Pubdate: Mon, 23 Aug 2004
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2004 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Jodie Giesz-Ramsay
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

EMERY IS BEING HELD AS A POLITICAL PRISONER

On Aug. 19, Marc Emery was sentenced to three months in a Saskatoon prison.

In March this year, Emery had passed a joint to a supporter after a 
speaking engagement in Saskatchewan. Now, found guilty of trafficking (a 
joint!) Emery is sentenced to jail.

Provincial Court Judge Albert Lavoie said he was sending Emery to jail to 
send a message; he said Emery's crime was clearly a political act.

If it was a political act Emery has been put in jail for, then he is being 
held as a political prisoner. Is this the way the Canadian justice system 
works? Your politics and personal beliefs can result in imprisonment?

I am tremendously proud to be Canadian, but these shoddy marijuana laws and 
the blurry lines between them are not just confusing people but jailing 
them. It makes me angry and ashamed.

Marijuana law reform must be put in place and done right, and if anything 
should prove it, it's this unwarranted and outrageous incarceration of a 
peaceful, successful businessman and activist. And he is only one of thousands.

Jodie Giesz-Ramsay, Vancouver
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager