IT'S TIME TO STAND UP TO THE BULLY

Vic Toews fails to understand the important ramifications of the Emery
extradition case for Canadian sovereignty.

Yes, there is a treaty between the Canada and the United States. But
Emery committed no crimes in the United States. He never even crossed
the border. And, unlike telemarketing fraud, there are no victims of
Emery's alleged crimes.

But the sovereignty issue runs much deeper than simple cross-border
jurisdictional issues. This case is about Canada's willingness to
stand up for its domestic policies and a more rational approach to
cannabis use.

The U.S. has increasingly been pressuring Canada to emulate its failed
policies in a variety of domestic arenas. They bullied Canada on the
issue of same-sex marriage. They bullied Canada on the issue of
marijuana sentencing reform (inaptly called decriminalization). They
bullied Canada, and utterly ignored their treaty obligations, on the
softwood lumber issue.

And, yet, Toews would have us roll over and send our non-violent
citizens to a U.S. penitentiary for the rest of their lives. Canada
needs to take a different approach. We need to get the U.S. drug war
out of Canada.

It is time to take a stand and face up to the bully.

Kirk Tousaw, B.C. Marijuana Party

Vancouver