That might a fine line if no money was exchanging hands. He was knowingly helping an American do something that was illegal. Are you saying a person in Mexico that helps somebody pack a bag full of coke would not be considered to be a smuggler?
When did American law become international law?
If someone is packing a bag full of coke in Mexico for shipment to the US, then yes they are breaking the law... a Mexican law, not an American one. Their treatment should be as per the Mexican criminal justice system, not the American one.
If a Canadian is selling marijuana seeds in Canada, then Canadian law applies, not US law. It is legal to
export seeds from Canada. Its illegal to
import marijuana seeds in the US.
However Emery had to declare clearly the contents of all shipments outside of Canada. If he broke that Canadian law, then he should be arrested, as per Canadian law, not American law. What American laws Emery violated while in Canada are beside the point.... until Emery enters the US.
If the seeds were clearly marked as per Canadian law, then US officials should have no problem intercepting the seeds and busting someone in the US for breaking American law.
The real issue here isn't Emery's legal Canadian business, but Emery's legal marijuana activism. Powerful people in the US don't want marijuana decriminalized. Instead they would rather maintain their war on drug addicts, which keeps them employed. The current laws allows them to seize and auction off personal property and fill their "for profit" jails. They have a profit incentive to keep the current laws in place. IMO, the criminal justice system should be driven by the public interest, not profit..
Some of these powerful people who support the war on drug addicts are Canadians like Harper. The conservatives have big plans to build jails and fill them with drug addicts, just like the US. IMO, drug addiction should be treated as a medical mental health problem. Drug addiction is a disease. Making it a crime is counter productive. Its expensive and ineffective to lock up drug addicts. Drug addiction can be treated far more effectively and less expensively with medical treatment and counseling.
The real story here is that Emery's opponents couldn't bust him for breaking Canadian law, so they busted him for breaking American law....
while in Canada... and Canadian authorities under the Harper government cooperated with that miscarriage of justice.
Canadians should have a problem with the Harper government recognizing US legal jurisdiction in Canada. In a nutshell, this case tells you where the Harper government would lead Canada if they had a majority.... If you want Canada to become more like the US, then vote for Harper. Better yet move to the US, where you'll be happier.
Personally I love Canada the way it is. I don't want Canada to become more like the US. If anything, I'd rather see Canada become more like Europe and our relationship with the US to be based on equality, not subservience.
