Activist wants pot charges dropped

Monday, September 26, 2005

Activist wants pot charges dropped

By BROOKES MERRITT
EDMONTON SUN

A local marijuana and hemp activist facing charges under a section of law that was struck down nearly three years ago is refusing to go down without a fight.

Max Cornelssen, 63, will be in Court of Queen's Bench, Edmonton, on Oct. 13 to demand the charges against him - cultivation and possession with intent to distribute - be dropped, because Parliament has not re-enacted a section of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act that prohibits people from growing ganja.

His argument is based on a 2002 case in which the Alberta Court of Appeals upheld a ruling that said the section of the CDSA prohibiting marijuana cultivation was in violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, because it prevented people from using marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Cornelssen's charges stem from a raid on a hemp co-op he was operating near Stettler. He says while hemp plants indeed produce buds - the stuff pot-smokers burn to get stoned - they contain insignificant levels of THC and aren't grown for smoking.

"Hemp is one of the most important plants on the planet right now, given the oil markets," he said. "Banning cultivation of a plant that's the largest producer of biomass on earth is ridiculous. Hemp and hemp seed oil can be used to make fuel, clothing and textiles. And it's a renewable source of energy."

Of course Cornelssen's also a big advocate of pot therapy - he says he's been smoking a jay-a-day for over 30 years and hasn't spent a single day in hospital.

"But that's not the focus of this hearing," he said. "This law has been dead since the Krieger ruling in 2002, but the courts here haven't instructed police to cease making arrests. Hundreds of people are being unfairly charged every day."

Cornelssen encouraged those curious about hemp to attend the October hearing, and meet with his representative John Turmel - one of Canada's best-known marijuana advocates.

Contact: [email protected]

Edmonton Sun

We need more people like him in the world :thumbsup:

Hope he wins his case

^agreed