* This message forwarded from private area of Rich Woods
  * Original message dated 04 Jun 97  18:58:27, from Cannabis Canada
 
 Apparently-to: Rich.Woods@REALPIX.ronly.org
From: muggles@hempbc.com (Cannabis Canada)
Subject: CC: Cannabis Canada seized in Saskatoon
Organization: Cannabis Canada  http://www.hempbc.com/
The following is an article that appeared in Saskatoon's StarPhoenix, about
the police raid and seizure of paraphernalia, grow books and magazines like
Cannabis Canada and High Times.
This is the first time that Cannabis Canada magazine has ever been seized
on the shelves in Canada, and the first time for High Times since the ban
on "pro-drug" literature was deemed unconstitutional in the Ontario Court
of Justice.
*** Note that in the post "2 Stores Raided Within 24 Hours of New Drug Law"
we incorrectly identified the store Vinyl Exchange was in Regina. It is in
fact in Saskatoon. ***
*
StarPhoenix Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, May 30
Store busted for dope magazines
By Dan Zakreski of the StarPhoenix
Saskatoon bookstore operators are outrages by a police raid on a downtown
store that resulted in criminal charges against the owner and the seizure
of a number of cannabis-related books and magazines.
On may 15, police raided the Vinyl Exchange on 128 Second Avenue Borth and
seized owner Mike Spindloe's inventory of Cannabis Canada, High Times and
Hemp Times magazines, plus an array of pipes and smoking paraphernalia.
Spindloe is facing charges of selling literature that promnotes illicut
drug use. He appears in provincial court June 25.
The magazines are avialavle in at least 15 other Saskatoon bookstores, says
Midwest News Agencies sales manager Glen Roney, the local wholesaler.
"These are all mainstream magazines, between 15 and 20 stores carry some or
all of the titles. In the case of High Times (an American Magazine), it
comes through Canada Customs and is distributed nationally," he said.
"These Magazines are not drug paraphernalia."
City Police Sgt. Dave Kovach said the raid and charges stemmed from an
investigation by an officer, not a complaint. Kovach issued a word of
caution to other bookstore owners. "The Criminal Code is very clear. If we
see this literature in other stores, they could be charged as well," he
said. "Anyone that has this literature can face the same consequences. .
.search, seizure, and charges."
Robert Green at Broadway Book Marchants, which sells Cannabis Canada, says
he's concerned with the police action "beacuse it censorious, and that's
always a concern for someone in the information business. This is certainly
disturbing."
Ernie Meili at Saskatoon Bookstore says the police targeting one store "is
not fair," and he suggests the department may not be up on its law. "They
absolutely do not have the right," he said. Assed Darwin Megyesi at the
Readers Nook: "I don't agree with the seizure, but I won't worry about it
until someone tries to tell me what I can't sell in my store."
As for Spindloe, he says the experience had been like "waking up in a bad
dream that doesn't stop. It's been like a break-in."
Spindloe knew something was up when a plainclothes officer he knew came
into the store and purchased a copy of Cannabis Canada. He exited the store
"and waved his arm. Car doors opened up all over the street and seven
plainclothes officers came into the store with a search warrant and started
loading material into boxes." He estimated police seized $4000 worth of
merchandise.
Spindloe has since started a petition aimed at getting the charges dropped
and the merchandise returned. He is also accepting donations for a defence
fund.
--
Dana Larsen (muggles@hempbc.com)
Editor, CANNABIS CANADA, "Canada's National Magazine of Marijuana & Hemp"
Subscribe to Cannabis Canada! Call 1-800-330-HEMP for info.
Write to: Suite 504, 21 Water St., Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6B 1A1
Visit Cannabis Canada online at http://www.hempbc.com
-
Dana Larsen (muggles@hempbc.com)
Editor, CANNABIS CANADA, "Canada's National Magazine of Marijuana & Hemp"
-
Subscribe to Cannabis Canada! Call 1-800-330-HEMP for info.
Write to: Suite 504, 21 Water St., Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6B 1A1
Visit Cannabis Canada online at http://www.hempbc.com
-
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