Pubdate: Fri, 05 Aug 2005
Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB)
Copyright: 2005 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.winnipegsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503
Author: Dana Larsen
Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?196 (Emery, Marc)

DANGEROUS FIRST

Regarding U.S. efforts to extradite Marc Emery to their nation for sending 
pot seeds by mail, there is absolutely no precedent for a Canadian citizen 
to be extradited to another nation when all his actions occurred in Canada, 
even if he is exporting to other nations with different laws. It is 
important to understand that this is a unique case, and one that will set a 
precedent for the future of Canada's ability to govern its own citizens 
under its own laws.

If a human rights activist based in Canada was accused by Chinese officials 
of sending banned democratic literature to China, would our government hand 
over that Canadian citizen to China because he was sending across their 
border and so is subject to their laws?

Even if Marc Emery was sending pot seeds into America, that is a crime 
under Canadian law called exportation. It is up to Canadian officials to 
charge him for that. Under common international law, the only option for 
another nation is to pressure Canada to better enforce our own laws. U.S. 
jurisdiction does not extend into Canada when all the actions involved 
occurred in Canada.

Dana Larsen

Vancouver, B.C.

(Issue goes way beyond pot seeds.)
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom