cannabisnews.com: Politics is Going to Pot for Cannabis Crusader





Politics is Going to Pot for Cannabis Crusader
Posted by FoM on May 09, 2000 at 13:30:50 PT
Seed seller wants to take on health minister 
Source: National Post
If Health Canada is really serious about seeking out the best marijuana -- to produce a domestic crop for medical purposes -- they should speak to Ron Hill. A very determined -- some say reckless -- pot crusader, Mr. Hill is the only person in the Toronto area who openly sells active marijuana seeds. 
"I love growing marijuana," he says. "I love how it looks, how it tastes. Love the effect. I'm always looking for a perfect 10 on the Richter scale. Too bad I've only found a 9.5." Mr. Hill has nothing but praise for Allan Rock, the Health Minister, for promoting "the legalization and decriminalization" of medical marijuana, but still wants to knock him off at the polls. In the next federal election, Mr. Hill plans on running in Mr. Rock's home riding of Etobicoke Centre as a candidate for the Marijuana Party, a single-issue group devoted to the legalization of pot. Of course, Mr. Hill's candidacy depends on whether or not he is in jail when the feds drop the writ. The manager of a hemp store called Hidden Jungle, he also runs a side business selling pot seeds online. Asked why he hasn't been busted for running this business, Mr. Hill spouts off legalese about court cases and biochemical photosynthesis. Marijuana, he explains, has been legally defined as "a plant which contains THC" -- the latter being the compound that gives pot its psychoactive kick. Pot seeds, on the other hand, don't contain any THC. Therefore, according to Mr. Hill, selling seeds is not against the law. But, said Alan Young, an Osgoode Hall Law school professor and longtime drug law activist, that's just "wishful thinking." While sterile cannabis seeds are exempt under the Criminal Code, seeds that can produce plants are an entirely different matter. "If a seed can be germinated, it's technically considered contraband. Nothing in the Criminal Code requires THC content," explains Mr. Young. Nor does being online provide a legal cover either, say police. Existing Canadian drug laws apply to cyberspace as much as they do to city streets, states Sgt. Nigel Fontaine, a media officer with the Toronto police. From their perspective, the Internet is simply just another "vehicle" -- like a telephone or car -- that can move along drug sales. That said, Mr. Hill's a lot safer selling seeds than bags of pot. "Police do not raid seed dealers very often [because] they have to take the seeds and germinate them," explains Mr. Young. "If they can't grow them, they've got no case. This takes time and money." Drug law reformers don't quite know whether they should applaud or condemn Mr. Hill's entrepreneurial activism. "I admire people who have the courage to challenge the law," says Eugene Oscapella, a lawyer with the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy, a group that favours decriminalization of pot. "On the other hand, I fear for their safety. The justice system can come down on them like a hammer."By Nate Hendley, National Post Published: May 9, 2000Copyright © Southam Inc.Related Articles & Web Sites:Canadian Foundation For Drug Policyhttp://www.cfdp.ca/B.C. To Ottawa: This Bud's for Youhttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5634.shtmlLiberals Out To Hire Marijuana Merchanthttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5633.shtmlMJ Growers Sought, Experienced Need Not Apply http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5621.shtml Search For Seed Banks:http://google.com/search?q=pot+seed+banks
END SNIP -->
Snipped
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Post Comment


Name: Optional Password: 
E-Mail: 
Subject: 
Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]
Link URL: 
Link Title: