MAPTalk-Digest Tuesday, December 23 2003 Volume 03 : Number 286
001 !!!!! A Repressive Embarrassment
From: Peter Webster <>
002 Message from Todd McCormick (fwd)
From: Tim Meehan <>
003 Canada: Master McTeague's Mulligan
From: Tim Meehan <>
004 McGill marijuana study underway
From: Tim Meehan <>
005 Top court set to rule on pot laws
From: Tim Meehan <>
006 High court to rule on minor pot possession
From: Tim Meehan <>
007 SUPREME COURT MAKES POT LAW ELECTION ISSUE
From: Tim Meehan <>
008 Canada: Web: Supreme Court Upholds Marijuana Law
From: Richard Lake <>
009 RE: SUPREME COURT MAKES POT LAW ELECTION ISSUE
From: "Jim White" <>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subj: 001 !!!!! A Repressive Embarrassment
From: Peter Webster <>
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2003 13:39:19 +0100
One might suspect the Bushmaniacs have something to hide...
A Repressive Embarrassment
The Toledo Blade | Editorial
Saturday 13 December 2003
Anyone who thinks the administration and its law enforcement chief,
Attorney General John Ashcroft, aren't out to impede a free press need only
hear how the federal government is treating foreign journalists coming to
this country on assignment.
Without notification to foreign media outlets, the immigration and customs
people are arresting, detaining, and deporting journalists arriving here
without special visas. This is so even when they come from nations whose
citizens can stay for up to 90 days without a visa if they are arriving as
tourists or on business.
If that threatening form of registration is not enough, members of the
press arriving without the visas, which no one told them they needed, are
treated like criminals, handcuffed as they're marched through airports,
photographed, fingerprinted, and their DNA taken.
Peter Krobath, chief editor for the Austrian movie magazine Skip, was held
overnight in a cold room with 45 others who arrived without the visa. The
room had two open toilets, a metal bench, and a concrete bench. He was here
to interview movie star Ben Affleck and see the movie Paycheck.
Thomas Sjoerup, a photographer for the Danish paper Ekstra Bladet, was
deported after a few hours during which a mugshot, fingerprints, and DNA
sample were taken. A French journalist said he and five others from his
country were marched across the airport in handcuffs, without belts or laces.
The International Press Institute in Vienna, a media freedom group, has
complained not only about Mr. Korbath's treatment but also, and indeed more
important, the fact that only foreign journalists need special visas.
The Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists is about to
launch a global campaign against the absurd and repressive rule that casts
suspicion on working journalists who come to this country on business as
valid as any other traveler's.
A U.S. embassy official in Vienna said visas have always been required. If
that requirement existed, it was more honored in its breach and ought to be
rescinded.
It should not take a world media outcry to address this problem. It's a
policy that puts these United States in the ranks of Third World
dictatorships.
Members of Congress, regardless of party, who understand the absurdity of
it all, even in these troubled times, should demand an end to this
repressive embarrassment.
It's not likely President Bush ever will.
- -------
------------------------------
Subj: 002 Message from Todd McCormick (fwd)
From: Tim Meehan <>
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2003 07:43:06 -0500
>From: Todd McCormick <>
>Reply-To:
>Sent: December 22, 2003 1:11:08 PM
>To:
>CC:
>Subject: Re: MOMS: Todd McCormick Released?
High Everyone,
Yes, I was 'released' on Dec. 10th, though I'm forced to stay in a halfway house
until I find a new house, which should be rather soon. After that I'll be on
home confinement till May 19th, which is my actual release date from the bureau
of prisons. Because of over crowding the are putting everyone in a halfway house
for 10% of their sentence (up to 6 months).
I can be reached at;
I have seen some of the postings after the sentencing of Imler, the LA Times
reported correctly that:
"Prosecutors credited the men with helping them investigate a separate drug
case, in which a Bel-Air man tried unsuccessfully to use a medicinal marijuana
defense."
While I can't go into detail now, I will finally be able to tell my side of this
tragic mess that led to the untimely death of Peter McWilliams.
I have seen some people try to claim that Imlers lenient sentence was a victory
for the medical marijuana movement, I only wish it were true. What we have
witnessed is a common situation in regards to individuals who cooperate with the
federal government and assist them in the prosecution of others. This has
been going on throughout the entire drug war, it's just that most of the time we
do not get the Chance to bear witness to it because it happens behind closed
doors with no interest from the press. His sentence of probation had nothing to
do with community support or how the club was run, it had only to do with
cooperation.
One thing I really noticed while in prison was that the real criminals do not go
to prison, they send others in their place, usually people that were way lower
on the ladder and would not cooperate in turning in others.
I was not at all punished for growing medical marijuana; I was punished for
being loyal to my friends and not the DEA. Because I would not cooperate
I went to prison, but in all reality, I'm proud I did.
I had an amazing time, in many ways and was blown away with the overwhelming
support I received from the community, both out of and inside prison, if you
were one of the many people who took the time to write, let me again thank you
very much, you really kept my spirits up and mind focused, I would have had a
much harder time without you.
I would like to put out a little HELP WANTED ad; I need to redo my web sites,
the man who was helping me out was Ray Simon, who also managed Michael Moore's
site, sadly he passed away of cancer. So I need a web master who will work at a
really low rate or free for the time being.
I have to tackle;toddmccormick.com andahemp.org
I'm currently working on pulling together Artists Helping End Marihuana
Prohibition / AHEMP, and also writing a 'How to navigate federal prison book for
inmates' as they need it. Anyone interested in assisting with either project
please feel free to e-mail me. The prisoners handbook will be distributed
free to prisons once completed. So assistance with layout, editing, printing and
distribution would be readily accepted.
I wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season. Please zap me a line if you would like
to reconnect.
Peace, Hope and Hempyness,
Todd McCormick
Please post this to any other lists as I've been out of the loop awhile and have
no idea who is doing what. If anyone wants to send me a list of lists to be on
I'd appreciate that as well.
------------------------------
Subj: 003 Canada: Master McTeague's Mulligan
From: Tim Meehan <>
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2003 07:50:16 -0500
Source: Frank Magazine (CN ON)
Website: http://www.frankmagazine.ca
Forum: http://www.frankmagazine.ca/forums/
Address: P.O. Box 651, Adelaide Station, Toronto ON, M5C 2J8
Fax: (416) 214-9565
Copyright: 2003, Frankland Capital Corporation
Pubdate: December 10, 2003
Webpage: http://www.frankmagazine.ca/passim/view.php?id=295
Related:
http://www.durhamregion.com/dr/regions/durham/story/1549401p-1818686c.
Self-styled Martinite minister-in-waiting Dan McTeague couldn't have
asked for better treatment from the parliamentary press gallery last
week when a nuisance small claims lawsuit inconveniently exposed an
ancient nosestretcher in his resume.
Way back in '93, during his first run for the House, McTeague claimed
in campaign lit to have a Master's degree from U of T. The porky was
repeated in successive issues of the Parliamentary Guide, but during
the '97 election, Mahoney was caught out and ritually blamed the whole
thing on underlings. The fictional degree disappeared, replaced with
the B.A. he actually earned.
Perennial candidate Chaitanya Kalevar, who McTeague beat for the
Liberal nomination in '92, dredged the whole thing up in a small
claims action back in Durham, and all was dutifully written up in the
local Torstar rag.
Internet bottom-feeder Pierre Dourque posted a link to the story on
his blog and it was picked up by the usual gang of online spotters
like Warren Kinsella (a staunch McTeague foe).
Strangely, with little left to do in Ottawa but speculate as to the
composition of a Martin cabinet, and a pile of Toronto-area Martinites
doing all they can to elbow the next guy out of the way, the story had
no legs.
From the press, there was silence. Even the Toronto Star mothership,
whose farm team had originally picked up the scent, took a pass.
Of course, McTeague has established himself as a favourite Martinite
mole, leaking a steady stream of self-serving dirt to the press. It's
only in the hacks' interest to protect their source's chance for
promotion.
Similar kid-gloves treatment was given to David Kilgour, another press
fave and one of the few Martinites in Crouton's cabinet, who was
considered to have a chance of squeaking back in under the Bermudian.
When Kilgour followed up Alliancer Larry Spencer's "lock 'em up and
throw away the KY" rant on homosexualists with his own queasy
meditations on gay marriage, there was barely a ripple of controversy
from the press gallery.
And the importance of slavish truthfulness to the Paul Martin regime
can probably be exaggerated. Few questioned the appointment, for
example, of Paulie's principal secretary, Francis Fox, he of the
forged abortion letter.
------------------------------
Subj: 004 McGill marijuana study underway
From: Tim Meehan <>
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2003 08:45:44 -0500
http://montreal.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=qc_pot20032312
Dec 23 2003 07:28 AM EST
McGill marijuana study underway
MONTREAL - After years of delay, a Canadian study on the value of marijuana as a
pain reliever is underway in Montreal.
Dr. Mark Ware, a professor of family medicine and anesthesia at McGill
University, treats patients with severe, chronic pain. His clinical trial aims
to determine the therapeutic value of cannabis for these patients under
real-life conditions. Health Canada had held up the study, but the department
has now given permission to a supplier to release its product for the trial.
Many of Ware's patients sought prescriptions for medicinal marijuana after other
painkillers failed. Yanick Drapeau injured his spinal cord in a motorcycle
accident 18 months ago and is still in great pain. "It's like electricity on my
leg," said Drapeau. "Like a big shock every day." Drapeau took morphine every
day but the side effects were too much for him. Marijuana eased the pain without
making him groggy, he said. Doctors may sanction the use of cannabis as a
medical treatment, but they lack scientific facts to pass on to their patients.
"I wouldn't know how to prescribe it because to my knowledge, there have been no
studies of smoked marijuana," said Dr. Francois Lehmann, chair of family
medicine at the Université de Montreal. To determine the best dosages, Ware's
enrolled 32 patients with neuropathic pain. Their skin is very sensitive to
touch or temperature, like a sunburn that can't tolerate air flowing over it, he
said. The patients smoke a pipe, now licenced as a medical device. "We're
specifying that they use a certain amount three times a day for a five-day
period," said Ware. Patients will randomly rotate through different strengths of
cannabis at home and report back. Patients hope the study will result in easier
access to the pain killer. Early results are expected in early 2005.
------------------------------
Subj: 005 Top court set to rule on pot laws
From: Tim Meehan <>
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2003 09:01:18 -0500
http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/12/23/pot031223
Video: http://www.cbc.ca/clips/ram-lo/nagy_pot0312231.ram
Top court set to rule on pot laws
Last Updated Tue, 23 Dec 2003 7:47:56
OTTAWA - As Ottawa prepares to decriminalize possession of marijuana, the
Supreme Court of Canada will rule Tuesday whether jailing someone with small
amounts is a violation of the constitution.
INDEPTH: Marijuana
Three B.C. marijuana users challenged sections of the narcotics act that makes
possession a criminal offence.
The three men, Chris Clay, Victor Caine and David Malmo-Levine, say that jailing
someone for a harmless activity violates the Charter of Rights that guarantees
life, liberty and security of the person.
Lawyers argued that the government has no right to tell people what they can put
in their bodies.
"Before you can make something part of the criminal law, you really should have
some objective evidence that the conduct is harmful," said Andrew Lokan, of the
Canadian Civil Liberties Association.
"There really shouldn't be a victimless crime."
But lawyers for the federal government countered that the law should be upheld
and that Parliament should set drug policy for he country.
They challenged the assertion that the effects of marijuana are benign with a
report that connects use to a number of problems including driving accidents,
psychiatric disorders and drug addiction.
Prime Minister Paul Martin said last week that the government will reintroduce a
marijuana bill that died in November when Parliament was prorogued.
The bill would decriminilize the activity, which means people caught with small
amounts would face fines rather than prison.
------------------------------
Subj: 006 High court to rule on minor pot possession
From: Tim Meehan <>
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2003 09:02:05 -0500
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1072179850285_16/?
Video: Linked from page
High court to rule on minor pot possession
CTV.ca News Staff
The Supreme Court of Canada will rule today on whether simple possession of
marijuana should be a crime as it rules on a trio of cases.
The cases involve two marijuana activists and one man who was caught smoking
pot. The three took their case to Canada's high court after failing to convince
lower courts the pot law is unconstitutional.
The case comes as the federal government prepares to reintroduce legislation
that would decriminalize marijuana in small amounts. The bill died when
Parliament shut down last month to usher in Prime Minister Paul Martin's
government.
Martin signalled last week that he would reintroduce the bill, which would have
made possession of less than 15 grams of pot a minor offence punishable by fines
of between $100 to $400. The option of jail time and lasting records would have
been eliminated.
As well, large-scale growers and traffickers would have faced stiffer penalties.
While the bill did not legalize pot, critics fear the legislation sends the
wrong message about drug use to young people. They also question how police
would assess those who drive while high.
As for the people involved in the Supreme Court cases, the most colourful of the
three is David Malmo-Levine. He took a hit of hash before arguing his case at
the high court dressed in hemp clothing.
Ahead of the ruling, Malmo-Levine said he is hoping the Supreme Court will drop
the law off the books today. He said it's quite possible that "it would be legal
to grow, deal and smoke mountain-size full of marijuana."
He also denied there is any harm in marijuana as long as the dealer is
responsible and can teach the difference between strains and quality, as well as
the environment in which to smoke marijuana.
"Not only is it harmless when used properly, it's also quite useful," he told
CTV's Canada AM. "People use it for stress, depression, fatigue, loss of
appetite, lack of sleep, lack of motivation, lack of focus."
A second case involves Christopher Clay. He used a government loan to start Hemp
Nation in London, Ont., where he sold marijuana seeds and seedlings.
The third case involves Victor Caine. He was arrested after lighting a joint in
a van in a parking lot in White Rock, B.C.
------------------------------
Subj: 007 SUPREME COURT MAKES POT LAW ELECTION ISSUE
From: Tim Meehan <>
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2003 10:17:41 -0500
PRESS RELEASE
Ontario Consumers for Safe Access to Recreational Cannabis
Contact: Tim Meehan, Communications Director
phone: 416-844-2431 fax: 253-484-4421
e-mail: web: www.ocsarc.org
December 23, 2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SUPREME COURT MAKES POT LAW ELECTION ISSUE
ACTIVIST URGES OTHERS TO JOIN NDP
TORONTO - Ontario Consumers for Safe Access to Recreational Cannabis is
disappointed that the Supreme Court of Canada has chosen, in nearly 400 pages,
to uphold what is clearly bad public policy - Canada's antiquated marijuana
prohibition laws.
"It appears that the battle for a rational drug policy now turns to the
political arena. I am supporting Jack Layton and Canada's NDP in the next
federal election," says Meehan. "I urge Canadian cannabis consumers to do so as
well, as Jack Layton favours modernizing our drug laws, unlike Paul Martin,
whose transparent so-called "decriminalization" bill goes nowhere nearly as far
to protect Canadians who chose to ingest substance other than the ones that
so-called civil society has recognized: alcohol and tobacco."
"I suspect that if one reads between the lines of this ruling, that the United
States of America, and their hysterical anti-marijuana jihad, is the primary
reason the Supreme Court refused to bring our cannabis laws into the
Twenty-First century," Meehan continued. "Canadians should ask themselves which
political party will stand up for Canadian sovereignty, and the freedom to
exercise personal tastes and choices - regardless of the supposed harm - and
vote accordingly," Meehan continued. "We don't ban Drano sales because some
people attempt to ingest it rather than use it for it's intended purpose."
"Of course, as a realist, I also expect the government will also turn to
cannabis sales within 5 years to tackle mounting budgetary pressures from our
retiring baby boomers, so generally, I am optimistic about things," said Meehan.
- -30-
OCSARC (Ontario Consumers for Safe Access to Recreational Cannabis) is a
Toronto-based organization working to end prohibition and promote reasonable and
responsible regulation and quality assurance in the cannabis market. Visit us
online atocsarc.org
------------------------------
Subj: 008 Canada: Web: Supreme Court Upholds Marijuana Law
From: Richard Lake <>
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2003 11:21:52 -0500
Newshawk: Richard Lake
Pubdate: Tue, 23 Dec 2003
Source: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (Canada Web)
Webpage: http://vancouver.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=bc_pot20031223
Copyright: 2003 CBC
Note: The decisions:
R. v. Malmo-Levine; R. v. Caine
http://www.lexum.umontreal.ca/csc-scc/en/rec/html/2003scc074.wpd.html
R. v. Clay
http://www.lexum.umontreal.ca/csc-scc/en/rec/html/2003scc075.wpd.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/David+Malmo+Levine
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Chris+Clay
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Victor+Caine
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Philippe+Lucas
SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS MARIJUANA LAW
OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that possession of
marijuana will remain a criminal offence until the government decides
to change the law.
The highest court has rejected the appeal of three B.C. men who argued
it is unconstitutional to use the law to punish a harmless activity.
The court ruled 6-3 that making marijuana possession a criminal
offence does not violate Charter of Rights guarantees of liberty and
security of person.
Lawyers for the three B.C. marijuana users - David
Malmo-Levine, Chris Clay and Victor Caine - had argued that the
government has no right to tell people what they can put in their bodies.
Malmo-Levine is a Vancouver marijuana activist has fought for 10 years
to legalize marijuana.
He arrived at the court in May, admitting to reporters that he had
taken a few tokes of the drug before making his argument to the court.
However, the top court rejected his argument and agreed with lawyers
for the federal government who maintained that the law should be
upheld and that Parliament should set drug policy for the country.
They challenged the assertion that the effects of marijuana are benign
- - with a report that connects use to a number of problems including
driving accidents, psychiatric disorders and drug addiction.
Prime Minister Paul Martin said last week that the government will
reintroduce a marijuana bill that died in November when Parliament was
prorogued. The bill would decriminalize the activity, which means
people caught with small amounts would face fines rather than prison.
A Victoria medical marijuana advocate says the Supreme Court made the
wrong decision, and says Tuesday's ruling won't make society any safer.
It's a great early Christmas present for the black market and for the
criminal gangs involved in cannabis distribution because this
guarantees their lock on profits for the holidays, " says Philippe
Lucas of the Vancouver Island Compassion Society.
Lucas says possession of small amounts of pot is bound to become a
major issue in the next federal election.
------------------------------
Subj: 009 RE: SUPREME COURT MAKES POT LAW ELECTION ISSUE
From: "Jim White" <>
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2003 12:12:30 -0500
Oh Canada...
...the Northern Territory of the United States.
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
> [] On Behalf Of Tim Meehan
> Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2003 10:18 AM
> To: ; ;
> ; ;
> Subject: MAP: SUPREME COURT MAKES POT LAW ELECTION ISSUE
>
>
> PRESS RELEASE
> Ontario Consumers for Safe Access to Recreational Cannabis
> Contact: Tim Meehan, Communications Director
> phone: 416-844-2431 fax: 253-484-4421
> e-mail: web: www.ocsarc.org
>
> December 23, 2003 FOR
> IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
> SUPREME COURT MAKES POT LAW ELECTION ISSUE
>
> ACTIVIST URGES OTHERS TO JOIN NDP
>
> TORONTO - Ontario Consumers for Safe Access to Recreational
> Cannabis is
> disappointed that the Supreme Court of Canada has chosen, in
> nearly 400 pages,
> to uphold what is clearly bad public policy - Canada's
> antiquated marijuana
> prohibition laws.
>
> "It appears that the battle for a rational drug policy now
> turns to the
> political arena. I am supporting Jack Layton and Canada's
> NDP in the next
> federal election," says Meehan. "I urge Canadian cannabis
> consumers to do so as
> well, as Jack Layton favours modernizing our drug laws,
> unlike Paul Martin,
> whose transparent so-called "decriminalization" bill goes
> nowhere nearly as far
> to protect Canadians who chose to ingest substance other than
> the ones that
> so-called civil society has recognized: alcohol and tobacco."
>
> "I suspect that if one reads between the lines of this
> ruling, that the United
> States of America, and their hysterical anti-marijuana jihad,
> is the primary
> reason the Supreme Court refused to bring our cannabis laws into the
> Twenty-First century," Meehan continued. "Canadians should
> ask themselves which
> political party will stand up for Canadian sovereignty, and
> the freedom to
> exercise personal tastes and choices - regardless of the
> supposed harm - and
> vote accordingly," Meehan continued. "We don't ban Drano
> sales because some
> people attempt to ingest it rather than use it for it's
> intended purpose."
>
> "Of course, as a realist, I also expect the government will
> also turn to
> cannabis sales within 5 years to tackle mounting budgetary
> pressures from our
> retiring baby boomers, so generally, I am optimistic about
> things," said Meehan.
>
> -30-
>
> OCSARC (Ontario Consumers for Safe Access to Recreational
> Cannabis) is a
> Toronto-based organization working to end prohibition and
> promote reasonable and
> responsible regulation and quality assurance in the cannabis
> market. Visit us
> online atocsarc.org
>
------------------------------
End of MAPTalk-Digest V03 #286
******************************
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Media Awareness Project /' _ ` _ `\ /'_`)('_`\
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URL: http://www.mapinc.org/lists/ (_)
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