arrest
DEA Admitted Marc Emery's Arrest Was Political
The US Drug Enforcement Administration admitted on the day of Marc Emery's arrest (July 29th, 2005) that his investigation and extradition were politically motivated, designed to target the Marijuana Legalization organization that Emery spearheaded and ran for over a decade in Canada.
Here is the original text of DEA Administrator Karen Tandy's statement released on July 29th, 2005:
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 to the marijuana legalization movement. Read more »
Feds on G20's sweeping police powers: Wasn't Me!
By: Jennifer Ditchburn, The Canadian PressOTTAWA - Federal Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said Wednesday he knew nothing about the Ontario government's decision to give police in Toronto sweeping powers during the G20 summit.
Ontario ombudsman Andre Marin released a scathing report earlier this week saying Dalton McGuinty's government gave police excessive, wartime-like powers during the summit last summer.
The RCMP, which reports to Toews' department, headed up the unit that oversaw security in Toronto and at the G8 summit in Huntsville, Ont.
Toews was asked when he was made aware that the controversial Public Works Protection Act had been passed in Ontario.
NDP, students call for G20 public inquiry
By: Richard J. Brennan, Toronto StarOTTAWA –– Only a full public inquiry will get to the bottom of the overwhelming evidence of civil rights abuses at the G20 meeting in Toronto, a New Democratic MP said Monday.
Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway) told a news conference that to do otherwise is to accept Canada is becoming a police state where the toe of a cop’s boot or punch in the gut is the rule of law.
Davies said not only has it been proven that police falsified evidence to justify widespread arrests – the largest in Canadian history – they also manufactured evidence, including so-called weapons seized from completely separate incidents.
Client was growing pot for medication: lawyer
By: Derwin Gowan, Telegraph-JournalST. STEPHEN - A 21-year-old St. George man waited until the RCMP charged him with producing marijuana before seeking a licence to use it legally.
Isaac Rubin must now serve six months of house arrest while he applies to Health Canada for a medical permit to use marijuana to control pain.
Judge David Walker imposed the sentence in St. Stephen provincial court Tuesday after Rubin pleaded guilty to producing cannabis marijuana July 30 at Mascarene, contrary to section 7(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
Prison farm protesters choose trial over 'slap on the wrist'
By Laura Stone, Postmedia NewsOTTAWA — A group of protesters, which includes an 87-year-old woman, has chosen to go to trial after being arrested last summer over a demonstration on the closing of Canada's prison farms.
While the Crown offered the group of 11 Kingston-area residents a "diversion" deal that would essentially drop all charges related to an early-morning blockade last August in front of Frontenac Institution, the protesters say they will ask an Ontario court judge on Tuesday to lay the groundwork for a trial.
Medical marijuana protest at courthouse
By FIONA ISAACSON PETERBOROUGH EXAMINERAbout 20 people gathered out-side the Simcoe St. courthouse Thursday to support a medical marijuana user charged because he's still waiting for Health Canada to renew his licence.
Several said they could just as easily end up in court because they're in the same situation.
Carrying signs such as "mari-juana is medicine" and "Cops + Health Canada -Partners in Crime," the protesters said people with expired licences shouldn't be considered crimi-nals because it's not their fault Health Canada is taking a long time to renew their cards.
They also said they want to erase the stigma associated with medical marijuana.
Medical marijuana protest outside courthouse
About 20 people gathered in front of the Simcoe St. Courthouse Thursday morning to protest the arrest of a medical marijuana user whose license has expired.
Leslie Petherick has been a licensed medical marijuana user since 2009.
Many of the protesters are also waiting for their licenses to be renewed by Health Canada and said police shouldn't treat them like criminals.
Petherick appeared in court Thursday and is scheduled to return on Oct. 13.
He is charged with production of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and setting a trap likely to cause bodily harm.
Accused has expired medical marijuana card
By GALEN EAGLE , THE PETERBOROUGH EXAMINERWhen he learned police had raided his room, seized his pot and charged him with producing and possessing marijuana, Les Petherick said he was stunned.
"I didn't actually believe it. I thought I was safe as I could be," he said.
The 46-year-old has been a licensed medical marijuana user since May 2009. He's allowed to grow up to 15 marijuana plants, store 1,500 grams and possess 120 grams.
He consumes it as medication for a serious back injury that causes him constant pain.
But since his card expired in May, with each licence being good for one year, Petherick says he has been waiting nearly four months to receive a renewed card. Read more »
Police search methods come under fire
By: Betsy Powell, Toronto StarA couch, slashed and smouldering, lay upended in the tiny backyard, while inside the home household possessions were strewn on the floor after dresser drawers were dumped, shelves cleared and closets emptied.
In a May pre-trial ruling, Ontario Superior Court Justice Michael Code criticized the Toronto police officers who had executed that search warrant and concluded they had caused “deliberate and unnecessary damage” to the contents of the Driftwood Ave. townhouse unit.
Police obtained the warrant three summers ago after a confidential informant told them a resident was selling marijuana on the premises.
Canada trails in legalizing pot debate
By JOSEPH QUESNEL, For the Winnipeg SunThe federal government needs to look beyond just law enforcement as a means to combat gangs that plague Manitoba and increasingly many First Nation reserves.
Ottawa has announced it will be giving police and prosecutors enhanced powers to tackle activities such as prostitution, illegal gambling, and drug trafficking. The changes will expand the list of what is considered a serious crime in the Criminal Code. Keeping a common bawdy house (for hookers), keeping a gaming or betting house and exporting, importing and producing illegal drugs will all be added to the list of serious crimes.
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