Bill C-15

STOP BILL C-15!: New Drug Law Will Drive Up Prison Costs

jeremiah — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:25:06 -0800

A federal bill that would impose mandatory jail time for serious drug crimes would increase the workload of the parole system, and the government intends to inject more than $100 million over five years to ease the burden, according to the commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada.

Commissioner Don Head said at a Senate committee hearing Thursday that if the bill is passed, CSC will receive an additional $116.5 million over the next five years to support an expected increase in cases for the National Parole Board.

STOP BILL C-15!: Eugene Oscapella to the Canadian Senate

jeremiah — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:56:27 -0800

CANNABIS CULTURE - Founder of the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy speaks to the Canadian Senate about the dangers of Bill C-15 and mandatory minimum sentences.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW TO STOP BILL C-15

Are We Really Soft on Crime?

jeremiah — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:26:48 -0800

The federal Department of Justice boasts Canada’s biggest concentration of legal brainpower. Of its roughly 4,300 employees, about half are lawyers, and its policy branch alone employs about 200 bureaucrats. Not surprisingly, the department has a long history of producing sophisticated policy papers and commissioning probing research on crime and punishment.

Canadian Medicinal Pot Users Triple

jeremiah — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:41:56 -0700

The number of Canadians legally permitted to use pot as medicine has tripled in the past three years since the Conservatives took power.

At last official count by Health Canada this past June, 4,029 people were authorized to possess cannabis under Marijuana Medical Access Regulations, 2,841 were allowed to grow their own plants and 481 had special permission to grow it on behalf of another patient. That’s up from 1,273 who had permits in February 2006.

Pot Accounts For 75% of Police Seizures

jeremiah — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:39:53 -0700

Many Canadians think police don't pay much attention to marijuana, and instead focus on busting people for "hard drugs". Think again.

From the Edmonton Sun:

The street value of drugs seized by Canadian cops last year topped $2.4 billion, according to the RCMP.

read more

Liberal Senators May Buckle and Pass Tories' 'Flawed' Crime Bills

jeremiah — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:42:33 -0700

The government's two crime bills currently held up in the Senate are "flawed," and could be unconstitutional, but the Liberals are afraid of being labelled soft on crime and Grit Senators may succumb to political pressure and vote against amending the bills, says a Liberal Senator who supports the amendments.

"There is a real possibility that the amendments may be turned down by the Senate," said Newfoundland Liberal Senator George Baker.

Crime Down, Prison Boom Looms

jeremiah — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:14:12 -0700

If the federal government gets its way, Canadians will witness a boom in prison construction coinciding with the longest steady decline in crime rates in Canadian history.

That's the consequence of the various pieces of "get tough" legislation recently passed or currently working their way through Parliament.

Law and Order Ottawa: Bill C-15 is Wrong Approach to Drugs

jeremiah — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:48:31 -0700

Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party of Canada want to put marijuana users, growers and sellers behind bars. Bill C-15 will bring American-style mandatory minimum sentences to Canada.

CLICK HERE to help stop Bill C-15!

Hypocrite Stephen Harper Sings About Getting High

jeremiah — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:34:30 -0700

Stephen Harper appeared at the National Arts Centre to perform a Beatles song with Yo Yo Ma last week.

Harper, whose government has disregarded overwhelming evidence showing the prohibition of marijuana is an unmitigated failure, sang a song by the Beatles about getting high with his friends. This despite repeated statement by various
Conservative ministers including the Prime Minister, that decriminalizing or legalizing marijuana would send the wrong message to children.

STOP Bill C-15!: PHONE JAM Continued

jeremiah — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:13:50 -0700

On September 14th, The International Hempology 101 Society initiated a nation wide campaign to clog the senate with messages from disenfranchised, everyday Canadians. The response was overwhelming, so we are keeping our campaign alive until bill C-15 fails. Everyone concerned about mandatory minimum jail sentences for cannabis should PHONE JAM the Senate until they vote NO on Bill C-15!

PHONE JAM TODAY!: Stop Bill C-15 by Calling A Senator

jeremiah — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:22:42 -0700

The International Hempology 101 Society will be initiating a national campaign to stop Bill C15. PHONE JAM will happen Monday, September 14, 2009 from the 8 am in Halifax until midnight in Victoria.

We will be calling senators all day to make sure that our senators are informed on this bill before the house resumes the next day.

Canadian Election Could Kill Crime Bills

jeremiah — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:23:30 -0700

The Conservative Public Saftey Minister thinks a federal election would kill the Harper government's nasty new crime bills. This is exactly why we need an election.

From Canadian Press, "Federal minister warns that election would kill tougher crime bills":

HALIFAX, N.S. — Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan warned Wednesday that a federal election would jeopardize efforts by the Conservative government to get tough on crime.

read more

The Tories on Pot: Cheech and Chong Were Never This Silly

jeremiah — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:04:36 -0700

These guys were geniuses compared to Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party (and anyone else who supports Bill C-15).The media have had very little to say about Bill C-15, a federal Conservative bill currently working its way through Parliament. This legislation will require that everyone convicted of growing a single marijuana plant or more must spend a minimum of six months in jail.

Letter From Canadian Senate Leader on Bill C-15

Chris Bennett — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:38:57 -0700

Here's a letter I sent to the Leader of the Government in the Senate about bill C-15, and her response.

Dear Senator

Stephen Harper's Conservatives new Crime Bill, C-15, is based on outdated ideologies that have been proven not to work in the USA and if enacted would result in the imprisonment of thousands of Canadians for something that an earlier Senate Committee concluded should not be a crime. I am sure you are familiar with this report:

read more

Justice Minister, Police, Gangs Support Same Policies?

Kirk Tousaw — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:44:18 -0700

Senate delay on drug bill risks lives: justice minister

Federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson slammed the Senate Wednesday for not pushing through new legislation implementing mandatory jail terms for drug producers, smugglers and traffickers.

Nicholson toured a mock Vancouver marijuana-growing operation with police and firefighters at his side before telling reporters that the holdup in passing Bill C-15 was risking the lives of Canadians.

read more

Conservatives Pressure Senate Liberals To Pass Mandatory Minimum Sentences Bill

jeremiah — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:11:20 -0700

Conservative Justice Minister Rob Nicholson lashed out at the Senate today, accusing them of acting too slow on Bill C-15, the controversial drug bill which includes mandatory minimums for marijuana.CANNABIS CULTURE - Conservative Justice Minister Rob Nicholson lashed out at the Senate today, accusing them of blocking the Conservatives so called “law and order' agenda.

Harper Government Pressuring Senate To Pass Bill C-15 Before Summer Break

jeremiah — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:04:08 -0700

Conservative Gulag Minister Rob Nicholson is pressuring the Senate to pass Bill C-15 (mandatory minimums sentences for marijuana!) before it breaks for summer.

MP Libby Davies on Bill C-15 and Mandatory Minimums

jeremiah — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:44:22 -0700

MP Libby Davies says the Conservative and Liberal 'War On Drugs' and the mandatory minimums that go with it "will be a colossal failure for Canada, both economically and politically".CANNABIS CULTURE - New Democratic MP Libby Davies says the Conservative and Liberal 'War On Drugs' and the mandatory minimums that go with it "will be a colossal failure for Canada, both economically and politically".

Ottawa Embarking on its Own War on Drugs

jeremiah — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 11:27:50 -0700

The ending was anticlimactic. On Monday evening, just as Canadians were sitting down to dinner, Parliament quietly enacted one of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's most controversial pieces of legislation.

The Liberals joined forces with the Conservatives to pass Canada's first mandatory minimum jail sentences for individuals convicted of drug dealing.

The vote was lopsided: 195 to 54. But it was a superficial consensus.

STOP BILL C-15: Liberals Team With Conservatives to Pass a Nasty New Drug Law

jeremiah — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:22:09 -0700

CANNABIS CULTURE - On June 8, Canada's Parliament passed a new set of mandatory minimum penalties for a variety of marijuana and drug offences.

CLICK HERE to help stop Bill C-15!

Tell Your Senator To Vote NO on Bill C-15!

jeremiah — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:31:03 -0700

Bill C-15 and mandatory minimum sentences for marijuana are only one vote from becoming Canadian law.

The devastating drug bill could drastically change Canadian marijuana laws and could put thousands of young people in prison. Read more about the bill here and here

But there is hope: The Senate must cast their vote on the Bill before it becomes law.

Marc Emery on Bill C-15 and Mandatory Minimums

jeremiah — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:12:30 -0700

CANNABIS CULTURE - Marijuana activist Marc Emery thinks new drug legislation supported by Conservatives and Liberals will mean more Canadians in jail for non-violent crimes.

Marc, who is facing extradition to the US for selling seeds on the Internet (also the publisher of Cannabis Culture), sat down for a quick interview with CC about C-15, the bill to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

STOP BILL C-15! Mandatory Minimums Pass House With Support of Liberals

jeremiah — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:16:59 -0700

CANNABIS CULTURE - Controversial drug bill C-15, which includes mandatory minimum jail sentences for small amounts of marijuana, passed the Canadian House of Commons with the support of both Liberal and Conservative parties. The bill now moves to the Senate for a final vote.

Liberals To Support Mandatory Minimum Sentences

jeremiah — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:05:09 -0700

Liberal MPs are set to give the Conservative government help tonight in passing tough drug-crime legislation, despite the risk of a backlash at the party grassroots.

Under the bill, soon to be law, people convicted of serious drug crimes will automatically face prison terms of six months or longer. The legislation is particularly tough on any offender who traffics drugs or gets young people involved in drug crimes.

Liberal Revolt on Bill C-15 and Mandatory Minimums

jeremiah — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 17:33:43 -0700

Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff seems to be facing some serious trouble at the party grassroots -- all revolving around the caucus decision to support this bill - C-15, which introduces mandatory prison sentences for drug crimes.

Here's a sampling of opinion on the blogosphere... it points to some significant dissent.