This seriously screwed up.

[Driving Rain]

I don't like this guy but this is a seriously fuked up deal.
Canadian tax payers (you and me) will end up taking care of this guy for 5 long years to keep the Yanks happy.
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/colu ... 8d16bf6d89

January 14, 2008
VANCOUVER - Marc Emery, Vancouver's self-styled Prince of Pot, has tentatively agreed to a five-year prison term in a plea bargain over U.S. money laundering and marijuana seed-selling charges.

Facing an extradition hearing Jan. 21 and the all-but-certain prospect of delivery to American authorities, Emery has cut a deal with U.S. prosecutors to serve his sentence in Canada. He also hopes it will save his two co-accused - Michelle Rainey and Greg Williams, who were his lieutenants for so much of the past decade.

The three were arrested in August 2005 at the request of the United States and charged even though none had ventured south of the border. Since then, they have been awaiting the extradition hearing. With the proceedings about to begin, Emery says his lawyer brokered the best deal possible. If accepted by the courts in both countries, Emery said he will serve the full term and not be eligible for Canada's lenient get-out-of-jail-early rules.

"I'm going to do more time than many violent, repeat offenders," he complained. "There isn't a single victim in my case, no one who can stand up and say, 'I was hurt by Marc Emery.' No one."

He's right. Whatever else you may think of Emery - and he grates on many people, what is happening here is a travesty of justice. Emery's case mocks our independence as a country. Prosecutors in Canada have not enforced the law against selling pot seeds and all you need do is walk along Hastings Street between Homer and Cambie for proof.

There are numerous stores selling seeds and products for producing cannabis. Around the corner, you'll find more seed stores. You'll find the same shops in Toronto and in other major Canadian cities.

The last time Emery was convicted in Canada of selling pot seeds, back in 1998, he was given a $2,000 fine. Emery has flouted the law for more than a decade and every year he sends his seed catalogue to politicians of every stripe.

He has run in federal, provincial and civic elections promoting his pro-cannabis platform. He has championed legal marijuana at parliamentary hearings, on national television, at celebrity conferences, in his own magazine, Cannabis Culture, and on his own Internet channel, Pot TV.

Health Canada even recommended medical marijuana patients buy their seeds from Emery. From 1998 until his arrest, Emery even paid provincial and federal taxes as a "marijuana seed vendor" totalling nearly $600,000.

He is being hounded because of his success. The political landscape has changed dramatically as a result of Emery's politicking for cannabis. Emery challenged a law he disagrees with using exactly the non-violent, democratic processes we urge our children to embrace and of which we are so proud.

But along the way he has angered the anti-drug law-enforcement community - the same gang that insists we must continue an expensive War on Drugs that has failed miserably for more than a quarter century and does more harm than good.

Canadian police grew so frustrated that neither prosecutors nor the courts would lock up Emery and throw away the key, they urged their U.S. counterparts to do the dirty work. And that's what's wrong.

Emery is being handed over to a foreign government for an activity we are loath to prosecute because we don't think it's a major problem. His two associates were charged only as a way of blackmailing him into copping a plea.

It's a scandal.

Emery is being made a scapegoat for an anti-cannabis criminal law that is a monumental failure. In spite of all our pricey efforts during the last 40 years, and all the demonization of marijuana, there is more pot on our streets, more people smoking dope and more damage being done to our communities as a result of the prohibition.

There is a better way and every study from the 1970s Le Dain Commission onward has urged change and legalization.

Regardless of what you think of Emery, he should not be facing an unconscionably long jail term for a victimless, non-violent crime that generates a shrug in his own country. Emery is facing more jail time than corporate criminals who defrauded widows and orphans and longer incarceration than violent offenders who have left their victims dead or in wheelchairs.

And while he has long seemed to court martyrdom, Emery is by no means sanguine about what is happening. He is angry at local lawyers for failing to come up with a viable defence.

"They had two years and $90,000 and they came up with nothing," he fumed. "John Conroy called me up and said 'take the deal - Michelle will die in jail. Michelle will die in jail!' What can I say to that?"

Rainey, who has a medical exemption to smoke marijuana, has Crohn's disease. Incarceration in the U.S. would deprive her of her medicine, and she fears it could lead to her death.

"It's an ugly situation but Marc expects miracles," Kirk Tousaw, one of the lawyers involved, told me. "There aren't any here."

He's right. Our extradition law puts Canadian citizens at the mercy of foreign governments and judges can't do much about it. Emery is being forced to accept a deal because not only are two of his friends in jeopardy if he doesn't, but also to go south for an unfair trial would mean serving as much as 20 years in prison, perhaps more.

One of his friends, for example, was handed a 30-year sentence for growing 200 plants. This is wrong.

If Emery has been breaking the law and must be jailed, our justice department should charge him and prosecute him in Canada. It's time for Justice Minister Rob Nicholson to step in and say, sorry, Uncle Sam, not today - not ever.

[. ._]

Way to make a dent in the weed-seed business!

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=mar ... arch&meta=

-istp

[Dash-Ate]

I see what he means but everytime the cops bust a growop or drug ring they also find tons of stolen guns. Who wants to be caught in the crossfire of a bunch of punks in a turf war.

Outrage!!!





MORE OUTRAGE!!!!

[Dash-Ate]

Every time I see these photos I crack up.

[tellyourkidstogetarealjob]

The reporter who wrote that article, Ian Mulgrew, is an example of how ethically challenged the news media industry has become. It's pathetic to think his editor even published his drivel.

I wonder if a foreign national were to break Canadian laws openly (whether in person or online sales is irrelevant), making millions of dollars and flaunting Canadian justice, if they would defend that person's "right" to go free just as quickly. Keep in mind there's a lot of things generally repugnant to Canadians that get ignored in other cultures.

Canadian breaks foreign laws; Canadian makes millions; Canadian gets busted by foreign country; Canadian comes whining back to Canada for protection. Yes, it's a disgrace. With the money he's made illegally Canada should incarcerate him but charge him the actual cost of locking him up. After all, it's proceeds of crime. But we won't, the taxpayer will foot the bill. That's the disgrace.

[Driving Rain]

Emery even paid provincial and federal taxes as a "marijuana seed vendor" totalling nearly $600,000.

tellyourkidstogetarealjob
Maybe they (the Feds) were too happy collecting taxes, sort of becoming his partner in crime.

[Wilbur]

Tough shit for Marc Emery. Selling seeds may be defacto legal in Canada, but it's not in the US. Like many crooks, his greed got the better of him and he set himself up for a trip to the clink by expanding his dope dealing business to the south.

Lesson for would-be dope dealers - if you think the US penalties are too high, unjust, inhumane - don't sell dope there.

As for him serving his time in Canada, that may not be a done deal. US prosecutors and his lawyers may have brokered an agreement to allow him to serve his time in Canada, but the Canadian minister of justice also needs to agree. Approval of these requests is fairly exceptional.

[Hedley]

I never have been able to understand why the law
says it's ok to screw yourself up with alcohol and
tobacco, but not mary jane.

Are you somehow less dead if you kill yourself
with alcohol and tobacco? More virtuous, perhaps?

If anyone had any spine, they'd outlaw alcohol
and tobacco (fine w/me) and at least try to
appear to be consistent.

[Nark]

I agree, the author of this piece is also a tool.
He is an obvious advocate for pro/legalization of pot. What a great person to write and objective article.

While I agree it is a travesty to lock up someone for 5 years while the person next door gets less for a violent crime; why is he not advocating for the victims of those violent crimes? There is only once use for marijuana seeds.

I also agree with Hedley, outlaw alcohol and tabacco. It will save health care billions, and save countless lives. I can get over not drinking. Hell I've done it for the several months since being out here.

[Driving Rain]

Nark wrote

There is only once use for marijuana seeds.

http://www.globalhemp.com/News/2005/Apr ... seeds.html

As I stated I don't like this guy. It'll cost lots of tax payer money to lock a person up for 5 long years. The Gumitup of Canada was in bed with this guy collecting $600,000 in tax from his seed business. That's collected proceeds of crime anyway you cut it making revenue Canada a criminal organization. .... Oh never mind many of us knew that already.

[sky's the limit]

When will people start to figure out that weed is NOT a horrible thing, and people who smoke it, eat it, or sell it are NOT criminals??? Or at least they shouldn't be.

What a waste of taxpayers money, chasing and prosecuting these people. The stuff GROWS IN THE GROUND.... You want to spend money on something? How about the Crystal Meth problem??? Or maybe all the the Conrad Black's out there who are robbing people blind?

stl

[Nark]

[quote="Nark"]There is only once use for marijuana seeds[quote]

No, no I said Marijuana seeds.

I know the difference between the two.

For those who don't

[2R]

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/new ... d7&k=43803

I wonder how much time this guy will get ???

[lucky37]

Wanna know how to slap an "Organic" label on the stuff and sell it legally?

http://www.medicalmarihuana.ca/bcc.html

[taxiway_matthew]

Canada's justice system is f***ed up.
As anti-legalization of Mary Jay as I am, why do we have to spend so much time on guys like this, and people like a co-worker who's been to court 9, yes 9, times to get his probation finalized
meanwhile, murderers and druggies are running the streets and getting conditional sentences

[TheCheez]

I also agree with Hedley, outlaw alcohol and tabacco. It will save health care billions, and save countless lives. I can get over not drinking. Hell I've done it for the several months since being out here.

Sure but freedom is one of those great things about Canada and that includes having a beer and a cigar if you choose and probably should include the pot too but lets keep it progressive rather than limiting our personal freedoms.

Don't worry, HMOs will eventually conquer the US with logic like yours: Choose health insurance or vodka but not both! Yay!

[Driving Rain]

http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Columni ... 75595.html

It seems other columnist are picking up on the story.

[g5]

They should bring back the death penalty for anyone who is caught in possession of marijuana.

All executions should be done in the town center, with the persons cock and balls cut off and put in their mouth... no wait, we could have like a gladiator reality show where they would have to fight to the death live on tv.. and we could get corporate sponsorship and use the money to buy powerful taser cannons for use during public demonstrations.

[. ._]

Outlaw booze and smokes!?!?!?!

It sure has done the middle east well. (the booze part anyways) If they outlaw smokes too, man, would you see some uptight people!

Cheers!
-istp

[Hedley]

Outlaw booze and smokes?!

Consistency. Either outlaw everything that is
bad, or allow adults to make their own decisions.

[. ._]

Good point.

I say we outlaw hypocrisy.

-istp

[GilletteNorth]

The way I see it, the Americans tried to outlaw booze once, and it didn't work. Obviously Americans want their booze. But just as obviously, not everyone in the States wants marijuana. So the government, acting according to the majority drew a line and made it illegal. Some people just don't want to stay on the right side of the line so they keep selling the stuff cause it's PROFITABLE and those who smoke it don't fear flaunting the law. It's easy to get away with since most people, despite being against using marijuana, don't want to act like police against friends or neighbors and report the users. Plus they may fear retaliation from these innocent pot growers/smokers who always seem to have a stache of weapons closeby, unlike your average joe-blow citizen. So it keeps going despite most people not wanting illegal marijuana use. The issue is bigger than saying be consistent and legalize everything. There are some things regular society just doesn't want and in this case it's pot growers and users. I've known lots of people who smoked pot and sure, they were nice people and didn't harm anyone. Pretty hard to be a dickweed and report them to the police and ruin their lives for something they were doing in the privacy of their own home. But that doesn't mean I appreciated the fact they were breaking the law doing something I don't do myself.
I believe the drug laws in Canada help prevent even worse problems such as those faced by the Dutch people who legalized 'soft-drugs' and now have huge problems dealing with trafficing to other countries since most other countries take the point of view that drugs are detrimental to society and must therefore be outlawed. Before you say "alright, if everyone legalized 'soft-drugs' that wouldn't be a problem", the Dutch government also spends €130 million annually on facilities for addicts, of which about fifty percent goes to drug addicts. This indicates the government does not condone drug use and is still attempting to eradicate the problem by eliminating drug use altogether. They have been somewhat successful in this as the average age of drug users has risen to 38 years, meaning less young people are starting to use drugs. Good for the Dutch.
I'd rather go with continued anti-drug laws and harsher punishments for drug dealers. Stop letting it be profitable and they won't deal drugs. No one likes losing money.
You can get the exact same buzz you get from smoking pot by riding one of those playground merry-go-rounds, so why not get your thrills there instead?

[Sulako]

...Stop letting it be profitable and they won't deal drugs. No one likes losing money...

In Saudi Arabia you will be beheaded if you get convicted of dealing drugs, but people still do because the money is so good. So take away the money part.

Legalize it and tax it. Groups like the Hells Angels and the Rock Machine would lose a huge source of their funding, weakening them significantly. The tax revenue could go into anti-abuse programs as well as further bolstering our healthcare system. Oh, and we would spend a lot less on incarcerating non-violent 'offenders'.

[snowshoe]

sulako:
you hit the nail squarely on the head. take away the profit and a lot of the problems associated with m j with go away. i believe it would have been made non criminal and possibly even levied a tax years ago but for one little problem. unlike distillers and brewers, you don't need a large infrastructure investment to grow a few ounces of weed per year. in other words it's too easy to grow and avoid any interference from the tax man. it's easy to see the benefit in the present arrangement for the various mobs, gangs and bikers. however, one group that is hardly mentioned as benefitting from the "war" on dope are the law enforcers. that includes all that have personally gained from sale/purchase of goods and services that are needed to carry on this sham or whose career has been advanced with their participation in these operations. you name them, politicians, bureaucrats, enforcement officers, lawyers, airplane/helicopter manufacturers,sales people and operators, surveillance equipment developers and salesmen,software/hardware types,countless consultants and faceless snitches and on and on, they all have their snout in the trough. Whole bureaucratic empires and careers have been built and are being sustained on this "problem". regardless of what they feed the likes of John Q Public, many battling in the "dope" war really don't want to win it---there is just too damn much money and power to be had from continuing the fight.

[GilletteNorth]

Sulako, I said stop letting it be profitable... so you suggest

... take away the money part. Legalize it and tax it.

How will taxing it reduce it's profitability? Normal goods and services are taxed and people still make profits so taxing marijuana will not stop it being profitable to sell. You would be unable to specifically target marjuana and tax it into unprofitability as it would be challenged in our courts and ruled as unfair.