Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003
Subject: #282 Please Write Today To Save Steve Kubby’s Life
STEVE’S HEALTH IS DETERIORATING — YOUR HELP IS URGENTLY NEEDED!
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DrugSense FOCUS Alert #282 Wed, 10 Dec 2003
Monday, upon hearing the news that Canada had denied Steve Kubby’s
refugee application, we wrote:
It is with great sadness that we at MAP read of this incomprehensible
decision. Steve Kubby has been an active MAP supporter since it’s
early days. The fact is, without question, that if Steve Kubby is sent
back to California he will most likely be jailed. When he was
originally jailed in California, and again when he was jailed once in
Canada, he came very close, within hours, of death. Local California
officials have stated, repeatedly, that he will be denied his life
saving medicine, which he now grows with the approval of Health
Canada, when he is jailed.
Today we received the following message. As Michele Kubby asks, please
write letters to the editors of the listed papers as soon as possible.
Thank you!
Dear friends,
I’m very concerned that the continual harassment by government
officials is killing my husband. This entire Refugee process has put
Steve’s health into a terrifying tailspin.
Yesterday, I was shocked to see Steve so sick that he could barely
walk. When he did walk, he had great difficulty with his balance. He
is suffering from extremely elevated high blood pressures. He is
nauseous, has diarrhea, he’s weak, shaky, has difficulty urinating
from kidney damage and soaking his sheets from night sweats.
All of this is the direct result of the Refugee Protection Board
Ajudicator, Pauhla Dauns’ dishonest, shameful and cowardly decision.
She denies that returning Steve to the States will cause him harm, but
her very decision has put his life at risk.
It wasn’t easy for Dr. Connors to find the time or the courage to
testify on Steve’s behalf, but he did it because he clearly feels, as
we all do, that Steve’s life is at risk. Dr. Connors explained in
very graphic frightening details how my husband is a walking time bomb.
For the first time in my marriage with Steve I am truly frightened
about his welfare. He’s still struggling from the radiation he
subjected himself to to prove that there are no other therapies but
cannabis. Steve has never hurt a fly. It’s always the government
that accuses him of criminal behavior. This woman, Pauhla Dauns is a
criminal for putting my husband’s life in danger.
Steve saw by the third day of our hearings, in March, that Pauhla
Dauns and the Refugee Protection Officer were dyed in the wool
prohibitionists and could never provide a fair hearing. This is in
the transcripts. However, when Steve officially objected and asked
for a new hearing with the full Refugee Board, as is his right, Pauhla
Dauns assured him that she would look solely at the facts. Now with
this decision, we know that Ms. Dauns deliberately excluded key
evidence and testimony or completely misrepresented testimony by Dr.
Connors and Judge James Gray.
This is murder, happening before our eyes, and I need your help now.
I know that with cannabis and some peace, Steve can recover, but not
with this continual and criminal harassment by government officials.
I beg you, please write a letter today to any of the major newspapers
that have published articles about this decision and help us expose
this murder in progress. Please, I don’t want my husband to become
another Peter McWilliams, but that is exactly what is going to happen
if we don’t act together as a community to help one of our own.
Gratefully,
Michele Kubby
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Below is a list of newspapers for which we have verified that the
linked article was in print (not just posted to their website as part
of their news feeds), along with the contact for sending letters to
the editor:
Canada No Pot Haven, Refugee Ruling Shows
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1895/a04.html
Pubdate: Tue, 09 Dec 2003
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada) Page: A14
Contact: letters@globeandmail.ca
***
Medical Marijuana Activist Loses Bid for Refugee Status
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1895/a03.html
Pubdate: Tue, 09 Dec 2003
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Contact: provletters@png.canwest.com
***
Pot User’s Refugee Bid Is Rejected
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1894/a09.html
Pubdate: Tue, 09 Dec 2003
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Contact: letters@latimes.com
***
Canada Rejects Medical Pot Asylum
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1895/a01.html
Pubdate: Tue, 09 Dec 2003
Source: Press Democrat, The (CA)
Contact: letters@pressdemo.com
***
Board Denies Refuge to Marijuana Smoker
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03.n1904.a06.html
Pubdate: Wed, 10 Dec 2003
Source: Olympian, The (WA)
Section: Briefs Across the Northwest
Contact: http://www.theolympian.com/forms/lettrfrm.shtml
***
Note: The Associated Press sent out a story today, Wednesday, so it is
possible that other newspapers may print it. MAP will add the verified
printed articles at this link:
http://www.mapinc.org/people/Steve+Kubby
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Additional Background:
Michele has accurately characterized bias exhibited by the Refugee
Protection Board Adjudicator, Pauhla Dauns. Even reporters noted it,
as can be seen in the two articles at the following links:
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n521/a06.html
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n517/a05.html
The case is on line at http://www.irb.gc.ca/en/decisions/kubby/va2_01374_e.htm
and the actual Determination at http://www.irb.gc.ca/en/decisions/kubby/va2_01374_e.htm#determination
The bottom line is that there is an outstanding warrant for Steve
Kubby to be returned to Placer County, California to serve his 120 day
sentence. No prisoner has ever been allowed to have medical cannabis
in any jail in the United States. The county has made it very clear
that when they jail Mr. Kubby, he will not be the first exception.
Pauhla Dauns stated in her finding “I also find that the claimant is
not a person in need of protection in that his removal to the United
States would not subject him personally to a risk to his life or to a
risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment….”
Being denied life saving medicine and allowed to die is not cruel and
unusual treatment?
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ADDITIONAL INFO to help you in your letter writing efforts, Please See:
Writer’s Resources http://www.mapinc.org/resource/
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PLEASE SEND US A COPY OF YOUR LETTER OR TELL US WHAT YOU DID (Letter,
email messages, etc.)
Please post a copy of your letter or report your action to the sent
letter list (sentlte@mapinc.org) if you are subscribed, or by
E-mailing a copy directly to MGreer@mapinc.org if you are not
subscribed. Your letter will then be forwarded to the list so others
can learn from your efforts and be motivated to follow suit.
This is _Very_ Important as it is one very effective way of gauging
our impact and effectiveness.
Subscribing to the Sent LTE list (sentlte@mapinc.org) will help you to
review other sent LTEs and perhaps come up with new ideas or
approaches as well as keeping others aware of your important writing
efforts.
To subscribe to the Sent LTE mailing list see http://www.mapinc.org/lists/index.htm
and/or http://www.mapinc.org/lists/index.htm#form
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We wish to thank all our contributors, editors, Newshawks and letter
writing activists.
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Prepared by: Richard Lake
= Please help us help reform. Send drug-related news to
editor@mapinc.org