Smoking ban too hard on Canadian inmates, court told

MONTREAL – A complete smoking ban in penitentiaries has turned hardcore lifers into jittery, sweet-eating blobs, according to a picture painted by a lawyer who argued Wednesday in federal court that the inmates should at least be allowed to smoke outside.

Julius Grey, who is representing 19 prisoners, including some of Quebec’s most notorious murderers and gang leaders, said that prison life is hard enough without having to give up what is still a socially acceptable behaviour.

“It’s dangerous to think that because someone has been convicted, they should suffer more,” Grey said outside the courtroom.

Source: nationalpost.com