Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
Victoria Times-Colonist - Marc Emery has surrendered to authorities and will soon be in an American prison, serving up to five years for the crime of shipping marijuana seeds across the border from Canada.
His incarceration will do nothing to stem the flow of drugs -- most more hazardous than pot -- to U.S. cities and it is not likely that any Americans who bought from him would even consider themselves as his victims.
But in putting Emery behind bars, the American authorities will claim a major victory in their war on drugs. They will also have set a shining example, a warning to anyone else who might think that selling illicit drugs could be a way to vast riches at no risk.
Let's be clear: Emery should not be seen as a hero or even a marijuana martyr, as he has been dubbed. He has simply been mixing the promotion of a business -- the sale of seeds -- with single-issue politics, namely the legalization of marijuana, for many years. His in-your-face style has been a key ingredient in his success, which in turn led to his downfall.
Emery has been on the leading edge of the fight for more liberal marijuana laws. As a result, he made many friends and many enemies.
He sent copies of his catalogues to politicians. He paid taxes on his pot-seed income. He did everything he could to legitimize his business, even after being convicted in 1998 of selling pot seeds. His fine was $2,000.
But that was in Canada, where we don't worry about marijuana as much as the Americans do.
Emery's mistake -- whether it was just another way to make money, or to make a statement -- was to sell those seeds into the U.S. through the mail.
He was indicted in July 2005, along with two associates, and charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana and conspiracy to engage in money laundering. Those charges were dropped when Emery agreed to plead guilty to a charge of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana.
No matter what we think of Emery or of marijuana, this is a disturbing case.
A Canadian who did not leave Canada has been found guilty under American law and will serve time in the U.S.
In Canada, his punishment would have been a month in jail, assuming he had been arrested in the first place. ( Bear in mind that Health Canada had recommended that medical marijuana patients get their seeds from Emery. His business had a stamp of approval from the federal government. )
Yet Canadian authorities rushed to help the Americans go after Emery. As a result, he is being delivered to a U.S. prison and can be expected to serve a tough sentence.
It's acceptable to shoot her*oin in Victoria; you can even ask for a free needle. Selling marijuana seeds to someone south of the border? That's the go-to-jail card. Our attitudes toward drugs are so inconsistent that it's surprising anyone can keep them straight.
Canada had legitimate options that would have avoided this outcome. Instead, the government willing compromised sovereignty and helped bring the costly, futile U.S. war on drugs across the border.
NewsHawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Times Colonist
Contact: Letters To The Editor | Victoria Times Colonist
Website: Victoria Times Colonist - Vancouver Island breaking news, sports, arts, culture, opinion, multimedia
His incarceration will do nothing to stem the flow of drugs -- most more hazardous than pot -- to U.S. cities and it is not likely that any Americans who bought from him would even consider themselves as his victims.
But in putting Emery behind bars, the American authorities will claim a major victory in their war on drugs. They will also have set a shining example, a warning to anyone else who might think that selling illicit drugs could be a way to vast riches at no risk.
Let's be clear: Emery should not be seen as a hero or even a marijuana martyr, as he has been dubbed. He has simply been mixing the promotion of a business -- the sale of seeds -- with single-issue politics, namely the legalization of marijuana, for many years. His in-your-face style has been a key ingredient in his success, which in turn led to his downfall.
Emery has been on the leading edge of the fight for more liberal marijuana laws. As a result, he made many friends and many enemies.
He sent copies of his catalogues to politicians. He paid taxes on his pot-seed income. He did everything he could to legitimize his business, even after being convicted in 1998 of selling pot seeds. His fine was $2,000.
But that was in Canada, where we don't worry about marijuana as much as the Americans do.
Emery's mistake -- whether it was just another way to make money, or to make a statement -- was to sell those seeds into the U.S. through the mail.
He was indicted in July 2005, along with two associates, and charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana and conspiracy to engage in money laundering. Those charges were dropped when Emery agreed to plead guilty to a charge of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana.
No matter what we think of Emery or of marijuana, this is a disturbing case.
A Canadian who did not leave Canada has been found guilty under American law and will serve time in the U.S.
In Canada, his punishment would have been a month in jail, assuming he had been arrested in the first place. ( Bear in mind that Health Canada had recommended that medical marijuana patients get their seeds from Emery. His business had a stamp of approval from the federal government. )
Yet Canadian authorities rushed to help the Americans go after Emery. As a result, he is being delivered to a U.S. prison and can be expected to serve a tough sentence.
It's acceptable to shoot her*oin in Victoria; you can even ask for a free needle. Selling marijuana seeds to someone south of the border? That's the go-to-jail card. Our attitudes toward drugs are so inconsistent that it's surprising anyone can keep them straight.
Canada had legitimate options that would have avoided this outcome. Instead, the government willing compromised sovereignty and helped bring the costly, futile U.S. war on drugs across the border.
NewsHawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Times Colonist
Contact: Letters To The Editor | Victoria Times Colonist
Website: Victoria Times Colonist - Vancouver Island breaking news, sports, arts, culture, opinion, multimedia
