cannabisnews.com: U.S. Marijuana Users Seek Canadian Haven





U.S. Marijuana Users Seek Canadian Haven
Posted by CN Staff on July 23, 2002 at 07:37:49 PT
By Jane Armstrong
Source: Globe and Mail 
They say they're the political casualties of America's so-called war on drugs, and they want Canada's Immigration Department to make it official. Citing persecution in their homeland because of attempts to grow, cultivate or use marijuana for medical purposes, at least three Americans living in B.C. have made refugee claims to stay in Canada.
Observers say the persecution allegations made by Steve Kubby, Ken Hayes and Renee Boje, all Californians who were embroiled in high-profile court cases in the United States, could bring a flood of would-be refugees."It's a war zone down there," said Ms. Boje, an illustrator who fled Los Angeles three years ago after she was charged with growing and possessing pot with the intent to distribute it. "It's a real political war against people who are sick and people who are poor."Ms. Boje, 32, said many other Americans are hiding out in Canada, waiting to see how the refugee panel rules on these initial cases.If the claimants are successful, Ms. Boje predicted a flood of similar claims.Ms. Boje is fighting extradition to face drug charges in the United States and has launched a refugee claim in the meantime. Last year, she married a Canadian and now has a five-month-old baby. She said she never wants to return to the U.S.There have been reports that hundreds of Americans have crossed the border into Canada in recent months after U.S. Attorney-General John Ashcroft ordered clampdowns on medicinal marijuana clubs in states where voters have passed measures approving them.Particularly hard hit has been California, where Proposition 215 in 1996 allowed marijuana use with a doctor's recommendation.Mr. Hayes, of Petaluma, Calif., last year won a court case in Sonoma County, where he was acquitted of marijuana trafficking charges concerning a buyers club he co-owned.But right after his acquittal, federal drug agents began investigating the club. He faces drug-trafficking charges that could put him behind bars for life. In January, he fled to B.C. with his girlfriend and three-year-old daughter. The United States has requested his extradition.Mr. Kubby, who is a host of Pot TV, a Web site with breaking news about marijuana issues, once ran for governor of California as a Libertarian candidate. He was diagnosed with adrenal cancer in 1975 and has been smoking cannabis "heavily" since the early 1980s to curb symptoms, said Alex Stojicevic, his lawyer.Mr. Kubby was flagrant about his pot use and eventually was charged with 11 counts of possession and trafficking. He was acquitted on all but two possession charges, for which he was sentenced to four months.Mr. Kubby fled to Canada before serving his sentence to take the job with Pot TV. His refugee claim states that he smokes pot for medical reasons. The United States has requested his return also.Mr. Stojicevic, who is handling claims for Mr. Kubby and Mr. Hayes, said the U.S. government has made it clear that it does not support marijuana use for medicinal purposes. The lawyer predicted that many who use pot and who are involved in growing and cultivation will seek asylum in Canada.In the past, similar refugee claims haven't fared well, Mr. Stojicevic said. He said he knew of three or four that were successful, but were overturned by the federal court.Hilary Black, a spokeswoman for the B.C. Compassion Club Society, said Canada should accept the claims.As Canada appears to be moving toward greater liberalization of its marijuana laws, it's only logical that it should grant asylum to people who are fleeing years of imprisonment south of the border, she said.Ms. Boje likened the crackdown on marijuana users to other events in U.S. history that prompted waves of immigration to Canada, such as the Vietnam War and the slave trade."Canada has a history of protecting people in the United States from their own government," Ms. Boje said.Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)Author: Jane ArmstrongPublished: Tuesday, July 23, 2002 – Print Edition, Page A1Copyright: 2002 The Globe and Mail CompanyContact: letters globeandmail.caWebsite: http://www.globeandmail.ca/Related Articles & Web Sites:Pot-TVhttp://www.pot-tv.net/Renee Boje Home Pagehttp://www.reneeboje.com/Todd McCormickhttp://www.toddmccormick.org/The Compassion Clubhttp://www.thecompassionclub.org/US Cannabis Refugees Cross Border http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13477.shtmlFleeing North http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13400.shtmlPetaluma Pot Grower Seeks Asylum in Canada http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13318.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Post Comment