Urdedpal
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Marc Emery, the leader of the BC Marijuana Party, is currently facing extradition to the Unites States after being arrested in Halifax by the RCMP, in concert with the United States Drug Enforcement Agency ( DEA ). He has not been charged of any crime in Canada, but in the United States he faces 30 years to life in prison on charges of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, marijuana seeds, and to launder money.
The U.S. is afraid that support for Emery's ideas -- such as legalizing marijuana and other drugs or creating safe drug-use spaces- -- is gaining ground in the U.S., and that his continued freedom poses a threat to the criminalization of marijuana and marijuana users in that country. Their fear is certainly correct, which is why we believe Emery should be allowed to stay in Canada so he can continue his campaign.
The DEA's July 29, 2005 press release described the motives for Emery's arrest. "Today's DEA arrest of Marc Scott Emery, publisher of Cannabis Culture magazine, and the founder of a marijuana legalization group is a significant blow not only to the marijuana trafficking trade in the U.S. and Canada, but also the marijuana legalization movement," it begins, adding: "Hundreds of thousands of dollars of Emery's illicit profits are known to have been channeled to marijuana legalization groups in the United States and Canada. Drug legalization lobbyists now have one less pot of money to rely on."
Emery's extradition to the United States has become an important issue in Parliament, as some Members of Parliament believe that the DEA's arrest of Emery is a political move that infringes on Canadian sovereignty. Others believe that it is a heavy-handed attempt to get Canada to join the American war on drugs.
We believe Emery is being targeted not because of his alleged crimes, but because of his campaign against drug prohibition in Canada and the U.S. Thanks to years of activism by Emery and others, Canada has relaxed its enforcement of marijuana possession laws. Emery's fight against drug prohibition has contributed to the adoption of an extremely progressive harm-reduction policy by the Vancouver city government, including Canada's first safe-injection site -- a place where heroin users can get free, clean needles and use them on-site.
Canada must protect its citizens, and should refuse to extradite Emery. We believe, along with much of Canadian society, that marijuana and other drugs should be decriminalized. Emery's extradition would be a significant blow to the movement, and represents an attempt by the U.S. to influence Canadian drug policy, which runs counter to its own.
Emery will be speaking at McGill at 6:30 on Thursday March 23, in Leacock 132. We encourage students to show their support of him and his cause.
Pubdate: Thu, 23 Mar 2006
Source: Mcgill Daily, The (CN QU Edu)
Copyright: 2006 The Mcgill Daily
Contact: letters@mcgilldaily.com
Website: The McGill Daily
The U.S. is afraid that support for Emery's ideas -- such as legalizing marijuana and other drugs or creating safe drug-use spaces- -- is gaining ground in the U.S., and that his continued freedom poses a threat to the criminalization of marijuana and marijuana users in that country. Their fear is certainly correct, which is why we believe Emery should be allowed to stay in Canada so he can continue his campaign.
The DEA's July 29, 2005 press release described the motives for Emery's arrest. "Today's DEA arrest of Marc Scott Emery, publisher of Cannabis Culture magazine, and the founder of a marijuana legalization group is a significant blow not only to the marijuana trafficking trade in the U.S. and Canada, but also the marijuana legalization movement," it begins, adding: "Hundreds of thousands of dollars of Emery's illicit profits are known to have been channeled to marijuana legalization groups in the United States and Canada. Drug legalization lobbyists now have one less pot of money to rely on."
Emery's extradition to the United States has become an important issue in Parliament, as some Members of Parliament believe that the DEA's arrest of Emery is a political move that infringes on Canadian sovereignty. Others believe that it is a heavy-handed attempt to get Canada to join the American war on drugs.
We believe Emery is being targeted not because of his alleged crimes, but because of his campaign against drug prohibition in Canada and the U.S. Thanks to years of activism by Emery and others, Canada has relaxed its enforcement of marijuana possession laws. Emery's fight against drug prohibition has contributed to the adoption of an extremely progressive harm-reduction policy by the Vancouver city government, including Canada's first safe-injection site -- a place where heroin users can get free, clean needles and use them on-site.
Canada must protect its citizens, and should refuse to extradite Emery. We believe, along with much of Canadian society, that marijuana and other drugs should be decriminalized. Emery's extradition would be a significant blow to the movement, and represents an attempt by the U.S. to influence Canadian drug policy, which runs counter to its own.
Emery will be speaking at McGill at 6:30 on Thursday March 23, in Leacock 132. We encourage students to show their support of him and his cause.
Pubdate: Thu, 23 Mar 2006
Source: Mcgill Daily, The (CN QU Edu)
Copyright: 2006 The Mcgill Daily
Contact: letters@mcgilldaily.com
Website: The McGill Daily
