cannabisnews.com: Former London Hemp Activist Gets Day in Court





Former London Hemp Activist Gets Day in Court
Posted by CN Staff on December 12, 2002 at 13:41:18 PT
By Jonathan Sher, Free Press Reporter
Source: London Free Press 
A challenge to marijuana laws that began at a store on Richmond Street will be argued tomorrow before the Supreme Court of Canada. Former Londoner Chris Clay, whose downtown Hemp Nation became a beachhead for a legal offensive, gets his last chance to overturn laws upheld by two lower courts. "I've waited a long, long time for this," Clay said yesterday, moments after his plane touched down in Toronto after a flight from his British Columbia home. 
From a London store started with a government loan, Clay sold marijuana seeds and seedlings to challenge marijuana laws. Police raided the store in 1995 and in 1996 charged Clay with drug trafficking and possession. He was later convicted and fined $750 and placed on probation. At a trial in London, Clay's defence team flew in experts from across the continent who said marijuana was less addictive than caffeine and caused less impairment than over-the-counter antihistamines. Trial judge John McCart agreed marijuana was mostly harmless, but refused to strike down the law, saying the right to use marijuana was not a fundamental one and changes should be made by Parliament, not the courts. His ruling was upheld by the Ontario appeals court. Tomorrow's hearing will be heard days after Federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon said his government will likely take steps next year to decriminalize marijuana. A parliamentary committee will release a report on marijuana today that sources say recommends allowing people to grow pot for their own use. But Clay is skeptical change will come unless the courts force it. Similar promises have been broken as far back as 1970, he said. "It's just like medicinal pot -- the government has dragged its heels," he said. Now 31, Clay, once known as "hemp boy," owns a company that rents space on an Internet server for Web sites. Clay's defence team -- two Toronto lawyers -- have spent about $100,000 and have donated their services for free, Clay said. Much of that money was raised through the sale of 1,500 Second World War-style victory bonds. If Clay wins, the bonds will be redeemable for a quarter-ounce of marijuana. Clay's case is one of three marijuana-related cases the high court will consider together. The Court is not expected to announce a decision until sometime next year. But regardless of the decision, Clay has won the battle of public opinion, said one of his lawyers. "We've effectively changed public opinion in our favour," Alan Young said. Source: London Free Press (CN ON)Author: Jonathan Sher, Free Press ReporterPublished: Thursday, December 12, 2002 Copyright: 2002 The London Free Press Contact: letters lfpress.comWebsite: http://www.fyilondon.com/londonfreepress/Related Articles & Web Sites:The Compassion Clubhttp://www.thecompassionclub.org/Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmU.S. Frets Canada May Ease Marijuana Lawhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14961.shtmlLawyer Doubts Ottawa's Pot Talkhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14954.shtml
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Comment #5 posted by mayan on December 12, 2002 at 18:41:11 PT
hempcanadian...
Good luck with your medical case! I have more faith in the Canadian Supreme Court than I do Cauchon & the Parliament. I believe Cauchon is bluffing so that the court won't feel obligated to act on it's own. This issue is getting many headlines & that is a good thing. Public opinion is shifting in our favor every day. The cannabis plant(with our help) will expose the lies & corruption of our governments. The way out is the way in -White House Says Kissinger Doesn't Have to Name Clients; Mitchell Resigns From Sept. 11 Commission:
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA28TUTM9D.htmlTop 11 Lines of Inquiry (to follow to full disclosure)
9/11 Investigation:
http://www.tomflocco.com/top_11_lines_of_inquiry.htmThe 9/11 Truth Movement - Selected Resources for Researchers and Activists: http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/LEV212A.html9/11 "Conspiracies" and the Defactualisation of Analysis: http://www.mediamonitors.net/mosaddeq37.html9/11 Skeptics Unite: http://www.osamaskidneys.com/links.htmlPaul Thompson's Complete 9/11 Timeline: http://cooperativeresearch.org/completetimeline/The People's Investigation of 9/11: http://www.911pi.com/More 9/11 Links: http://www.keystonereport.com/911.htm
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on December 12, 2002 at 15:43:17 PT
hempcanadian
Keep up the good work and good luck to you. We need for your country to take the lead and maybe in time our country will follow! 
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Comment #3 posted by hempcanadian on December 12, 2002 at 15:21:20 PT:
Decrim a ploy
The gov committee was a bunch of chickens!
Their version of decrim will actually make things worse just like they did with the medical regs!
No criminal record only positive
otherwise fines are will be higher 
selling buying growing all still illegal
what a bunch of crap!
My medical case which the judge could render his verdict 
for christmas ( we are hoping) could still strike down the possession laws and do us all a favour and throw a big stinky kink into the governments dumb ass decrim idea/
The Hemp Canadian
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on December 12, 2002 at 14:56:53 PT
I Sure Will
I'm keeping my fingers crossed too!
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Comment #1 posted by Ethan Russo MD on December 12, 2002 at 14:19:06 PT:
Say a Little Prayer
He has a crack legal team. I submitted a great deal of information to the court in this case. Hopefully, they will do the right thing, and make it easy for Parliament.
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