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Buzzby

Marijuana Advocate Loses Case, Hit With Fine
Turmel is independent candidate in today's Nepean-Carleton vote
Tony Lofaro | The Ottawa Citizen | 03/30/2006

Mr. Turmel, a professional gambler and a medicinal marijuana advocate, was fined $1,000, given three years probation and told to perform 100 hours of community service after he was found guilty of a 2003 offence of possessing marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

The independent candidate in today's Nepean-Carleton byelection said he plans to appeal Ontario Court Justice Paul Belanger's decision. He said the reason he went to Parliament Hill to deliver three kilograms of marijuana to former prime minister Jean Chretien in 2003 was to make a political statement about the need to decriminalize the country's marijuana laws.

But yesterday, the flamboyant poker player and perennial political candidate was just happy he wasn't headed to jail. "If I lose (the appeal), I'll have to pay, but I didn't want to go to jail, that's what worried me," the 55-year-old said after being found guilty of the charge.

Mr. Turmel, who lives in Brantford, Ont., across the street from a casino where he plays poker, said the judge believed his motive in 2003 was just to make a political statement about Canada's marijuana laws. "I just wanted to prove that the possession law was still dead and I was proven right. They dropped the (possession) charges against 4,000 people, so I stopped the courts from enforcing an invalid law," he said.

Federal Crown attorney Allyson Ratsoy said Mr. Turmel's case took nearly three years to come to trial because he brought a series of motions through the courts challenging the constitutionally of the marijuana laws. "I'd call him an activist, not a nuisance. He has every right to voice his protests, but just not in the manner that he did."

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MrIMStoned

Federal Crown attorney Allyson Ratsoy said Mr. Turmel's case took nearly three years to come to trial because he brought a series of motions through the courts challenging the constitutionally of the marijuana laws. "I'd call him an activist, not a nuisance. He has every right to voice his protests, but just not in the manner that he did."

The manner in which he protested was perfectly legal at the time and thus he had every right to protest in that way. How could he be guilty of trafficking a legal substance?

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"In the end the Party would announce that two and two made five, and you would have to believe it. It was inevitable that they should make that claim sooner or later: the logic of their position demanded it. Not merely the validity of experience, but the very existence of external reality, was tacitly denied by their philosophy. The heresy of heresies was common sense. And what was terrifying was not that they would kill you for thinking otherwise, but that they might be right. For, after all, how do we know that two and two make four? Or that the force of gravity works? Or that the past is unchangeable? If both the past and the external world exist only in the mind, and if the mind itself is controllable what then?"

Jose Melendez

"I just wanted to prove that the possession law was still dead and
I was proven right. They dropped the (possession) charges against 4,000 people, so I stopped the courts from enforcing an invalid law . . ."

Qwiz

Activism has its rewards.

7pounds of weed and no jail time! Bravo! John represented himself and makes forms available to those who need it.

www.cyberclass.net/turmel/mpforms.htm

This is a story the average Canadian needs to hear, not just those in our community, though that would be a good place to start.
Congratulations John!
Qwiz

Jose Melendez

It gets better:

from: http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/2958.html

It began in January in Windsor, Ontario, when lawyer Brian McAllister convinced Provincial Court Judge Phillips that Canada's cannabis laws no longer exist, and that his 16-year-old client should go free on charges of possession. In his ruling, Justice Philips agreed, adding that if a cultivation or trafficking case had been before him, he would have thrown out those charges as well (CC#42, Canadian judges toss pot prohibition).

 

Qwiz

I got interested in John’s story a few years ago and have kept an eye on his fight all this time. Love him or hate him, we all have benefited from his fight.

This is a story worth knowing and I’d like to throw out two interesting links that I came across along the way. The rest… you’ll have to check it out yourself and make up your own mind.

Check out the movie trailer. No spoilers now!
http://www.turmelmovie.com/productionnotes.php

This is John's copy.


I thought you might all want to see it.
Qwiz

smoking joe

The fact that he didn't get any jail time for 3 kilos of pot is a miracle (praise be to Allah).

Buzzby

Unlike the US, Canada considers incarceration to be the last resort.

BC.Buddy

Why the hell should he get jail time for possessing three kilos of pot?! "...last resort."? Of course it is. Use your heads.

It was a well executed political statement, and that's how a government should treat it.

Although, saying "great point, let's legalize the shit" would be a lot better!

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BC Marijuana Party
"Overgrow The Government"
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Little Nicky

It really seems that way, doesn't it.