Over 500 physicians, scientists and researchers, led by the Urban Health Research Initiative, a program of the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, and the Canadian Public Health Association are making an argument that Bill S10 is both ineffective and expensive.

Bill S10 is drug legislation that includes mandatory minimum sentences of 6-9 months for growing 6 or more marijuana plants, and 12-18 months for making any hashish (including baked goods!) This is the first time in Canada's history that a minimum sentence has been set for marijuana.

The Health Care professionals sent a letter to Stephen Harper and opposition leaders that said:
“We, the undersigned, are concerned that the federal government is pursuing significant amendments to federal drug legislation, through Bill S-10, which are not scientifically grounded and which research demonstrates may actually contribute to health and social harms in our communities,”

Although the government has not produced detailed budget estimates regarding the potential cost of implementing mandatory minimum sentences, similar sentencing regimes introduced in the United States have cost taxpayers billions of dollars. During these difficult economic times, this raises the question of why the federal government proposes to spend scarce financial resources on policies that have been shown to be expensive, ineffective and harmful.”

These are the kind of laws that we wrote about in our previous post HERE. The federal government is hell bent on building new jails, and filling them up. Regardless of what any professional or the people of Canada have to say.

I applaud the professionals as they stand up for us. But we in turn need to stand up and support them as well! Please send them an email to let them know that you ARE standing with them on this issue.

B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
info@cfenet.ubc.ca

Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
info@aidslaw.ca

Canadian Public Health Association
info@cpha.ca

Len Gratto and Stacy Gowanlock of Mission, British Columbia have both been slapped with $5,200 inspection fees after having having their homes inspected by government officials.

This is not only happening in Mission B.C., This inspection process is also happening in Surrey , Richmond, Coquitlam, Langley, Langley City, Abbotsford, Pitt Meadows, Chilliwack and Port Coquitlam. Between 2005 and 2009 these cities conducted 3,528 inspections.

Under the safety inspection programs, inspectors armed with B.C. Hydro statistics on abnormal energy consumption can enter private homes without warrant. Sounds kinda familiar doesn't it? (Bill C-36).

"The safety inspections came about as a result of concerns over grow-ops that pose electrical hazards from faulty wiring and the overloading of residential electrical circuits." Globe and Mail

Once again a bypass around section 8 of the Canadian Charter Of Rights And Freedoms (Everyone has the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure.).

Oh but don't worry, it is all just to keep you safe! A fire could happen if there is faulty wiring. That is all the government is concerned about.

In the case of Len Gratto, the officials hit the jackpot! He was guilty of growing cucumbers in his basement. And with Stacy Gowanlock, they just missed it! Only finding some dirt residue and some piping leading to the chimney. What criminals these Canadians are! How dare they grow their own food! The audacity of some people eh.

The fight against marijuana has hit an all new low with this. Government officials being given the power to enter and inspect the homes of Canadians without a warrant, with police waiting at the front door. All because it may not be cucumbers, it could be the evil marijuana.

And then even if the officials do not find anything illegal, they slap you with a huge fee for making them search your home.

After the G20, and Bill C-36 trampling all over our rights as Canadians, this is just another way our government wanted to show that they love us, and only want to keep us safe! Forget about your rights and freedoms Canadians, just trust the government!

They will keep you safe, and keep all of those bad people who like to grow their own food in check! We need our police state!