Marijuana Party Founder Marc Emery Jailed

[Oz]

Marijuana Party president Marc Emery has been sentenced to three months in jail in Saskatchewan for drug trafficking. Emery had pleaded guilty to passing one marijuana joint to someone else in a downtown Saskatoon park back in March.

 

He has 10 previous marijuana-related offences on his record. Many are for trafficking in connection with his marijuana seed business. But in the past, Emery has only be fined. Provincial Court Judge Albert Lavoie said he is sending Emery to jail to send a message. The judge said Emery's crime was clearly a political act – but said Emery had flaunted the law, and there was a need for a stronger deterrent.

 

Emery's lawyer, Lianne Johnson, says the judge did what he had to do given her client's record. "However I do have an issue with the length of the sentence. I think three months is a bit of overkill perhaps for passing one joint to one person." Johnson says she will try to appeal. But doesn't know if it would even be heard before Emery finishes his jail time.

 

Author: CBC News British Columbia

Date: 19/08/04

Source: CBC News

Copyright: © CBC 2004