Thursday, April 15, 2004

Drug War Family Values Stupid government. Bad government. No supper for you. Go to your room and think about what you've done. US Drug Law Keeps Married Couple from Living Together Via Drug Policy Alliance: A pair of middle-aged newlyweds cannot live together in North Carolina or anywhere else in the U.S. because the husband smoked marijuana as a teenager and was convicted three times of simple possession -- in Canada. Terry VanDuzee, 48, says one of the three convictions was expunged and he's been pardoned for all three. Nonetheless, American law bars anyone from immigrating to the United States if convicted of drug offenses more than twice.... The couple has asked for help from elected officials and government agencies on both sides of the US-Canada border, including President Bush, Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) and Canadian immigration. They've also set up a website to document their quest to live together and ask visitors to petition the US government on their behalf. "If you had to be punished continually over all your [life] for things we did as teenagers, we'd all be up a creek," Debbie told the Herald-Sun newspaper. "Terry deserves to be forgiven. Why should he have to suffer the rest of his life for something he did when he was a teenager?" Update on that Terrorist Cell from Norway If you recall my post in January: From the Oregon Register-Guard: [Kari] Rein, 42, and her husband James Jungwirth, 41, a U.S. citizen, have lived in Williams, near Grants Pass, for 15 years. They run an herb and seaweed harvesting business and have a 14-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son. 11 years ago, Rein was convicted of growing six marijuana plants for personal use and received probation and community service. Kari Rein is an immigrant, and immigration officials now want to send her back to Norway. According to Rein's attorney, immigration officials say the conviction qualifies as an aggravated felony and mandates deportation under 1990s immigration rules that have received souped-up enforcement since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. Well, Kari has now officially applied for a pardon from Governor Ted Kulongoski. It will take 30 days for the pardon to be considered. Even if granted, the family will be out over $26,000 in legal fees. 4:50:18 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []