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The Expositor. April 29, 2004 article. Brantford, Ontario, Canada MMM.
http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=65720&catname=Local+News
http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=65720&catname=Local+News
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Activist plots pot protest in city
Expositor Staff
By Susan Gamble
Thursday, April 29, 2004 - 01:00
Local News - He came for an election, stuck around to play the casino and now John Turmel is planning a march for marijuana rights in Brantford.
Well, maybe not a march, exactly, but a chance to hang out by the Grand River and toke up with like-minded marijuana supporters on what Turmel hopes will be a sunny Saturday.
“It’s going to be a heck of a pleasant afternoon,” he said Wednesday.
Turmel, 53, said he plans to pass out flyers to local high schools this week promoting the event.
He’s expecting some outside participants at the march but, from discussions with local teenagers, he believes the pro-marijuana crowd in Brantford will also respond.
“Come out and smoke a doobie while it’s still legal,” he said. “Bring your parents.”
His marijuana event is scheduled for noon at Brant’s Crossing park, behind the casino.
Staff Sgt. Dave Wiedrick said Wednesday night it was the first he'd heard of the event and will turn the news over to an inspector, who'll decide on a response.
"We will ensure the laws of Canada are enforced," he said. "Our job is to enforce the law."
Last fall, Turmel came to Brantford from the Ottawa area to run as an independent in the 2003 provincial election. He lost, just as he had in some 50 other political races.
While Toronto has developed the largest Million Marijuana March in the country, also set for this weekend, Turmel brings a certain cache to his protest.
Not only has he fought right to the Supreme Court for marijuana rights, but he was arrested in Ottawa several years ago for openly trying to take seven pounds of marijuana into the Parliament buildings to share with then prime minister Jean Chretien.
Turmel advocates using the “harmless herb,” while insisting that he will not drink the “insidious drug” of alcohol.
The activist — who has an extensive Web site that documents his run-ins with the law — is also releasing a series of legal documents today that, he says, can help those who had pot charges against them stayed.
Anyone charged with possession between July 31, 2001 and October 7, 2003 has had the charges stayed by the government, but Turmel said that’s not good enough.
“I wrote a letter to the crown about the 4,000 people charged during that time and said if the law didn’t exist when they were charged, then the charges should be dismissed, not stayed."
Now, Turmel is providing forms on his Web site for people to apply to have their own charges dismissed.
He’s also going to push to drop the 120,000 marijuana convictions during the 26-month period. Then Turmel plans to help those jailed for marijuana convictions released and apply for the return of any fines paid and the return of any equipment seized.
“This is guerrilla resistance,” he said.
The marijuana movement isn’t taking all of his time.
Turmel plans to announce today at a media conference in Hamilton that he’s running in election No. 57 — the May 13 provincial byelection in Hamilton East.
------end of article-----
Expositor Staff
By Susan Gamble
Thursday, April 29, 2004 - 01:00
Local News - He came for an election, stuck around to play the casino and now John Turmel is planning a march for marijuana rights in Brantford.
Well, maybe not a march, exactly, but a chance to hang out by the Grand River and toke up with like-minded marijuana supporters on what Turmel hopes will be a sunny Saturday.
“It’s going to be a heck of a pleasant afternoon,” he said Wednesday.
Turmel, 53, said he plans to pass out flyers to local high schools this week promoting the event.
He’s expecting some outside participants at the march but, from discussions with local teenagers, he believes the pro-marijuana crowd in Brantford will also respond.
“Come out and smoke a doobie while it’s still legal,” he said. “Bring your parents.”
His marijuana event is scheduled for noon at Brant’s Crossing park, behind the casino.
Staff Sgt. Dave Wiedrick said Wednesday night it was the first he'd heard of the event and will turn the news over to an inspector, who'll decide on a response.
"We will ensure the laws of Canada are enforced," he said. "Our job is to enforce the law."
Last fall, Turmel came to Brantford from the Ottawa area to run as an independent in the 2003 provincial election. He lost, just as he had in some 50 other political races.
While Toronto has developed the largest Million Marijuana March in the country, also set for this weekend, Turmel brings a certain cache to his protest.
Not only has he fought right to the Supreme Court for marijuana rights, but he was arrested in Ottawa several years ago for openly trying to take seven pounds of marijuana into the Parliament buildings to share with then prime minister Jean Chretien.
Turmel advocates using the “harmless herb,” while insisting that he will not drink the “insidious drug” of alcohol.
The activist — who has an extensive Web site that documents his run-ins with the law — is also releasing a series of legal documents today that, he says, can help those who had pot charges against them stayed.
Anyone charged with possession between July 31, 2001 and October 7, 2003 has had the charges stayed by the government, but Turmel said that’s not good enough.
“I wrote a letter to the crown about the 4,000 people charged during that time and said if the law didn’t exist when they were charged, then the charges should be dismissed, not stayed."
Now, Turmel is providing forms on his Web site for people to apply to have their own charges dismissed.
He’s also going to push to drop the 120,000 marijuana convictions during the 26-month period. Then Turmel plans to help those jailed for marijuana convictions released and apply for the return of any fines paid and the return of any equipment seized.
“This is guerrilla resistance,” he said.
The marijuana movement isn’t taking all of his time.
Turmel plans to announce today at a media conference in Hamilton that he’s running in election No. 57 — the May 13 provincial byelection in Hamilton East.
------end of article-----
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1994-2000 Governor George W. Bush legacy: 4.7% of Texas adults
are NOW in jail, in prison, on probation, or on parole! Texas leads the world!
Republicrat USA: Nearly half a million people are behind bars NOW
for non-violent drug law violations. More than Western Europe,
with a larger population, incarcerates for everything! Please forward.
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