cannabisnews.com: U.S. Pot Users Seem Unlikely To Get Asylum





U.S. Pot Users Seem Unlikely To Get Asylum
Posted by CN Staff on July 24, 2002 at 07:57:54 PT
By Kim Lunman
Source: Globe and Mail 
Pot-smoking political asylum seekers from the United States are unlikely to receive refugee status in Canada, immigration experts said yesterday. At least three Americans living in British Columbia are arguing that they have been persecuted in their homeland because of their attempts to grow, cultivate, or use marijuana for medical purposes.But, despite a long history of Canada accepting U.S. fugitives, such as British loyalists and draft dodgers, today's marijuana fugitives will have a tough time finding a welcome north of the border.
As many as 90 Americans claim asylum in Canada each year, among them are a number who are fleeing prosecution rather than persecution.But no U.S. citizen has ever been granted refugee status in Canada -- the two cases that were initially successful were overturned on appeal -- and the cannabis cases are unlikely to make a breakthrough, said Raoul Boulakia, president of the Refugee Lawyers' Association of Ontario."I would be really surprised," he said. "The refugee board members aren't likely to be that radical. No one from the U.S. has ever been successful in Canada."The marijuana users seeking refugee status in Canada are three Californians, Steve Kubby, Ken Hayes and Renee Boje. They were embroiled in high-profile court cases in the U.S. and have made persecution allegations as a result. All three are fighting extradition orders from the U.S. to be tried on drug charges.There have been reports that hundreds of U.S. citizens have moved to Canada in recent months, after U.S. Attorney-General John Ashcroft ordered law enforcement officials to clamp down on medicinal marijuana clubs.Janet Dench, executive director of the Canadian Council for Refugees, said she doubts the persecution claims will be successful. With a report from Colin Freeze.  Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)Author: Kim LunmanPublished: Wednesday, July 24, 2002 – Print Edition, Page A7Copyright: 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/U.S. Marijuana Users Seek Canadian Havenhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13506.shtmlUS Cannabis Refugees Cross Border http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13477.shtmlPetaluma Pot Grower Seeks Asylum in Canada http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13318.shtml
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Comment #5 posted by puff_tuff on July 24, 2002 at 10:52:10 PT
Hilary Black
July 23, 2002
8:00 pm PSTCKNW Radio (Vancouver)Hilary Black is interviewed on The Agenda with David Berner.Should American marijuana refugees be welcomed to Canada?Realplayer
Scroll ahead to about 30 minutes
http://209.115.161.208/cgi/vaultfile.cgi?2-20
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Comment #4 posted by krutch on July 24, 2002 at 10:26:15 PT:
To Deny a Sick Person Medicine...
Is cruel and unusual. If a person with MS are some other disease gets well from a plant they can grow cheaply, then they are being persecuted if they are being denied access to the plant. I think Canada should grant asylum people who have a legitimate medical need for MJ. 
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Comment #3 posted by Industrial Strength on July 24, 2002 at 09:26:26 PT
It will never happen
the same way Pauly Shore wouldn't walk up to Mike Tyson and slap him across the face, Canada won't politically bitch slap the Mike Tyson of nations.
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Comment #2 posted by VitaminT on July 24, 2002 at 08:48:38 PT
Right,
and peace-loving, tolerant Canadians are'nt going to even flinch when the jackbooted marijuana pigs drag Rene Boje of to the border. They're probably just as aPATHETIC as the typical American swilling Budweiser and watching FuxNews. Seeing Rene Boje face 10 YEARS in the federal GULAG for the crime of watering a garden will be about like watching another episode of (perverted)COPS!I kind of doubt it.DEA scum-bags 
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Comment #1 posted by Dark Star on July 24, 2002 at 08:23:05 PT
Tolerance
Perhaps it is unlikely that Canada will accept official refugee status, but it would be fitting and proper if they did.All three people mentioned have serious reasons for their claims. The case for Renee Boje is especially salient, given that her prosecution was dropped and reinstituted, and was purely designed to gain leverage against Todd and Peter. She is now married to a Canadian, and has a Canadian child. God forbid that Canada would hand her over to the thuggish prison system in the USA. Should this occur, the proverbial pot will truly boil over on both sides of the border. I volunteer this moment to denounce Amerikan policy.
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