Bad news for Tommy Chong and the Prince of Pot
On Thursday, April 20, cannabis consumers across the country may be lighting up a spliff or two not only in tradition, but also in honour of our newly elected Prime Minister's fence-straddling position on marijuana use.
The Conservative government has publicly announced they will not criminalize medicinal marijuana use, but have no intention of supporting the decriminalization of pot, which their Liberal predecessors worked towards.
“All we have said is that marijuana is not a priority issue for us,” announced Conservative Justice Minister Vic Towes in a scrum after an April 4 throne speech. “If there is appropriate medical use of marijuana we will not change that.”
Cracking down on drug crimes is more of an issue for Harper.
Earlier this month he told the Canadian Professional Police Association his government would introduce mandatory minimum sentences for drug dealers and marijuana grow operations.
“If we legalize drugs like marijuana, it will make it easier for our children to get a hold of it,” Harper said during his speech. “That's why my government is opposed to legalizing drugs—especially because of the damage it can do to our cities and our communities because of increased addition and crime.”
One element Harper and his Conservative government are not taking into consideration is Canada's deeply entrenched history of the cheeba.
Tommy Chong, the Canadian-born half of the popular comedy duo Cheech and Chong, rose to fame in the 1970's in classic films like Up in Smoke and Still Smokin,' which portrayed the two as perpetually stoned hippies.
Over the years Chong has pretty much stayed true to his character, picking up a regular role as the pot-smoking hippie “Leo” on That 70's Show.
Chong's notoriety for hitting the blunts got the best of him in 2003 when he was arrested, charged and plead guilty to distributing thousands of bongs and marijuana pipes through his company, Nice Dreams Enterprises.
He was made an example of by American authorities, which were conducting a national investigation of drug paraphernalia suppliers called Operation Pipe Dreams, and was sentenced to nine months in federal prison and a fine of $20,000.
Assistant US Attorney Mark McKeen Houghton said Chong made a career of glamorizing pot smoking and marketed his status by promoting his line of paraphernalia at paid personal appearances in head shops across the country.
And who could forget local London legend and ganja guru, Mark Emery, who has been labeled “The Prince of Pot” by American media outlets CNN and 60 Minutes.
Emery made his mark on London's downtown in the ‘80's and early ‘90's when he fought city council on Sunday shopping laws, sidewalk signs and mandatory business fees. He moved on to Vancouver in 1993 and started Cannabis Culture Magazine and, more recently, Pot TV on the Internet.
A dedicated politician on various levels, Emery is president and co-founder of the British Columbia Marijuana Party and supporter of Jack Layton's NDP initiative to decriminalize pot. Layton even appeared on Pot TV in 2003 to discuss marijuana laws.
A known cultivator and retailer of marijuana seeds, Emery was charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana and marijuana seeds and conspiracy to engage in money laundering when Vancouver police acted on request from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration this past summer.
Although Canadian officials have not laid charges, Emery currently faces extradition to the US where he could receive 10 years in jail. Many believe Emery's scrimmage with American authorities is mainly political, due to conflicting marijuana standards between the two countries.
With files from Nadya Bell, CUP Bureau Chief
The Conservative government has publicly announced they will not criminalize medicinal marijuana use, but have no intention of supporting the decriminalization of pot, which their Liberal predecessors worked towards.
“All we have said is that marijuana is not a priority issue for us,” announced Conservative Justice Minister Vic Towes in a scrum after an April 4 throne speech. “If there is appropriate medical use of marijuana we will not change that.”
Cracking down on drug crimes is more of an issue for Harper.
Earlier this month he told the Canadian Professional Police Association his government would introduce mandatory minimum sentences for drug dealers and marijuana grow operations.
“If we legalize drugs like marijuana, it will make it easier for our children to get a hold of it,” Harper said during his speech. “That's why my government is opposed to legalizing drugs—especially because of the damage it can do to our cities and our communities because of increased addition and crime.”
One element Harper and his Conservative government are not taking into consideration is Canada's deeply entrenched history of the cheeba.
Tommy Chong, the Canadian-born half of the popular comedy duo Cheech and Chong, rose to fame in the 1970's in classic films like Up in Smoke and Still Smokin,' which portrayed the two as perpetually stoned hippies.
Over the years Chong has pretty much stayed true to his character, picking up a regular role as the pot-smoking hippie “Leo” on That 70's Show.
Chong's notoriety for hitting the blunts got the best of him in 2003 when he was arrested, charged and plead guilty to distributing thousands of bongs and marijuana pipes through his company, Nice Dreams Enterprises.
He was made an example of by American authorities, which were conducting a national investigation of drug paraphernalia suppliers called Operation Pipe Dreams, and was sentenced to nine months in federal prison and a fine of $20,000.
Assistant US Attorney Mark McKeen Houghton said Chong made a career of glamorizing pot smoking and marketed his status by promoting his line of paraphernalia at paid personal appearances in head shops across the country.
And who could forget local London legend and ganja guru, Mark Emery, who has been labeled “The Prince of Pot” by American media outlets CNN and 60 Minutes.
Emery made his mark on London's downtown in the ‘80's and early ‘90's when he fought city council on Sunday shopping laws, sidewalk signs and mandatory business fees. He moved on to Vancouver in 1993 and started Cannabis Culture Magazine and, more recently, Pot TV on the Internet.
A dedicated politician on various levels, Emery is president and co-founder of the British Columbia Marijuana Party and supporter of Jack Layton's NDP initiative to decriminalize pot. Layton even appeared on Pot TV in 2003 to discuss marijuana laws.
A known cultivator and retailer of marijuana seeds, Emery was charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana and marijuana seeds and conspiracy to engage in money laundering when Vancouver police acted on request from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration this past summer.
Although Canadian officials have not laid charges, Emery currently faces extradition to the US where he could receive 10 years in jail. Many believe Emery's scrimmage with American authorities is mainly political, due to conflicting marijuana standards between the two countries.
With files from Nadya Bell, CUP Bureau Chief
