana grow-ops through thermal equipment acceptable, judges rule
By KIRK MAKIN
JUSTICE REPORTER
Saturday, October 30, 2004 - Page A12
E-mail this Article E-mail this Article
Print this Article Print this Article
AdvertisementThe Supreme Court of Canada put marijuana enforcement ahead of privacy yesterday, freeing police to use sophisticated heat-detection equipment to ferret out indoor growing operations.The 7-0 decision reversed an Ontario Court of Appeal ruling that had urged a more liberal attitude toward marijuana and the right to be free of unfair search and seizure.It provided a jolting welcome to the Supreme Court for newly appointed Madam Justice Rosalie Abella, author of the lower-court ruling her new colleagues unanimously overturned."The community wants privacy, but it also insists on protection," Mr. Justice Ian Binnie wrote. "Safety, security and the suppression of crime are legitimate countervailing concerns."In the finding, which runs counter to a 2001 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Judge Binnie restored an 18-month sentence for marijuana trafficking and weapon-possession convictions against Walter Tessling.The Windsor handyman's hydroponic marijuana operation was detected by police flying overhead with thermal infrared equipment.Peter Zaduk, a Toronto lawyer who has defended scores of grow-op charges, predicted that police forces will silently rejoice. "I can see them systematically flying over whole neighbourhoods," he said. "Their mindset is that marijuana grow houses are an epidemic. They are obsessed with the idea of them being on every block."I can really see there being a big impetus to buy helicopters and put everybody's house under surveillance, including those in Rockcliffe [a tony Ottawa district], where Supreme Court judges live."Constitutional expert Mahmud Jamal praised the ruling as forging "a distinctly Canadian balance between privacy and protection."One cannot help but notice that Judge Binnie wrote all three Charter rulings released this week, all were unanimous, and in all he sided with the government," Mr. Jamal said."Clearly, he is now an intellectual leader of the court, and has already built a legacy as one of the great Supreme Court justices of our time."The Tessling case turned on a tricky legal point: Is heat produced inside the home entitled to a high level of privacy after it seeps into the outside world?Led by Judge Abella, the Ontario Court of Appeal panel reasoned that escaping heat is a product of activity taking place inside the home -- and that an individual's home is rightly viewed as his castle.She also noted that a growing consensus that marijuana is not a particularly harmful drug makes the idea of tossing out illegally gained evidence more palatable.However, Judge Binnie said the expectation of privacy enjoyed by a marijuana cultivator does not compare with that which an average citizen has for his body or home."Few people think to conceal their home's heat-loss profile, and would have difficulty doing so if they tried," he said. "Living as he does in a land of melting snow and spotty home insulation, I do not believe that the respondent had a serious privacy interest in the heat patterns on the exposed external walls of his home."-------------snip------------
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20041030/MARIJUANA30/TPNational/Canada
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Comment #7 posted by Hope on November 01, 2004 at 14:13:53 PT
Rastafarian faith on Federal land
Rastafarians ought to consider having a freedom convention or something.
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on November 01, 2004 at 13:17:18 PT
afterburner
If this new bill would be similar to Ohios law it would be a good beginning.
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Comment #5 posted by afterburner on November 01, 2004 at 13:15:16 PT
Cannabis Qty Limit Needs US Compliance, OH 100g
Time for some Gandhi-style civil disobedience if the new bill repeats the mistakes of the past; and for those Friends of the Movement: We are Willing to Participate in the Policy Discussions to Help find Productive, Humane and and Profitable Solutions.And for those living in the USA: don't forget it is legal to practice Rastafarian faith on Federal land.
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Comment #4 posted by Commonsense on November 01, 2004 at 13:06:19 PT
lombar
I think that technically this would be considered decriminalization of marijuana possession because they are talking about removing the criminal penalties for possession. The problem is that the word "decriminalization" means different things to different people. For the average person out there it seems to have the same meaning as the word "legalization." Some use it to mean removing all forms of criminal sanctions for possession but not allowing sales. For others including the Canadian government it appears it means removing criminal sanctions for possession (but not sales or production) and instead imposing civil penalties for possession which are generally fines that are no different than fines imposed as criminal sanctions, but there is no criminal record. The word is also often used when all that is be done is that the criminal penalties are being lowered, as happened in most of those states over the years that had at one time classified simple possession of a small amount of marijuana as a felony. It's really become a fairly useless word.During alcohol prohibition simple possession of alcohol was actually legal at least under federal law. It wasn't "decriminalized" because there were no criminal penalties to remove. The ban was only against production and sales of alcohol. The laws in the states varied but under federal law you wouldn't even be fined if you were caught with a little bit of booze. In my book, marijuana possession would be "decriminalized" if our pot laws were like that. The next step up would be legalization where marijuana possession, production, and sales would be regulated similar to the way we regulate alcohol today.
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Comment #3 posted by lombar on November 01, 2004 at 12:18:25 PT
It is NOT decriminalization.
The old bill is a renewal of prohibition. Sentences for producing cannabis are to be doubled, repeat 'offenders' are to be forced into treatment. Nothing short of a legalized regulated environment will end the real problems associated with cannabis and its prohibition. It is just being read to the House for the first time, perhaps we can see the content of it now. If it is just the old bill from the previous Parliment then it deserves to be opposed.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on November 01, 2004 at 12:03:34 PT
Excerpt: U.S. Election Will Have Impact on Canada
Times & Transcript StaffThe outcome of tomorrow's U.S. presidential election will have huge trade, military and social policy implications for Canada but the important debate on those ideas has been clouded over by the fog of war.Major decisions are looming in the war on terrorism, continental missile defence, the softwood lumber dispute as well as drug policies.And whether Republican President George W. Bush is re-elected or Democrat Sen. John Kerry triumphs will undoubtedly shape how Canadians move forward on several important files.SnipOne area that could potentially create a rift in relations between the two countries is the liberalization of Canada's drug laws, such as the decriminalization of marijuana and safe injection sites.Narine said no president wants to appear to be soft on drugs but where Kerry would be different is that a Democratic White House would be less antagonistic."On the drug front, there is no question the American objections to drug policy have a significant impact on us in Canada. Ideas like safe injection sites were delayed or have a much more difficult time making progress simply because of pressure in the United States," Narine said.http://canadaeast.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041101/TTEBRIEF/311010078/-1/FRONTPAGE
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on November 01, 2004 at 11:55:58 PT
Very Interesting Timing
I don't know if this will be better or worse then the last Bill that didn't make it but the timing is very interesting.
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