Students face death penalty for cannabis - it's law but where is the Justice?

I am shocked that your Courts are still sentencing people to death for cannabis offences.

I know there will be cries of "the law is the law" but there is also the question of Justice.  Justice and Rights must be above law simply to protect us from unjust law.

In cases such as the death penalty for cannabis, the law must be changed to stop it.  This is after all, the 21st Century.

"Abu Bakar Gidato Umar, 23, and Eze John, 20, allegedly had 94 clear plastic packets containing the cannabis. "

That amount is less than that held by tolerated Dutch Coffeeshops or Californian Health clinics

Presumably it is alleged that they were planning to sell it.  The point is, however, had they actually sold it, who would have been harmed, who would have been killed.  probably nobody.

Cannabis is well know throughout the world as more of a beneficial plant than a deadly drug and whether or not Government or people want it, the death sentence is completely disproportionate to the crime and lacking in any form of Justice.

Had the accused actually shot somebody, the punishment could hardly be worse.

I appeal to you now, to change the sentencing guidelines and give your country a better image worldwide.

Alun Buffry address, email and phone number provided

sent to: editor@thestar.com.myThe Star, Malaysia, January 20 2012

Students face death penalty

PETALING JAYA: Two Nigerian students were charged at the magistrate’s court here with possession of 714gm of cannabis.
Abu Bakar Gidato Umar, 23, and Eze John, 20, allegedly had 94 clear plastic packets containing the cannabis with them in a car at Persiaran Surian Damansara at 9.15pm on Dec 5 last year. No plea was recorded.
The offence under Section 39(B) of the Dangerous Drugs Act carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
Abu Bakar’s lawyer Shahul Hameed Abdul Wahab requested for copies of the chemist’s report and charge sheet but DPP Siti Ruvinna Mohd Rawi said the report was not ready.
Magistrate Ahmad Solihin Abd Wahid set March 8 for mention of the case.

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Stop the Death Sentence for Cannabis - Petition

It's almost unbelievable that some countries that are members of the UN still execute people for cannabis offences, often for amounts less than held by Dutch Coffeeshops, Spanish Cannabis Social Clubs or Californian Clinics.

Although the most well know of these countries that give out the death sentence for cannabis-only "offences" such as trafficking are Malaysia and China, altogether there are over a dozen more.   Malaysia kills dozens - nobody even has any idea how many are killed in China because they don't release the figures.

We're talking cannabis here - the plant that has so many uses and that was used without problem for centuries - certainly since the times of the ancient Chinese and Egyptians.

Today we are hearing more and more on the internet about the medicinal uses of cannabis (seemingly still ignored by press, Governments and Pharmaceutical drug companies.

Although cannabis is well-known to ease the symptoms of ailments and pains caused by Multiple Sclerosis, Injury, epilepsy, glaucoma and even everyday stress recent revelations of how using cannabis has been effective in treating tumours and cancers including skin cancers, autism and many other problems - and it seems that government may have known about this for over 30 years.

The possible use of cannabis as a cheap and safe fuel, as a source of fibre for making everything from rope to bricks, from canvasses to paints, from oils to foodstuff - makes us ask why the ban?

That the possession, cultivation and supply such a plant is prohibited - that such a source of fuel, medicine, food and fibre is denied - cannot surely be to stop people getting "high"?

And to lock people away for years for producing or distributing the crop cannot be justified - to execute them is a crime against everything decent in the world.

That is why I wanted to see a boycott or holidays and buying goods and services from these countries, letters to their embassies, and now a world-wide petition - to STOP THESE EXECUTIONS.

I am not saying that the death penalty for anything else is justifiable - just focusing on this issue

I encourage all to sign this petition and spread this message widely.  We can but try.

Malaysia: Vegetable Farmer Gets Death For Cannabis Trafficking

It's atrocious to read these terrible articles announcing the impending horrific death of a human being for doing nothing more than selling cannabis.

Despite the fact that cannabis may be illegal in Malaysia or elsewhere, Ahmad Roslan, appears to have done nothing more than most people try to do - earn a profit - and the truth is that the cannabis was extremely unlikely to have done harm to anyone including the ultimate buyers. To be given the death penalty for such a comparatively "safe" crime - is entirely disproportional and atrocious in any civilised country or culture.

Of course this is not the first sentence of this severity to be handed out for cannabis and Malaysia is not the only country to do so.

Below is the article: I hope that you will join me in writing to the Malaysian paper expressing your feelings about this; write to shyong@bernama.com Editor- in-Chief Bernama

BERNAMA - Vegetable Farmer Gets Death For Cannabis Trafficking

March 17 2011

ALOR SETAR, March 17 (Bernama) -- A vegetable farmer was sentenced to death by the High Court here Thursday, when he was found guilty of trafficking in 26.35 kilogrammes of cannabis, two years ago.

Judge Datuk Zakiah Kassim delivered the sentence on Ahmad Roslan Mat, 46, after the prosecution established a prima facie case against him.

Ahmad Roslan, who hails from Selama, Perak, was alleged to have committed the offence at 5.15pm on May 1, 2009 by the roadside at Kampung Tebing Tinggi in Baling.

-- BERNAMA

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=571773