Canada less than one week away from (possibly) legalizing marijuana

**~~DeletePlease~~** · 05-01-2012 09:21 AM

After he was arrested for growing pot in his apartment in 2008, Mernagh launched a constitutional challenge of Canada’s drug laws. Mernagh’s case was based on a complaint common to many patients who seek marijuana: the difficulty he had finding a doctor to sign documents to let him legally use the drug — in his case, to treat chronic pain and seizures caused by fibromyalgia and other conditions.

At trial, evidence was produced that suggested that less than one-half of one per cent of Canadian doctors had signed the 33-page form for a patient to apply to Health Canada’s program.

“I find as a fact that the physicians of Canada have massively boycotted the MMAR and their overwhelming refusal to participate in the medicinal marijuana program completely undermines the effectiveness of the program,” wrote Justice Donald Taliano in his April decision quashing the marijuana law.

The court agreed that the systemic refusal of doctors to approve patients for marijuana was an infringement on their rights. Mernagh was allowed to grow his own pot without Health Canada’s approval, a decision that — should it stand — effectively overrides Canada’s marijuana laws.

The court will hear the government’s appeal of the decision [on May 7th/8th].

Matt Mernagh won the first time around; all he needs to do now is convince 2 out of 3 judges to rule in his favor during the appeal process, and cannabis will no longer be illegal.

If Canada were to legalize, America would probably resort to bully tactics like threatening trade sanctions, restricting travel, etc.; I'm pretty sure something similar happened the last time we almost legalized cannabis. The majority of Canadians are in favor of decriminalizing/legalizing marijuana but Prime Minister Stephen Harper is totally against it (because he's a tool). It should be interesting to see how this turns out. Thoughts? Are you for legalization? Against it?

And if you could, please spread it around wherever you can. The Canadian mainstream media doesn't seem to be covering this story as closely as it should for some reason, even though this is big news. Prohibition might finally be coming to an end.

**Photolysis** · 05-01-2012 12:11 PM

Are you for legalization? Against it?

I'm generally for people being able to do what they want with their own bodies, providing they do so responsibly in a way that doesn't endanger others.

While I'm uncertain on the best way to handle some of the more dangerous drugs out there such as crack/heroin, I support many being made available to adults, and being regulated and taxed. Provide pure, quality products and give accurate health advice on their impacts instead of some of the bullshit you hear today (albeit mostly from politicians, therefore uneducated and ignorant fools).

What really baffles me is that no one seems to have learned from the prohibition of alcohol in the US, even though the criminalisation of many other substances has lead to similar effects. Notably crime to fund the habit (caused by the massively inflated price due to supply/demand/competition), and the funding and empowerment of criminal gangs.

**Marvo** · 05-01-2012 07:04 PM

Since this thread is pretty much over, given Photolysis' post, which probably represents all members above the age of reason, here's a clip for all the Danes, from our Folketing.

**Universal Mind** · 05-02-2012 03:21 AM

:bravo:

Hallelujah - Choir of King's College, Cambridge live performance of Handel's Messiah - YouTube

**tommo** · 05-03-2012 06:34 AM

*Starts saving and planning move to Canada* In all seriousness.

**Phion** · 05-03-2012 12:30 PM

I'm all for legalization.

**StonedApe** · 05-04-2012 12:39 AM

Sadly, I'm pretty sure this is from last year and it didn't happen.

EDIT: Alright, so it is from last year, but I guess 90 days is equal to at least 400 days in government speak; they've postponed the date to may 7(or 8; fucking morons can't even pick a date). So 4 or 5 more days now.(supposedly).

Why isn't this in the news at all? I can't even find any canadian news on it.

**~~DeletePlease~~** · 05-06-2012 03:32 AM

Yeah, the feds pushed it back for as long as they could; but to be fair, Mernagh's team pushed it back a month themselves too.

**Abra** · 05-06-2012 03:49 PM

Ain't gonna happen, cap'n.

**zebrah** · 05-06-2012 04:36 PM

We can dream but I doubt it'll happen. Although if it does I'm glad I live in BC

**Silent_Lucidity** · 05-07-2012 01:59 PM

They are afraid of cannabis because smoking it has been shown to have pharmaceutical benefits, much stronger paper and clothing can be made out it, etc. The US Constitution was written on hemp. There's a quote by Washington, I believe, where he praises the benefits of hemp. It's illegal or very restricted because of economical reasons.

You should really look up the corruption behind the prohibition laws dating back to 1937 or whatever. There are some documentaries on Youtube about it, like "The Union". They SUFFOCATED monkeys with gas masks and claimed they got brain damage from the marijuana smoke.

**Universal Mind** · 05-07-2012 11:54 PM

I think pot will end up being legal in all countries where the people have the ultimate power. People are figuring out marijuana prohibition and getting the joke just like people finally did with professional wrestling. The hoax is losing its belief structure. It will eventually be gone completely.

**Supernova** · 05-08-2012 12:46 AM

Originally Posted by universal mind

i think pot will end up being legal in all countries where the people have the ultimate power. People are figuring out marijuana prohibition and getting the joke just like people finally did with professional wrestling. The hoax is losing its belief structure. It will eventually be gone completely.

BEST ANALOGY EVERo

**~~DeletePlease~~** · 05-08-2012 03:01 AM

CANNABIS CULTURE - You can't write a better doobie drama than the heroic toker tale unfolding in Toronto.

Federal prosecutors will argue a lower court erred when it struck down Canada's marijuana laws - effectively legalizing possession and growing for personal use - on Monday (May 7) following Saturday’s (May 5) Global Marijuana March. It's fitting and unbelievable 158 cities are protesting prohibition leading into a court hearing that regardless of the outcome, sets a new course for Canada's weed laws.

The Mernagh Ruling is a ganja game changer. It takes a bat to prohibition and beats it to a Jose Bautista style pulp. The ruling is a damning indictment about a failed medical marijuana program. It's in my name, but twenty-two Canadians stood up and said they couldn't access Health Canada's medical marijuana program. They believed in lawyer Paul Lewin who has donated well over 250 hours to defend me.

Together we worked our nationwide networks to build a case that resulted in an incredible victory. When we started, few believed our constitutional challenge to Canada's possession and production laws would work. People are jaded, but there are pockets of them everywhere who are working hard to overturn prohibition, they’re organizing rallies for 10 - 10,000 protesters. We tapped these types of people to lend us a few activist hours. They helped us find patient witnesses who otherwise might not have come forward. Legally I'm not allowed to mention who the witnesses are, but again thank you all for believing in us; for telling your health horror stories when you didn't have too.

Not just Canadian cannabis enthusiasts are watching, but the weed world. The prosecutor will argue Canada has international obligations and Mernagh's legal marijuana grow-op is violating not one, but two United Nation treaties. This brings me back to the Global Marijuana March on Saturday May 5.

My first thought when we received our new court dates a few months ago was that's right after Global Marijuana March. The positive energy created around the world will carry us into the courtroom. Plus people trek from all over the province and country to attend GMM. Heavy activist types who would want to see a stellar stoner courtroom showdown. We need these people there to report on their social media streams what’s happening as it happens. Hashtag is #highcourt

The second reason I'm so awestruck is I always mentally picture court as bout between two warriors - The Garden City Grower Matt Mernagh vs. The Niagara Falls Nug Hater Rob Nicholson. A fight between two good ole Niagara boys. I picture myself having the feds in a rear naked choke hold. We have our stoner superstitions too; Lewin has given up toking for the last six weeks and I grew out a Lanny McDonald play-off beard that'd smackdown both Sedins simultaneously.

Before any spectacular event, whether it’'s Talladega 500, Super Bowl, UFC 420, Wrestlemania, there's a pre-show party. The Global Marijuana March is The Mernagh Ruling pre-fight party. It sets the stage for Monday and Tuesday's throwdown.

TODAY: Cannabis Champion Heads Back To Court For Rematch Bout Over Medical Marijuana | Cannabis Culture Magazine

Matt says they expect a ruling in about 90 days.
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Given Obama's cannabis crackdown, I think it's safe to say that his administration will try to intervene if Mernagh were to win. If I remember correctly, the US threatened to close down the border a few years ago when we almost legalized; I think there's a good chance that something similar could happen again.