cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Laws Take Another Pounding in Ontario





Marijuana Laws Take Another Pounding in Ontario
Posted by CN Staff on January 11, 2003 at 08:33:33 PT
By Kirk Makin, Justice Reporter
Source: Globe and Mail 
Canada's marijuana laws absorbed another punishing blow yesterday when a Toronto judge concluded that the law is invalid and acquitted a man of possession.Ontario Court Judge John Moore added momentum to a string of recent court rulings that have pummelled the law, saying their combined force leads down "a common-sense path." Judge Moore endorsed a ruling by a Windsor, Ont., judge last week.
He said the government erred when it created regulations to govern medicinal marijuana without enacting them in Parliament as legislation. He said the procedure was at odds with instructions from the Ontario Court of Appeal in a 2000 ruling.Judge Moore also denied a federal request to hold off on the case against Martin Barnes until the Windsor ruling could be appealed.The chain of events signifies that as with abortion, so with marijuana: The courts are slowly, but surely, forcing Parliament to put up or shut up.The decisions have tightened a noose activists began fashioning years ago, when they realized that their best chance for marijuana reform lay with the judiciary.On Thursday, an Ontario Superior Court judge ruled that a marijuana-distribution scheme for the ill was so inaccessible as to render it unconstitutional.The same day, a judge near Ottawa acquitted ex-lawyer Rick Reimer of the rare charge of impaired driving caused by marijuana. Ontario Court Judge Bruce McPhee said he was left with reasonable doubt as to whether Mr. Reimer was impaired when police stopped him with a joint in his hand.At the same time, a major decriminalization challenge is burning a hole in the Supreme Court of Canada docket. It could be heard as early as next spring.The scenario has echoes of the battle over abortion rights, which reached its peak in a 1988 Supreme Court of Canada ruling that struck down the existing abortion-law regime.When the federal government failed in a subsequent attempt to create a new law, the abortion war was effectively over."Parliament now has a chance to either bring in a marijuana decriminalization bill or just let the laws die judicially," said Alan Young, one of several lawyers who worked on a litigation strategy.He said in an interview that he believes that the latest rulings "will be the final nail in the coffin."He predicted that if the government tries to cut its losses by setting up a truly accessible distribution scheme for the ill, it will swiftly recognize how much money can be made from marketing marijuana.Decriminalization will quickly follow, he said.Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)Author: Kirk Makin, Justice ReporterPublished: Saturday, January 11, 2003 – Page A6 Copyright: 2003 The Globe and Mail CompanyContact: letters globeandmail.caWebsite: http://www.globeandmail.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmPot Case Tossed - Edmonton Sun http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15165.shtmlAnother Court Rules Against Marijuana Laws http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15163.shtml
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on January 11, 2003 at 12:24:44 PT
Richard
Matt had me laughing! Seriously what your organization has done to bring people with dreams together is truly unbelievable. Matt has been very helpful to me when I've had problems. We need what you do so we can grow and expand and ultimately win.
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on January 11, 2003 at 12:19:13 PT
Juicy Fruit Bubblegum!
Very good show so far.They can grow them 28 feet tall if you aren't afraid of the helicopters in Texas. Too Much!
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Comment #9 posted by Richard Lake on January 11, 2003 at 12:12:53 PT:
Ooops, I forgot to add that
Dean's website is now hosted, like CNEWS, by DrugSense.Dean was having a hard time financially and asked for help. We were glad to support his website costs. Matt Elrod worked with Dean to make it happen. Indeed I believe CNEWS and Cultural-Baggage share the same webserver.Small world, isn't it.
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on January 11, 2003 at 12:11:48 PT
Very Cool Richard
I'm still listening and it is really good. I think I will have more time to learn more about what's going on now that I have a high speed connection and can do more then one thing at a time. My focus has been so centered on news which I love that I don't know much about the reform movement but am learning more each day. 
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Comment #7 posted by Richard Lake on January 11, 2003 at 12:06:24 PT:
Yes, FoM, it is the very same Dean Becker
who checked into the CNEWS chat before he had to leave home to go to the radio station. It is really great that the Houston Pacifica station gives him the air time, and web broadcasts it, too.Dean is a one person army for reform, just like you.What he has accomplished over the past few years is amazing. There are many hours of superb programs all in a low bandwith realaudio format that can be heard well even by folks using dial in modems.Richard
The Cultural Baggage Radio Show Archives
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on January 11, 2003 at 11:48:18 PT
I'm Listening Now
I never got this program before and it is good. Is the person doing the program the Dean Becker that was in the chat on CNews last night with Dr. Russo? If so that is really cool! 
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on January 11, 2003 at 11:38:09 PT
Thanks Richard
It was really good last night. I thanked Dr. Russo and he said maybe we can do it again sometime and I agree. Thank you for the link and I'll check out the program. There is nothing quite like being able to do things like we do in almost real time. People from all over the world too. I love the Internet.
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Comment #4 posted by Richard Lake on January 11, 2003 at 11:20:20 PT:
Long evening last night.
The CNEWS chat was just superb! Many more folks than I expected. The transcript will take a few days to get web ready, at least.Later last night (1 a.m. for me) was the radio show from Houston and across the net.Matt Elrod - who keeps the software going that makes CNEWS happen - was one of the folks who called in, and was perhaps the longest to talk with Boris about happenings in Canada.RichardAt 12:35 PM 1/11/03 -0600, Dean Becker wrote:Okay, for those who could not stay up late enough to catch last nights show with Boris St-Maurice, it's now online at:
http://www.cultural-baggage.com/kpft.htmJust click on the link for "LISTEN" for Jan. 10th. 
Boris is the head of the Canadian Marijuana Party, was recently acquitted of providing cannabis to medical patients and you are sure to find some good info to share from this program.
 NEXT SHOW: Buford Terrel, Professor at S. Texas College of Law.
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on January 11, 2003 at 09:58:28 PT
Thanks JSM!
I bookmarked the map and now I won't need to use the road atlas to figure out what is where in my mind.
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Comment #2 posted by jsm on January 11, 2003 at 09:49:50 PT
Canada is close
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/americas/canada_pol99.jpgCheck out this map of Canada. This is so exciting. Keep up the pressure for change. GO CANADA!!!
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Comment #1 posted by The GCW on January 11, 2003 at 09:38:25 PT
Filthy minds indulged in filthy sport is ending!
When cannabis becomes Re-legalized, will they still want My urine?Activists do not let up. Keep the pressure on full, till this monster is completely dead!The prohibitionists monster is real, and must go now!Pray to Christ God Our Father for the Truth and for others to know it too.Yo, prohibitionists mama, is going down! Cannada has Your #.CANNABIS Prohibitionists = SIN!  Filthy filthy sin. And people are utterly tired of it!
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