Clock ticks on weed ban

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It might be premature to light up a celebratory spliff--at least if you consider it necessary to have an excuse to roll--but Terrence Parker's case has seriously compromised the federal prohibition of the wacky weed. In a landmark decision, on July 31, Parker--a 44-year-old epileptic from Toronto--had his possession and trafficking convictions overturned by the Ontario Court of Appeals Judge Marc Rosenberg. In his ruling, the judge deemed the section of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act regarding the medical use of marijuana to be unconstitutional. Parliament now has 12 months to re-draft the law. If the Canadian government does not write up a new section in time, possession of marijuana will be, if not legal, then not illegal.

"The absence of legislation will mean a de facto legalization, because the entire law was scrapped," says Boris St-Maurice, the carefully jubilant leader of the Marijuana Party. "The feds are notoriously slow ratifying new laws, particularly this, an election year. I personally will open up a hemp/coffee shop within 24 hours after the law expires."

St-Maurice also sounds off against Hydro-Québec's ongoing policy of releasing personal details of energy consumption to police, a common strategy used to prosecute home-growers. "We want to end the prohibition against marijuana. People should be allowed to grow pot in their homes without having to worry about being arrested."

--Noemi Lopinto

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