Pubdate: Mon, 31 Mar 2008
Source: National Post (Canada)
Webpage: http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=411251
Copyright: 2008 Southam Inc.
Contact: canada.com
Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Marc+Emery

MARC EMERY SHOULD NOT BE EXTRADITED

This editorial board has more than once presented its strongest moral
case for the Canadian government to block the extradition of Marc
Emery, the West Coast marijuana advocate who faces a possible life
sentence south of the border for operating a mail-order seed business
out of his Vancouver headquarters. It is our view that the
differences in the two countries' handling of seed vendors make
extraditing Emery a shameful abdication of judgment by the Canadian
authorities. Others have argued that (after a fair trial) he deserves
whatever punishment the Americans choose to slap him with. Some take
this view because they regard marijuana as dangerous and destructive,
others because the result of Emery's open goading of the Americans
was quite foreseeable and they find it hard to sympathize.

But now there is a fresh wrinkle in the proceedings, one that even
those most hostile to Emery's cause should be able to see the
absurdity of. Earlier this year Emery was able to arrange a plea
bargain with U.S. prosecutors that would see him accept a 10-year
sentence on their charges, of which he would serve half. Under the
deal his co-accused colleagues would go free and Emery would serve
the first 45 days of his sentence in the U.S., after which he would
be returned to Canada to finish his stretch in a more comfortable
Canadian prison.

All that was needed was the agreement of Canada's department of
justice. But last week, after a month of pessimistic media reports,
they gave a final "No." The Americans insisted on guarantees against
Emery being released before his five years was up, and such
arrangements are forbidden in Canadian law, so no Canadian judge can
order the application of such a sentence. That means Emery will have
to go ahead with the extradition proceedings that were held over in
the face of the plea-bargain, and face a possible life sentence down
south. Catch-22: because Canada is too humane and liberal to apply
the punishment that the Americans would like -- a punishment Emery
has voluntarily agreed to -- there appears to be no option but to
hand him over to the Americans without protection against much worse treatment!

It is time for the Minister of Justice to exercise his prerogative
and end an extradition farce that has become tainted with illogic as
well as inhumanity. If we have a legitimate social interest in seeing
Emery arrested, tried and imprisoned, why don't we do it ourselves?
Why was he permitted to run his business freely and openly in
Vancouver for years (a business recommended to legal users of medical
marijuana by Health Canada) and to pay hundreds of thousands of
dollars in federal and provincial taxes? How can a provision in the
criminal law be taken seriously when it's applied only upon the
urging of a foreign government?

Canadian police, conscious of the awkwardness, are in fact starting
to take belated and perhaps slightly shamefaced action against
Emery's fellow seed dealers. Earlier this month the B.C. Court of
Appeal upheld a sentence imposed on Vancouver Island vendor Daniel
Konstantin, who owned a prizewinning mail-order business advertised
in High Times magazine and had been caught with about three pounds of
seeds. Prosecutors had appealed the decision of the trial judge, who
had given Konstantin a month in jail plus probation. They thought the
sentence should have been all of 15 months. That's how seriously
Canadian justice takes this crime. And it is still a good deal more
seriously than many Canadians, presumably including the 10 million
among us who have tried marijuana at least once, would like.
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You know its really sad that the Canadian Gov won't stand up for its rights. I mean seriously think about it. How hypocritical is it for the US Gov to speak for another gov. Sure the US said they would block stuff going into or out of Canada but we need you just as well. Shit its a harmless plant. If Canada wants to be free they need to stand UP to the US Gov. Its wrong for one country to dictate another country. there's no words to explain how bad this really is. there was another guy in Canada that had a similar problem to them but i don't think it had to deal with the US, all he got was a fine and i think some jail time, he was out in months if that if he did go to jail.

CANADA STAND UP AND OUST THE US GOV!!!!

If you believe in your laws stand behind them.

We need to pressure our government to stop it, not just chide the Canadians for not standing up to our government, they don't live here, we do. Write your congressional representatives and let them know they are wrong to continue this unwarranted intrusion. VV

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http://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/53595-vv-singing-blues-seed-perpetual.html
http://www.rollitup.org/grow-room-de...p-journal.html

Michelle, I have been following this outlandish case almost from the start. I was outraged when I heard that Mark's deal had been nixed by our backwards-thinking, U.S. influenced Conservative government. I have written the justice minister twice about this and signed the 'block extradition' petition. I have also asked people to sign the petition in person, plus on other forums. I am mentioning this because it is my hope everyone else will do the same. Pressure from the Canadian people is probably the single most effective way to end this nonsense, but even though many disagree with it, few actually take the time to do anything.

Wake up everyone. This is not just about the BC3! It's about Canada, and the way we are treated by our government. It's about the ability of the U.S. to walk into Canada and enforce their laws on Canadians. It's about a lot of things and every single one of us needs to step up and do something. NOW.

If you live in Canada, make sure, make absolutely sure you NEVER VOTE FOR A CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT. Their archaic thinking about cannabis and drugs in general is a detriment to all of us. Do not vote Conservative.

As a life-long Canadian citizen, unfortunately, I have to agree with you. It is sad. It's pathetic. It's a freakin' outrage is what it is. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that something like this could happen in Canada. The Canadian people, however, are not to blame. Canada has had a long-standing tolerance for cannabis, more or less, and I doubt that anyone would ever have expected to see this group of Bush-mongering idiots that call themselves a government act like this. I, as one Canadian, am doing everything I can to change it. I have faith that other Canadians will too and we can end this ludicrous nightmare that is the Conservative government in this country.

Man, does it ever sound good to hear someone say that. You are indeed an outstanding person - no question. Thank you.

If you notice Harper has even started with that stupid BUSH grin when he's talking about hosing people with his antiquated conservative views. We in canada are in trouble if we don't get rid of the Consv. Gov. It could be worse. In canada we don't have the legal defences that are available in the US. In the past we've been the understanding uncle... Now with harper we're becoming the prick that is only intrested in his own agenda ( or in harpers case whatever Bush wants..) Harper likes it up the ass from bush, he lets bush push us around, insult us ( poor troop quality ) and make laws for US. Harper is rapidly becoming bushes lapdog..

When addressing an American 'think tank' in the states, Harper said the following: "I was asked to speak about Canadian politics. It may not be true, but it's legendary that if you're like all Americans, you know almost nothing except for your own country. Which makes you probably knowledgeable about one more country than most Canadians." He is an idiot. Somehow we've all got to pull together and get rid of this government. The Conservatives have just GOT to go.

I have felt the wrath of the U.S. government more than most people on here.That being said, who gave the BC3 a safety harness to break american laws? If he was a mexican selling tons of weed or cocaine into america, I am sure most of you would not think twice about this man. It is because he was high profile and white that the mass wants to know pick up on him as if he is some kind of folk hero that the U.S. is screwing. He broke the laws of different countries, and despite how I feel about those laws, he got caught and will pay.
He knew what he was doing when he did it.

Don't give me that crap. It's nothing to do with white, black or green. Look at the ramos & campeon case. He's a cop , shoots a mega dealer & the cop goes to jail. Dealer gets free pass to return to dealing again, and if that isn't enough he even gets caught trying to bring tons into the US. Fucking bush breaks more US & international laws than most dope dealers. So to try to put some ass(canadian) who's selling seeds ( yeah illegal ) in jail for years is a bit much, when in the US you can get shot for wearing the wrong colors... And what about all those guns being shipped to canada where it's... OH YEAH ILLEGAL JAIL SMITH & WESSON
Have a good day EH !