Raymond Turmel
Encyclopedia
Raymond J. Turmel is a Canadian
political activist. He is the brother of John C. Turmel
, and holds similar views on issues such as monetary reform and marijuana legalization. Turmel describes himself as a "warrior for marijuana", and has a lengthy arrest record for pot-related offences. Like his brother, he has campaigned for public office on several occasions.
tradition, and have criticized major banks for what they describe as an unjust policy of interest rates. The brothers have organized protests against interest rates on Parliament Hill
in Ottawa (Globe and Mail, 16 April 1982), and Turmel argued before the Supreme Court of Canada
in 1982 that the Bank of Nova Scotia's interest rate policies were a violation of natural and Biblical law. He has also argued that interest rates starve children, by forcing farm foreclosures (Canadian Press, 21 June 1982).
candidate in the 1981 Ontario provincial election
and campaigned for a federal by-election
in the Quebec
riding of Joliette
later in the same year. He appeared on the ballot as an independent, but described himself as a "true Socred
" (Globe and Mail, 4 August 1981).
In 1982, he campaigned as an independent Christian Credit Party
candidate for a federal by-election in the Ontario
riding of Leeds—Grenville
. A newspaper report indicates that all-candidates' meetings were enlived by his antics (Globe & Mail, 9 October 1982). Turmel also campaigned as an independent candidate in the 1984 federal election
and the 1985 Quebec provincial election
, and as a Marijuana Party
candidate in the 2000 federal election
. During the 2000 election, he argued that legalizing marijuana would save enough money to resolve long-standing issues of health care and Quebec separatism (Ottawa Citizen, 26 November 2000).
apartment. He argued that the pot was being cultivated for medicinal purposes, to benefit his chronically ill wife, his mother, and a neighbour. Turmel's wife had attempted to gain legal exemption for medicinal marijuana use prior to his arrest, citing long-term injuries sustained in a 1989 traffic accident.
Turmel attempted to have the arrest quashed on the grounds that Canada's marijuana laws violated his constitutional right to life. This argument was rejected by Quebec Superior Court
Justice Jean-Pierre Plouffe in 2001 (Ottawa Citizen, 20 November 2001), and he was found guilty in December 2001 of growing with intent to traffic (Le Droit, 29 May 2002). During the course of his trial, the crown attorney
described Turmel as a "danger to society". He readily agreed, proclaiming that "by the time I'm finished, the marijuana laws will be scrapped" (Ottawa 15 March 2002).
After an extended delay, Turmel was sentenced in the summer of 2002 to eighteen months in jail (Canadian Press, 21 June 2002). He was released from prison after only thirteen days pending an appeal, and subsequently set up a website to assist other prisoners with in appealing their convictions (MX, 11 July 2002).
He was returned to prison early in 2005, when the Quebec Court of Appeal
upheld his conviction (Canadian Press, 18 January 2005). He subsequently took his case to the Supreme Court of Canada
, which dismissed his appeal on June 30, 2005.http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2005/06/30/MedicalPot_050630.html Turmel continued to promote marijuana law reform from his prison cell, arguing to other inmates that Canada's drug laws are unconstitutional (Le Droit, 28 January 2005).
Turmel represented himself throughout the legal proceedings. He was listed as 49 years old in 2001.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
political activist. He is the brother of John C. Turmel
John C. Turmel
John C. Turmel is a perennial candidate for election in Canada, and according to the Guinness Book of Records holds the records for the most elections contested and for the most elections lost having contested 75 elections and lost 74...
, and holds similar views on issues such as monetary reform and marijuana legalization. Turmel describes himself as a "warrior for marijuana", and has a lengthy arrest record for pot-related offences. Like his brother, he has campaigned for public office on several occasions.
Ideology
Both Turmel brothers were raised in the Quebec social creditSocial Credit
Social Credit is an economic philosophy developed by C. H. Douglas , a British engineer, who wrote a book by that name in 1924. Social Credit is described by Douglas as "the policy of a philosophy"; he called his philosophy "practical Christianity"...
tradition, and have criticized major banks for what they describe as an unjust policy of interest rates. The brothers have organized protests against interest rates on Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill , colloquially known as The Hill, is an area of Crown land on the southern banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. Its Gothic revival suite of buildingsthe parliament buildings serves as the home of the Parliament of Canada and contains a number of architectural...
in Ottawa (Globe and Mail, 16 April 1982), and Turmel argued before the Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
in 1982 that the Bank of Nova Scotia's interest rate policies were a violation of natural and Biblical law. He has also argued that interest rates starve children, by forcing farm foreclosures (Canadian Press, 21 June 1982).
Candidacies
Turmel ran as an independent Social CreditSocial Credit Party of Ontario
The Social Credit Party of Ontario was a minor political party at the provincial level in the Canadian province of Ontario from the 1940s to the early 1970s. The party never won any seats in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario...
candidate in the 1981 Ontario provincial election
Ontario general election, 1981
The Ontario general election of 1981 was held on March 19, 1981, to elect members of the 32nd Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
and campaigned for a federal by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in the Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
riding of Joliette
Joliette (electoral district)
Joliette is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1935 and since 1968.-Geography:...
later in the same year. He appeared on the ballot as an independent, but described himself as a "true Socred
Social Credit Party of Canada
The Social Credit Party of Canada was a conservative-populist political party in Canada that promoted social credit theories of monetary reform...
" (Globe and Mail, 4 August 1981).
In 1982, he campaigned as an independent Christian Credit Party
Christian Credit Party
The Christian Credit Party was a short-lived Canadian political party founded in 1982 by perennial candidate and social credit activist, John C...
candidate for a federal by-election in the Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
riding of Leeds—Grenville
Leeds—Grenville
Leeds—Grenville is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1979.It consists of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.-History:...
. A newspaper report indicates that all-candidates' meetings were enlived by his antics (Globe & Mail, 9 October 1982). Turmel also campaigned as an independent candidate in the 1984 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1984
The Canadian federal election of 1984 was held on September 4 of that year to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 33rd Parliament of Canada...
and the 1985 Quebec provincial election
Quebec general election, 1985
The Quebec general election of 1985 was held on December 2, 1985, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The Quebec Liberal Party, led by former premier Robert Bourassa, defeated the incumbent Parti Québécois, led by premier Pierre-Marc Johnson.This election...
, and as a Marijuana Party
Marijuana Party of Canada
The Marijuana Party is a Canadian federal political party. Its agenda consists of ending prohibition of cannabis. With the exception of this one issue, the party does not have "official policy" in any other area...
candidate in the 2000 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2000
The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada....
. During the 2000 election, he argued that legalizing marijuana would save enough money to resolve long-standing issues of health care and Quebec separatism (Ottawa Citizen, 26 November 2000).
Marijuana conviction
Turmel was arrested in July 2000, after police discovered 450 marijuana seedlings and 153 mature plants in his HullHull, Quebec
Hull is the central and oldest part of the city of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. It is located on the west bank of the Gatineau River and the north shore of the Ottawa River, directly opposite Ottawa. As part of the Canadian National Capital Region, it contains offices for twenty thousand...
apartment. He argued that the pot was being cultivated for medicinal purposes, to benefit his chronically ill wife, his mother, and a neighbour. Turmel's wife had attempted to gain legal exemption for medicinal marijuana use prior to his arrest, citing long-term injuries sustained in a 1989 traffic accident.
Turmel attempted to have the arrest quashed on the grounds that Canada's marijuana laws violated his constitutional right to life. This argument was rejected by Quebec Superior Court
Quebec Superior Court
Quebec Superior Court is the highest trial Court in the Province of Quebec, Canada. It consists of 144 judges who are appointed by the federal government.Chief Justices : [partial listing]* Edward Bowen...
Justice Jean-Pierre Plouffe in 2001 (Ottawa Citizen, 20 November 2001), and he was found guilty in December 2001 of growing with intent to traffic (Le Droit, 29 May 2002). During the course of his trial, the crown attorney
Crown attorney
Crown Attorneys or Crown Counsel are the prosecutors in the legal system of Canada.Crown Attorneys represent the Crown and act as prosecutor in proceedings under the Criminal Code of Canada...
described Turmel as a "danger to society". He readily agreed, proclaiming that "by the time I'm finished, the marijuana laws will be scrapped" (Ottawa 15 March 2002).
After an extended delay, Turmel was sentenced in the summer of 2002 to eighteen months in jail (Canadian Press, 21 June 2002). He was released from prison after only thirteen days pending an appeal, and subsequently set up a website to assist other prisoners with in appealing their convictions (MX, 11 July 2002).
He was returned to prison early in 2005, when the Quebec Court of Appeal
Quebec Court of Appeal
The Court of Appeal for Quebec is the highest judicial court in Quebec, Canada....
upheld his conviction (Canadian Press, 18 January 2005). He subsequently took his case to the Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
, which dismissed his appeal on June 30, 2005.http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2005/06/30/MedicalPot_050630.html Turmel continued to promote marijuana law reform from his prison cell, arguing to other inmates that Canada's drug laws are unconstitutional (Le Droit, 28 January 2005).
Turmel represented himself throughout the legal proceedings. He was listed as 49 years old in 2001.