John Conroy, her attorney, says that Boje has a good shot at winning because many Canadians believe that U.S. drug policy is unfair. If she had been charged in Canada with a similar offense and officials determined that the marijuana was intended for use as medicine, he says, she would likely get a fine. Other legal experts doubt that she will win her court fight. A ruling in Boje's favor could harm U.S.-Canadian relations, legal scholars say, and Canadian judges might not want to risk upsetting their country's closest and largest neighbor. A Canadian judge would be more likely to block an American extradition order, the scholars say, when an accused person faced a potential death sentence.
Canadian law forbids capital punishment.
Though Boje has garnered some attention in international publications, including a December profile in Glamour magazine, Canada's local press has played down the story. This is not front-page news. He has even received a few faxes from readers who advocate sending Boje back home to face charges. Boje's fight has also highlighted policy differences between state and federal officials about allowing marijuana for medical uses. They will say these are not drugs and they are not dangerous.