cannabisnews.com: Appeal Clouds Grits' Pot Stand





Appeal Clouds Grits' Pot Stand
Posted by CN Staff on January 04, 2003 at 07:44:06 PT
By Janice Tibbetts, Calgary Herald 
Source: Calgary Herald 
Canada's hazy position on marijuana grew foggier Friday when the federal government said it will fight a court ruling that permits pot smoking just as the Justice Department is making plans to decriminalize simple possession.The government, already reprimanded by the Supreme Court of Canada for its mixed messages, rushed to file an appeal of a court decision this week that threw out a possession charge against a 16-year-old boy from Windsor, Ont.
Federal lawyer Jim Leising also instructed Ontario Crown prosecutors to suspend all marijuana trials in which people want to use the court ruling as a defence.Police are still expected to lay charges against people caught with marijuana.The landmark ruling effectively legalized marijuana possession on the technical grounds that the federal government did not fill a void created by an earlier judgment."Our hope is that this appeal will go quickly because it is in the public interest that this occurs," said Leising.The expedited notice was filed in the Superior Court of Justice in Windsor, Ont., and the government hopes the case will be heard within 30 days.Brian McAllister, the lawyer for the unidentified 16-year-old boy, said that the appeal makes him suspicious about Justice Minister Martin Cauchon's stated intention to introduce legislation by April to decriminalize marijuana."It makes you wonder," said McAllister, who called on Ottawa to clarify its position."It seems like every time there's a court challenge to marijuana laws, there's rumblings out of Parliament about decriminalization and it's almost as though they're trying to influence the courts."Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/acg.htm Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)Author: Janice Tibbetts, Calgary Herald Published: Saturday, January 04, 2003Copyright: 2003 Calgary HeraldContact: letters theherald.southam.caWebsite: http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmOttawa Appealing Pot Possession Verdict http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15106.shtmlCrown Appeals Ontario Marijuana Ruling http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15104.shtmlPot Possession Not Illegal, Judge Ruleshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15099.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Post Comment