Hi everyone,
I'm writing this today to let you know that law enforcement does not recognize MMPR documentation. Anyone is at risk of being arrested and going through what I am currently being forced to undergo.
This is also a detailed account of my experience with Canada's Wonderland Security, York Regional Police, and the York Region Court System.
It all started June 14th, 2014 when my friend and I decided to go to Canada's Wonderland. We arrived at the park, bought our seasons passes and proceeded to walk into the park. The day was going fine and I decided I was going to find somewhere to medicate as my back had started acting up. I proceeded to walk into the smoking section as to my understanding we have a right to medicate/smoke wherever smoking is allowed. Security approached me and had asked me to put out my joint. I informed them I was a medical patient and proceeded to show my prescription bottle, and documents. Security looked at them, and being a little confused by them the two of them called in to speak with their supervisor to seek their next step. After about five minutes of waiting and security watching me finish my joint they had received clearance from their supervisor and told me something to the effect of "ok, you are good to go".
a couple rides and hours later....
We walked outside the park to look for something to eat. I wanted to sit down and relax a bit before leaving to eat. Upon finding a spot on the hill I was medicating and security drove up to the road beneath us, got out and said the same thing the previous security officer was telling me. Same conversation was had except this time when I produced my bottle and documents he handed them back to me and said that was not what was required to show. He described a plastic, green card issued by Health Canada which would have my photo on it. I explained I had no idea what he was talking about and mentioned he might be confusing the card with the pink legal-sized document that was commonly issued under the MMAR. I explained I was under the MMPR and that under the regulations it only requires me to produce the bottle and/or the purchase receipt (I had more than this but still didn't suffice). This is when they had placed me under arrest and brought me to the buildings where they detained me for a couple of hours.
- York Region Police Show Up -
I'm issued a notice from Security that I'm banned from Wonderland for life for committing an illegal activity on private property, and I'm told my seasons pass is no more.
My rights are read by YRP and I am placed under arrest.
- Transferred to YRP Station-
Booked, briefly interviewed, and detained for another 6 hours.
I was transferred to a holding cell in one of York Regions police stations. From there I'm really unsure what took so long but I essentially sat in a cell for the remainder with them checking up on me only a couple times and I never got to finish my conversation with duty council. Part way through they spoke to me about how I obtained my prescription. I explained the process as is to my knowledge. Get your doctor to sign; send signed medical document to the company; company verifies; receive call allowing me to order; receive welcome package which I had everything from on me.
Continuously told that the documents I had are not legit, and anyone could print them off of a computer.
-First Court Date-
Speak with Duty Council. He explains that given my documentation this whole thing should get dropped and I get scheduled next day in hopes for early resolution.
- Second Court Date Next Day-
go speak with Duty Council (different guy today). I explain what the guy yesterday said so he asks to see what documents I would be showing the courts. His immediate response upon seeing the documents is "oh, so I see you've brought me something printed from the internet?". Apparently even the guy who is supposed to be helping me is in disbelief of the documents.
He rescheduled me for later date for me to get further documentation. "What further documentation can I get?" I asked.
the response was not reassuring as he said the prosecutor made mention of a Health Canada certificate and said if I could produce that everything would be dropped.... My only problem is I have never received any documentation. No one is aware of documentation given out through the MMPR LPs and all they are asking for is documentation I cannot get.
As far as I'm concerned ignorance is not an excuse of being above the law, so why is it that those who enforce it can seem to be ignorant of such?
Note:
No call was ever made to the emergency number from anyone involved except me to see if such had been done.
In speaking with the representative on the emergency line I asked what they could do to which they sent me a document stating what day my authorization with them was valid from, and till. The only problem with this is the signature is a photocopied one and is not an original so it looks like "something printed from the internet"
I'm writing this today to let you know that law enforcement does not recognize MMPR documentation. Anyone is at risk of being arrested and going through what I am currently being forced to undergo.
This is also a detailed account of my experience with Canada's Wonderland Security, York Regional Police, and the York Region Court System.
It all started June 14th, 2014 when my friend and I decided to go to Canada's Wonderland. We arrived at the park, bought our seasons passes and proceeded to walk into the park. The day was going fine and I decided I was going to find somewhere to medicate as my back had started acting up. I proceeded to walk into the smoking section as to my understanding we have a right to medicate/smoke wherever smoking is allowed. Security approached me and had asked me to put out my joint. I informed them I was a medical patient and proceeded to show my prescription bottle, and documents. Security looked at them, and being a little confused by them the two of them called in to speak with their supervisor to seek their next step. After about five minutes of waiting and security watching me finish my joint they had received clearance from their supervisor and told me something to the effect of "ok, you are good to go".
a couple rides and hours later....
We walked outside the park to look for something to eat. I wanted to sit down and relax a bit before leaving to eat. Upon finding a spot on the hill I was medicating and security drove up to the road beneath us, got out and said the same thing the previous security officer was telling me. Same conversation was had except this time when I produced my bottle and documents he handed them back to me and said that was not what was required to show. He described a plastic, green card issued by Health Canada which would have my photo on it. I explained I had no idea what he was talking about and mentioned he might be confusing the card with the pink legal-sized document that was commonly issued under the MMAR. I explained I was under the MMPR and that under the regulations it only requires me to produce the bottle and/or the purchase receipt (I had more than this but still didn't suffice). This is when they had placed me under arrest and brought me to the buildings where they detained me for a couple of hours.
- York Region Police Show Up -
I'm issued a notice from Security that I'm banned from Wonderland for life for committing an illegal activity on private property, and I'm told my seasons pass is no more.
My rights are read by YRP and I am placed under arrest.
- Transferred to YRP Station-
Booked, briefly interviewed, and detained for another 6 hours.
I was transferred to a holding cell in one of York Regions police stations. From there I'm really unsure what took so long but I essentially sat in a cell for the remainder with them checking up on me only a couple times and I never got to finish my conversation with duty council. Part way through they spoke to me about how I obtained my prescription. I explained the process as is to my knowledge. Get your doctor to sign; send signed medical document to the company; company verifies; receive call allowing me to order; receive welcome package which I had everything from on me.
Continuously told that the documents I had are not legit, and anyone could print them off of a computer.
-First Court Date-
Speak with Duty Council. He explains that given my documentation this whole thing should get dropped and I get scheduled next day in hopes for early resolution.
- Second Court Date Next Day-
go speak with Duty Council (different guy today). I explain what the guy yesterday said so he asks to see what documents I would be showing the courts. His immediate response upon seeing the documents is "oh, so I see you've brought me something printed from the internet?". Apparently even the guy who is supposed to be helping me is in disbelief of the documents.
He rescheduled me for later date for me to get further documentation. "What further documentation can I get?" I asked.
the response was not reassuring as he said the prosecutor made mention of a Health Canada certificate and said if I could produce that everything would be dropped.... My only problem is I have never received any documentation. No one is aware of documentation given out through the MMPR LPs and all they are asking for is documentation I cannot get.
As far as I'm concerned ignorance is not an excuse of being above the law, so why is it that those who enforce it can seem to be ignorant of such?
Note:
No call was ever made to the emergency number from anyone involved except me to see if such had been done.
In speaking with the representative on the emergency line I asked what they could do to which they sent me a document stating what day my authorization with them was valid from, and till. The only problem with this is the signature is a photocopied one and is not an original so it looks like "something printed from the internet"
