I just stumbled across some of my old Fabulous Furry Freak Bros comix collection. Does anyone here remember Freewheelin’ Franklin, Phineas Freak, Fat Freddy and Fat Freddy’s cat?
Who remembers when Canada declared these comix, along with all cannabis advocacy literature, illegal?
Finding these brought back some memories for me.
I remember the shock of discovering they were declared illegal.
Getting caught with ANY publications that cast cannabis in a positive light led to HUGE FINES and JAIL TIME!
First Offense: $100,000 Fine/6 Months in JAIL
Second Offense: $300,000 Fine/1 YEAR in JAIL
Which goes to prove, prohibition was never about the cannabis.
CRIMINAL CODE OF CANADA section 462.2 Every one who knowingly imports into Canada, exports from Canada, manufactures, promotes or sells instruments or literature for illicit drug use is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction
(a) for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both; or
(b) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding three hundred thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both. [R.S.C. 1985, c.50 (4th Supp.), s.1.]
Imagine! $100,000 Fine & 6 months in JAIL - for a comic?!
Thankfully, there are those who still believe in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - people like Madame Justice Ellen MacDonald.
“Prohibition in s.462.2 of Criminal Code of distribution of “literature for illicit drug use” infringes freedom of expression and is not saved under s.1 of Charter – Words “or literature” in s.462.2 are of no force or effect – Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, ss.1,2(b) – Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c.C-46, s.462.2.” - Iorfida v. MacIntyre; Ontario Court (General Division), Ellen MacDonald J. - October 5, 1994
