Basher Posted June 20, 2003 Report Share Posted June 20, 2003 Toronto police ignore pot party in front of HQ Toronto Star - Jun. 19, 2003 Dozens of green-wearing, pot-smoking revellers partied outside Toronto's downtown police headquarters today, smoking their joints, bongs and pipes without being harassed by a single police officer. Streams of sweet smoke wafted through the air as cannabis crusader Marc Emery, a Vancouver resident, handed out joints to fellow pot enthusiasts and urged them to exercise "the lawful right to possess marijuana." "Marijuana is legal in Ontario to possess and it is permissible under law to smoke marijuana anywhere it is permissible to smoke tobacco in Ontario," Emery said, calling the province the freest jurisdiction in the western world, with recent court challenges of pot laws and the acceptance of gay marriages. Although the event was right on police property, no uniformed officers were seen among the crowd. Inside headquarters, police seemed disinterested with the party and no officers were made available to comment. "I trust if the police wanted to apprehend our pot they could've done so," Emery said of the not-so-subtle challenge to police. "I thought the most provocative place to smoke marijuana with others would be right in front of (police Chief Julian Fantino's) doorstep." Police organizations in Ontario have said they will not lay charges for possession of marijuana under 30 grams until the country's muddled pot laws are clarified. The Ontario Court of Appeal ruled on June 10 that it would not overturn a precedent-setting Ontario Superior Court decision that cleared a teenager of marijuana possession charges. The Superior Court judge ruled there is no current ban on pot possession in Ontario since the federal government failed to comply with a July 2000 court order to create a new law dealing with the drug. The Liberal government hopes to have its new marijuana legislation passed by the end of the year. Under the proposed new laws, possession of up to 15 grams of pot - enough to roll about 15 to 20 joints - would be a minor offence that carries no criminal record. In the meantime, Emery said the province, and more specifically Toronto, might get an infusion of tourism from travellers wanting to smoke up without fear of a criminal record. "(Toronto) is the coolest place in the world to be right now, the most enlightened and the most advanced place to be," Emery said. "With SARS and all the related difficulties we've had in Ontario, this is the ideal (solution) to bring hundreds of thousands of tourists here, for the fine Canadian marijuana that circulates throughout Ontario. "Tell everybody around the world to come to Ontario; celebrate a unique freedom available only here in Ontario." Emery is recognized in the marijuana community as a leading activist in trying to get the drug legalized. He also runs the B.C. Marijuana Party, Cannabis Culture magazine, a store that sells marijuana seeds, and once ran for mayor of Vancouver. Alison Myrden, a government-licensed medicinal marijuana user, said she attended the rally not to party, but to thank Emery for his work that helped her get a legal exemption to smoke and treat her multiple sclerosis. "For me it's not a choice - it's a matter of quality of life because if I don't have marijuana then I can't get out of bed," she said. "I can't stop throwing up and I can't get out of a wheelchair." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouche Posted June 20, 2003 Report Share Posted June 20, 2003 Does that seem like they were blowing smoke in the face of the chief that basically made it OK to smoke? That almost comes off as disrespectful, the way I'm picturing it. Wouldn't a pot party be better off on someone's doorstep that's opposed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paisley Posted June 20, 2003 Report Share Posted June 20, 2003 I agree thats a bit out of line, finally a victory and they throw it in the cops face... not great thanks the picture in the Hamilton Spectator is some wasted 16 year old whalin on a fatty straight at the camera... booze for the under-age I'm a little dissapointed in the dude from Vancouver who fought long and hard for decriminalization and is now arrogantly flaunting it... a festive party in the park would be better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paisley Posted June 20, 2003 Report Share Posted June 20, 2003 ah, maybe I just need a coffee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paisley Posted June 20, 2003 Report Share Posted June 20, 2003 quote: Originally posted by Davey Boy: ...or a joint off to the highschool to see what I can pick up from the summer school delinquents (bet ya it'd be kind) I'm actually less impressed by whoever wrote the article and made a point of saying the kid's name and that he was 16 (can you say grounded/rehab?), could've left it as he's maybe a young looking 19 better yet, use a picture of the guy doing all the talking from Van. oh well, 'tis a beautiful day, that joint sounds like a good idea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
\/\/illy Posted June 21, 2003 Report Share Posted June 21, 2003 I can tell you that Mr. Emery isn't very appreciated out West either. He seems to have a habbit of shooting off his mouth and drawing too much attention to things that are happily being ignored by all sides. I think Marc lost his way somewhere. I wonder if it had to do with all the joints he's smoked? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooly Posted June 21, 2003 Report Share Posted June 21, 2003 i think yer right paisley a nice gathering in the park or on some tightasses front lawn woulda been better, that pic in the spec was brutal, his little schoolchum behind him cheerin him on too. brutal and take another step back, and yet another step back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Boy 2.0 Posted June 21, 2003 Report Share Posted June 21, 2003 quote: Originally posted by paisley: ah, maybe I just need a coffee ...or a joint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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