Criminal Defence Law Blog
SHOULD I TELL THE TRUTH? – Look, as a lawyer, just as anyone in an official capacity, the only advice I can give you is, tell the truth. There’s a lot of jibber-jabber here but I think you get the idea. Be informed.
“If you’re asked if you smoked marijuana, that is not a question that you are obliged to answer at a U.S. port of entry.”
Source: Do not tell U.S. border guards that you’ve smoked pot, despite what some say: lawyer
ENSURING MARIJUANA IS A HOMEGROWN INDUSTRY – Don’t make the mistake of crossing the border with weed. That remains a criminal offence.
Travellers to Canada will be routinely asked whether they are bringing marijuana into the country as Ottawa moves to legalize recreational pot use.
Source: Travellers to Canada will be routinely asked if carrying pot at the border
Sean Sykes Jr. is charged with being a felon in possession of three firearms and possession with intent to sell cocaine.
Source: Suspect’s overwhelming flatulence shuts down police interrogation | Toronto Star
After police arrested five nude adults for allegedly snatching a couple and baby, a relative blamed the bizarre event on ‘some type of herbal drug or something’
Source: Canada naked kidnap case: suspects drank mystery ‘trippy tea’, relative says
This is nothing more than creating a procedural step of another pre-trial hearing, which is unnecessary as every trial Judge already assesses the admissibility of such evidence in the trial. It will likely lead to delay. It will take years to go through the appeals process. Just sayin’.
Defence lawyers repeatedly told the committee that Bill C-51 effectively removes their ability to expose inconsistencies in a complainant’s evidence
Source: Sexual assault bill gets few changes from MPs, despite lawyers’ concerns over ‘reverse disclosure’
TAXING CANNABIS – “Anyone planning to purchase legal marijuana next year better be prepared to pay the taxman as well, to the tune of at least $1 for every gram — plus GST.” Isn’t that double taxation? The federal and provincial governments have already begun fighting over the revenue split.
ONTARIO’S CANNABIS LEGISLATION – Here is a link to Bill 174 which has now been tabled and a synopsis of the most important provisions.
On November 1, 2017, the Ontario government tabled Bill 174, Cannabis, Smoke-Free Ontario and Road Safety Statute Law Amendment Act, 2017, which would, if enacted, create the Cannabis Act, 2017 to provide the provincial framework for the upcoming fed
Source: Ontario’s Cannabis Legislation Tabled in Legislature – Slaw
“Informer privilege does not exist where a person has contacted Crime Stoppers with the intention of furthering criminal activity or interfering with the administration of justice.” “The promise of anonymity is not an impenetrable cloak of immunity for those who seek to abuse it… (and) those who intentionally try to misuse the system.”
By allowing an anonymous tipster to be identified in open court, however, the Supreme Court may also have irreparably broken the public trust in Crime Stoppers
DECRIMINALIZE ALL DRUGS – So is marijuana the thin edge of a wedge? It probably is because as people are dying we continue to incarcerate addicts. The criminal approach has failed. It’s time to look at the evidence and find a new way that will save people.
Source: Singh sets sights on opioid crisis, pushes PM to decriminalize all drugs | CTV News
MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION – The devil is in the details. “Like liquor and tobacco laws, the regulation of marijuana will always be a work in progress. But it’s too bad the initial approach taken by governments in Canada is such a buzzkill.”
Come July 2018, Canadians should be able to light up a joint free from worry that they could be convicted of a criminal offence. In reality, it may be a few more years until most people can find an authorized dealer to supply them with legally grown recreational-use marijuana.
Source: Tentative steps toward decriminalizing marijuana a buzzkill | Canadian Lawyer Mag
