Indopedia All Things Marijuana
Although Canada is set to legalize adult-use cannabis by July 2018, many political activists and marijuana lovers in the Great White North believe the framework is still far too strict.
The harsh new penalties related to the proposed marijuana legislation have inspired at least one Quebec-based political activist to fight back.
The self-proclaimed “warrior for marijuana,” Ray Turmel, has seen more than his share of courtroom appearances, and is now encouraging people who are charged with marijuana offences to intentionally clog the Canadian court system. The alleged offenders are being told by Turmel to fight, appeal, and delay their charges through whatever means necessary.
Turmel is taking advantage of a July 2016 Supreme Court ruling that forces the justice system to try an accused person within a 30-month time frame, or risk the charges being stayed. That decision has caused stay proceedings for various trials with charges as serious as murder.
“What I’m doing is trying to bottleneck the court system and cost them a lot of money,” said Turmel in an interview with the CBC. “[This] decision is impacting the court system in many ways, here I come to try…
