Bill S-10: Mandatory Minimum Sentences for drug crimes

[FrankDiscussion]

Bill S-10: Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Crimes
http://www.cannabisfacts.ca/mandatoryminimums.html


Bill C-15 has been re-introduced as Bill S-10

Mandatory prison sentences for drug crimes
Formerly Bill C-15 (2009) and Bill C-26 (2007)

Bill S-10: 6-200 plants = 6 to 9 months mandatory minimum sentence

This is the third time this same legislation has been introduced. The first time it was introduced it was called Bill C-26. The second time it was called Bill C-15.

Despite the Conservative government's claims that the bill is "priority legislation" both Bills C-26 and C-15 died due to prorogation in 2008 and 2010, respectively.

This time around the Conservatives are introducing this bill in the Senate first instead of the House of Commons (hence the "S" in "Bill S-10"). Legislation has to pass through both Houses to become law so following the Senate the House of Commons will debate and vote on the bill as well.

[Note: The Senate currently has a "plurality" of Conservative Senators as a result of Stephen Harper appointing 33 Conservative senators since taking office in 2006.]

The Conservative government previously stated its intention to re-introduce this legislation "in it's original form." The original legislation sought to impose a Mandatory Minimum Sentence (MMS) of at least six months for growing one cannabis plant (for the purpose of "trafficking"). It turns out that the Conservative government has NOT re-introduced the bill in it's original form. In Bill S-10 Mandatory Minimum Sentences start at 6 plants instead of one.

There are some other differences as well, for instance, another "Agravating Factor" was added to the proposed mandatory sentences in Bill S-10
(Aggravating Factors - List A
http://www.cannabisfacts.ca/mandatoryminimums_chart.html#lista )

Note: In the last session of Parliament Bill C-15 was amended by the House of Commons committee, increasing the plant count that would result in a MMS from 1 plant to 5 plants. The Senate Committee amended the plant count to 200.


View the Proposed Sentencing chart
http://www.cannabisfacts.ca/mandatoryminimums_chart.html

Read the Bill S-10 Press Release from Justice Minister, Rob Nicholson
http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/news-nouv/nr-cp/2010/doc_32507.html

Read the Bill S-10 Backgrounder: "Penalties for organized drug crime act"
[*New name: The Bill C-15 backgrounder was named: "Proposed New Mandatory Sentences for Serious Drug Offence"]
http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/news-nouv/nr-cp/2010/doc_32508.html

Read the Full text of Bill S-10
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Docid=4497977&file=4

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Don't believe the Conservative spin!
Watch videos of expert witness testimony to the Bill C-15 Senate Committee and learn the TRUTH about this fundamentally flawed legislation!
http://www.youtube.com/user/CannabisFactsForCdns

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The false claim that obstructionist Liberal Senators "gutted" Bill C-15 was used by Stephen Harper as justification for stacking the Senate with numerous appointees who "share the government's vision" about getting Tough-on-Crime.
http://www.youtube.com/user/CannabisFactsForCdns



-FrankD

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Frank Discussion
Cannabis activism information and resources.
http://frankdiscussion.net
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Cannabis Facts for Canadians
Essential information for an informed debate about cannabis policy.
http://www.CannabisFacts.ca

 

[CareFreeLivin]

Nice post. Thanks for the info.

 

[ChronicCanuck]

three frickin times??? this is stupid and a waste of money! we should extradite the entire conservative party to Lebanon for letting there wives show there faces in public just like there doing to marc.

 

[Learningfirst]

I have not yet spent the time to read your links - although I definitely will. This is a matter of significant importance and treated all to often in a apathetic manner or on the contrary; It's treated in some courtrooms as though you were a Heroin pusher at a junior high school.

I am so tired after 15 years of medicating myself with the medicine that works, of my gov. still acting like a bunch of fucking pussies. Enough is enough. Canada rise to your rights; use your voting power. It seems so obvious that a majority of Canadians, either have or do smoke MJ.

Either way - most who have but don't now; don't oppose the matter with any hardcore conviction. On the contrary, I've heard non-tokers' call a duck a duck. In other words our Government are acting like a bunch of scared little bullied children. We're apparently awaiting the US to get their act together regarding this issue. We are a huge country & we like pot. We like good pot & this has been proven with the amount of our strains and herbs that win awards and are much sought after.

I am finally ready for a soap-box and an arm full of flyers. Enough of this BS. Stop allowing us to poison our bodies with one more harmfull intoxicant *alcohol* and frown on the one that has legitimate medicinal qualities.. Oh and it feels great too.

One of many millions of Canadians who have sat on our hands like children at a dinner table for far too long. The Gov represents the people. The people want weed. It is simple.

Peace.

 

[Reverend Mojo]

Frank Discussion HAHHAHAHAHA

Aren't you one of the post whores from Cannabis Culture forums.

Boy does that place suck! Absentee admin and asshole mods. Avoid at all cost.

 

[micro420guy]

I've already emailed my local MP about s-10. Everybody that cares about personally freedom should do the same.

 

[jarff]

We are helpless against the Gov,t altho we oppose many of their ridiculous moves.
This law will pass and it is going to have a huge impact on the state of our country.
There are probably hundreds of thousands who will suffer one way or the other from this foolish Bill S10...It will cause people to go to jail for using this herb for medication,while the big drug companies continue to spew their poison down our throats.....It is a sad time indeed for so many.........In years to come ppl. will look back and say what the F**k went wrong......I have voted for 40+ yrs but in the yrs I have left I refuse to support any form of Gov,t..It is my only way to show my wee bit of civil disobedience.....
Sad time in our lives
jarff

 

[Dr Dog]

ok it passes.... Supreme Court throws charges out

Government looks as dumb as they do regularly

With so many States going Medical and Cali, possibly legalizing it this fall, our conservatives are looking pretty backwards right now

do they even know what they would do to the price? 4K pounds are coming

 

[CareFreeLivin]

Sent my emails. The more I think about this the less I care, though. 4k pounds sound nice.

 

[jarff]

ok it passes.... Supreme Court throws charges out

Government looks as dumb as they do regularly

With so many States going Medical and Cali, possibly legalizing it this fall, our conservatives are looking pretty backwards right now

do they even know what they would do to the price? 4K pounds are coming

I think you got something there Dr Dog with supreme court.I know If I get popped I,m gonna drag it out as long as possible,just to try to drag the court system into the sewer even further than it already is.There will be yrs of waiting to get thru the court system as I,m sure most pll. are going to contest this foolish law in the courts.
In the end I think the gov,t is going to realize it was a bad blunder on their part...It,ll look good on the fools. $4K a # wow.Gonna be some ppl. making a fortune.I can see the high prices coming..It is inevitable.Workin,on a grow liscense......hope I can convince my Doc.
jarff

 

[FrankDiscussion]

I've created an easier-to-read, highlighted version of the May 13th speech in the Senate by Senator Pierre Claude Nolin about Bill S-10:

May 13, 2010: Senate - Bill S-10 - Second Reading
http://www.cannabisfacts.ca/Bill-S10_Senate_100513.html


I've included related links, and the Recommendations from the Senate Ctte report regarding Bill C-8 (Senator Nolin encouraged Senators to go back and look at this 1996 report)

Note: There were also discussions in the Senate about S-10 on the 11th and 12th.

*Here's a good page to bookmark to follow what's going on with Bill S-10...

Status of Bill S-10

Get the word out!

-FrankD

 

[jarff]

according to the hearing looks like we can grow 5? plants.....Five Xmas trees fo,sure
I like Nolin,s style....if there were more senators like him then things would prob.be a lot better for the better.......wishing and hoping,,,but I haven,t started to pray yet????

Thnx for the links Frank

jarff

 

[apartmentblower]

according to the hearing looks like we can grow 5? plants.....Five Xmas trees fo,sure
I like Nolin,s style....if there were more senators like him then things would prob.be a lot better for the better.......wishing and hoping,,,but I haven,t started to pray yet????

Thnx for the links Frank

jarff

its not like 5 plants and under is legal or anything.

 

[jarff]

its not like 5 plants and under is legal or anything.

I am quite aware of that...but I meant that five or under wouldn,t be madatory jail time..or did I take it wrong....
I usually grow 20 or 30 now and if busted I would probably get house arrest like 99% of the growers get........
I don,t mind the risk of 5 plants.....if it,s not madatory jail time
jarff

 

[apartmentblower]

I am quite aware of that...but I meant that five or under wouldn,t be madatory jail time..or did I take it wrong....
I usually grow 20 or 30 now and if busted I would probably get house arrest like 99% of the growers get........
I don,t mind the risk of 5 plants.....if it,s not madatory jail time
jarff

yeah its not so bad growing 5 big christmas trees but cops have been known to make up imaginary plant #'s. imagine having 5 plants and ur buddy had brought over a clone for you bam mandatory minimum sentencing. or else the cop would break a branch off and stick it in a pot of soil and call it a plant.

 

[jarff]

yeah its not so bad growing 5 big christmas trees but cops have been known to make up imaginary plant #'s. imagine having 5 plants and ur buddy had brought over a clone for you bam mandatory minimum sentencing. or else the cop would break a branch off and stick it in a pot of soil and call it a plant.

Jeesh would the cops really do something like that ...
I,d probably have a hidden camera to record any nefarious things they might do.
I,m with you as I have been there and done that a few times....I spent three yrs in the pen due to cops lying on the stand..believe me I know what they are capable of....
I guess in my old age I,m getting a bit senile and trust what the media says...j/k

jarff

 

[apartmentblower]

Jeesh would the cops really do something like that ...
I,d probably have a hidden camera to record any nefarious things they might do.
I,m with you as I have been there and done that a few times....I spent three yrs in the pen due to cops lying on the stand..believe me I know what they are capable of....
I guess in my old age I,m getting a bit senile and trust what the media says...j/k

jarff

they often inflate plante #'s its what they do. im not sure what kind of defense you'd have as they just mash all the plants into a pile in evidence, not sure how you could convince a judge they are lying. im sorry to hear dirty pigs took away 3 years of you life. fuck them.

 

[Massproducer]

Cops inflating plant numbers on a bust can't hold up in court, it is the prosecution that must prove their case BEYOND reasonable doubt, not the other way around, meaning that the police have to have documented proof of plant numbers and such, which is why they take pictures and usually video tape busts

 

[Rocky Mtn Squid]

Calgary activist's took over and occupied the constituent office of christian right-wing neocon Bilderberg/CFR member Stephen Harper yesterday, and refused to leave.Legit card holding medical marijuana user's busted out buds at the front desk of Harpers office and sparked them up as the office staff and local cops watched.

To watch it on video, here is the link:

http://www.globaltvcalgary.com/video/index.html?releasePID=2MW_l0dSs4ofeOmDEwDbL4dOxWTMjzEL

Fast forward to 13 min 30 sec to view......

Another link:

http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100519/CGY_Pot_Protest_100519/20100519/?hub=CalgaryHome

This one is for you Harper......

 

[amrad]

Wish that were true Massproducer, but from personal experience I know its not. They lie they plant evidence, they withhold evidence, they do what ever they can get away with. And sometimes that includes murder, ie Vancouver airport. Houston NW BC, where a twenty year old boy was shot through the back of the head while is a jail cell, but wouldnt you know it, the video camera was turned off. The officer was never charged.
Remember the defendant has only evidence that the RMCP puts before the court, in drug cases. Not that you cant provide evidence, its just hard to do when your grow room is sacked and plants confiscated, if they want your ass they will make sure that a couple dozen plants appear out of thin air. And they are considered expert witnesses so their testimony will always out weight the defendents.