Pubdate: Mon, 08 Aug 2005 Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB) Copyright: 2005 The Edmonton Journal Contact: http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134 Author: Bob Bell Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1243/a10.html?101188 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1239/a02.html?101188 EMERY'S EXTRADITION POSES NO THREAT TO CANADIAN SOVEREIGNTY Re: "Pot case threatens sovereignty," Letters, Aug. 4. Marc Emery's arrest in no way threatens Canadian sovereignty. He is accused of breaking U.S. law by exporting marijuana seeds to the U.S. The Americans obviously feel they have gathered enough evidence to successfully prosecute him under their laws and have presented their evidence to a Canadian court and requested he be extradited. It is my understanding that there will be a full extradition hearing here before he is sent to the U.S. to stand trial. If, as an example, a U.S. citizen broke Canadian laws, say child pornography, we would or at least could ask for his extradition from the U.S. to stand trial here. Do the letter writers think this example would be a violation of U.S. sovereignty? Canada has neither legalized nor decriminalized marijuana despite numerous commissions, surveys, etc. that indicate Canadians would be in favour of decriminalization. Does anyone remember the Le Dain Commission report of 1970 or thereabouts? I believe it recommended decriminalization but, as with anything not to do with women or gay rights, it was quickly buried. Personally, I have a great deal of respect and empathy for Emery and believe he is fighting the good fight to have marijuana legalized. But I do not believe for one minute that he did not know he was violating American laws by shipping seeds to the U.S. He is smarter than that and should have known that he was playing in the big leagues, so to speak, when he risked breaking American laws. Unlike Canada, the U.S. enforces its laws and punishes its lawbreakers. That is called justice and is as it should be; if he is found to have broken the law, he will have to answer for it. Bob Bell, High Level - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom