About the Beyond Prohibition Foundation

Submitted by Jacob Hunter on Wed, 12/02/2009 - 4:58pm
The Beyond Prohibition Foundation seeks to repeal marijuana prohibition and replace it with a regulated system of production, distribution and adult usage for medical and non-medical purposes.
 
To that end, the Foundation engages in communications with government at all levels, strategic litigation, activist mobilization and organization via our activist website WhyProhibition.ca and engagement with the broader policy community and other social activist groups.
 
The Foundation is managed day-to-day by Executive Director, Kirk Tousaw and Policy Director, Jacob Hunter.
Kirk Tousaw, Executive Director
 
Kirk is barrister and social justice advocate based in Vancouver and Victoria, BC.  He is the Executive Director of the Beyond Prohibition Foundation, focusing on cannabis policy reform advocacy and strategic litigation, and is also an associate of Conroy & Company, Barristers and Solicitors based in Abbotsford, BC.  Kirk began practicing law in 1998 in the United States and has a background in business litigation, criminal defence and social justice advocacy pursuant to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  He has been a practicing member of the Law Society of British Columbia since 2005.
 

Academically, Kirk holds a Bachelor’s of Art in political philosophy (Michigan State University) a Juris Doctor, cum laude (Wayne State University School of Law) and a Master’s in Law (University of British Columbia Faculty of Law).  Kirk has completed two years of doctoral studies at the UBC Faculty of Law and is presently awaiting the opportunity to return to his studies and obtain the degree. 

Kirk and his wife Debbie are parents to three wonderful children, Kaya (age 9), Caiden (age 5) and Oaklen (age 3).  Kirk is active in the community, volunteering as the Chair of the Drug Policy Committee of the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association and is a member of that Association’s Board of Directors.

Kirk has written and spoken extensively on issues related to drug policy, privacy, religious freedom and criminal justice policy.  In addition, Kirk has had the privilege of testifying several times before the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights of the House of Commons and also before the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs. 

 
Jacob Hunter, Policy Director
 

Jacob Hunter is an advocate for drug policy reform and social justice based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Jacob is the Policy Director of the Beyond Prohibition Foundation and sits on the Board of Directors of both the BC Civil Liberties Association, and the Pivot Foundation. Jacob is also the founder and administrator of the activist website WhyProhibition.ca as well as a member of RightsCity.org editorial board.

Though he considers himself a non-partisan progressive, Jacob has volunteered on various political campaigns since 2000, working with likeminded candidates regardless of party affiliation. During the most recent provincial election Jacob served as Campaign Manager for the Green Party in Vancouver-Fraserview, while during the most recent federal election, Jacob served as Communications Director for the NDP in West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country.

Jacob attended the University of Northern British Columbia where he studied political science and economics. Jacob lives with his girlfriend, Nicole Seguin, and two dogs, in the West End of Vancouver.

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