cannabisnews.com: Weedstock Seeks Northern Exposure Weedstock Seeks Northern Exposure Posted by CN Staff on June 20, 2003 at 16:11:03 PT By Aaron Nathans and Emily Dagostino Source: Capital Times Weedstock is going north of the border this summer to escape the legal runaround in Sauk County. The pro-marijuana rally will join forces with the Planetary Pride Hempfest in Ophir, Ontario, from Aug. 22 to 24. Ophir is located outside Sault Ste. Marie, just north of the Canadian border above the upper peninsula of Michigan.With Weedstock's court case still under appeal, its director, Ben Masel, said the group decided to take the event to a place where the government isn't cracking down so hard on marijuana. Under some circumstances, it is presently legal to smoke marijuana in Ontario; the law there is being re-evaluated."They still have freedom of assembly in Canada," Masel said.Sheriff's deputies stopped the 2000 Weedstock because organizers did not obtain a permit for the event in Fairfield, Wis. The Sauk County's ordinance governs open-air assemblies.Masel argues the permit process denied his right of free speech.When authorities arrived at Weedstock 2000, most attendees left without incident. However, about a dozen participants, including Masel, were arrested for contempt of court or resisting arrest.Masel contested the ordinance, and a Columbia County circuit judge ruled for Sauk County in 2002. Masel has appealed. His attorney, Jeff Scott Olson, told a state appeals court in February that the Sauk County law governing large gatherings was subjectively used to "censor" the event.Lower penalties: Canada is a more cannabis-friendly country than the United States, advocates say. The northern country's justice minister recently introduced legislation to ease its marijuana laws. Punishment for possession of the drug would be reduced to something on par with a traffic ticket, but penalties would increase for growing and trafficking the drug.The Canadian bill would not legalize or increase production of marijuana. It would, however, decrease penalties for possession of small amounts of the drug."Our message to Canadians and especially to our young people is clear: Marijuana is harmful and it will remain illegal," said Canadian Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, who introduced the legislation.Canadian Senator Pierre Claude Nolin said Canada doesn't intend for its potential new policy to clash with the United States' stricter anti-drug position.He said he hopes that it will open up the line of dialogue between the two countries on the subject.A Madison Police Department spokeswoman says it's unlikely Canada will become the next great supplier of contraband to the United States."If it has an effect, it'll be a slight one, because we're so far from Canada, actually," Officer Jennifer Krueger said. "I don't think it'll increase the amount of marijuana we see."The source of production won't switch sides, from Mexico to Canada, she said. Weed coming into Wisconsin from Canada still would have to either cross Lake Superior or enter through a bordering state.Mexican marijuana has to travel much farther, she said, but "decriminalizing and producing are two different things. With any hopes we'd see a reduction, because people would go to Canada" to smoke it.Masel has other hopes: "I'm hoping that seeing the roof not cave in in Canada will make it an easier sell."Note: Festival moves up to Canada.Source: Capital Times, The (WI)Author: Aaron Nathans and Emily DagostinoPublished: Thursday, June 19, 2003 Copyright: 2003 The Capital TimesContact: tctvoice madison.comWebsite: http://www.captimes.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Weed Stockhttp://www.weedstock.com/ Planetary Pridehttp://www.planetarypride.com/Pot Festival Draws 400 http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14373.shtmlFestival Allows Voice for Marijuana Defendershttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14370.shtmlFestival To Highlight Marijuana Legislation http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14348.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by afterburner on June 22, 2003 at 15:04:40 PT: Hempfest: Speakers, Camping, Music, A Good Vibe. Could you be loved by Bob Marley http://www.alwaysontherun.net/bob2.htm#u8SOUNDCLIP http://www.bobmarley.com/songs/ram/couldyou.ramGathering of the Healers: the Healing of the Nations http://www.rastaheart.com/rastaheart/ego transcendence folllows ego destruction, into the nature of Walt Whitman, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Thomas Jefferson. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on June 20, 2003 at 19:59:43 PT Emery story makes it to Illinois http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/strange/062003_sn_potparty.htmlThere's even a message board, where you can debate the issue with people, some of whom actually think legalization is a bad idea! Go for it, y'all! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by ekim on June 20, 2003 at 18:45:37 PT walter pee when will you tell the real story you know the one about how many US dollars are moving north. not the old one you tell about the herb moving south.---Hey Ma don't despair we are here and not going anywhere ^^ yes many died but not in vain we still have our brains. when the people of Fairfield, Wis have a chance to reflect on how much they could have made on this event will start to come together and discuss this issue. I hope that Ben will video the whole event so it can be shown on PBS and I hope Ben will Invite Denis Kucinich to instruct other Dem hopefulls on the fine art of Compassion, and the rebuilding of small farms with renewables. http://www.kucinich.us/issues/issue_10key.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by mayan on June 20, 2003 at 17:53:44 PT United States of Ignorance "They still have freedom of assembly in Canada," Masel said.The United States has gone down the tubes. Everyone who ever died in the service of this "once great" nation died in vain. America's greatest minds will migrate north...many permanently. Only sheep & swine will remain in the states. Maybe that's how the fascists want it. The United States of Ignorance is now the laughing stock of the world.The way out is the way in...German PBS Equivalent To Air 9/11 Documentary: http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0306/S00307.htmSenator Says White House Pre-Attack Briefings May Have ‘Probative Value’ as 9/11 Evidence: http://www.tomflocco.com/Senator_says_White_House_preattack.htmRift Exposed in 9/11 Terror Panel: http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/news/world/5718393.htmBush's 9/11 Coverup? http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article3830.htm9/11 Victims Families Accuse White House Of Cover Up: http://www.jihadunspun.com/intheatre_internal.php?article=62064&list=/home.php&The Truth About 9/11 From 23 Informative Websites: http://www.mycountryrightorwrong.net/23informativewebsiteson911.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by afterburner on June 20, 2003 at 16:41:47 PT: Welcome to Canada, Neighbours! Weedstock, the first of many US freedom celebrations in Canada, now that the RAVE Act is cancelling events in the USA, and cannabis possession is legal this summer in Ontario. Brothers and sisters, kick out the jams. We need you, and you need us. Help plant the seeds of freedom in Canada, and overgrow the DEA.ego transcendence follows ego destruction, watch the border, they operate under martial law, no knock, no warrant, and frisk and search. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on June 20, 2003 at 16:29:28 PT Thanks Gary I'll fix the date! I don't get Maps raw news so I got it from the web site. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Gary Storck on June 20, 2003 at 16:25:39 PT Article has wrong dates for Planetary Pride Ben accidentally gave the wrong dates to the reporter when interviewing for the article. This morning, once the article was online, I hawked it to MAP with the corrected dates, which are August 22 to 24.But nice to see the Capital Times cover cannabis again after going silent on it for awhile. Drug Policy Forum of Wisconsin [ Post Comment ] Post Comment