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Posted by CN Staff on May 14, 2002 at 19:11:52 PT By Brian Dryden Source: Victoria News 
Leave it to cantankerous former Brian Mulroney-era cabinet minister Pat Carney to let a well-kept B.C. secret out of the bag every now and then. Senator Carney’s sporadic forays back onto the national political stage almost always revolve around her giving the grand Pooh-Bahs back East a geography lesson. The lesson passed on ad nauseam is to point out to the standard-bearers of what passes for a government of all of Canada these days, that there is a West Coast connected by land bridge to the centre of the universe. Snug in the belly of the beast, where the corridors of power zig and zag like a snake alert to danger, through the board rooms and alleyways of southern Ontario, it would appear that far too often those making federal government decisions know next to nothing about the various parts which comprise the whole. So, news last week that the first crop of pot for the federal government’s supposed medical marijuana experiment turned out to be “bad weed”, for the purpose it was grown, does not come as much of a surprise, considering the feds ignored the obvious and instead set up a legal grow-op in Manitoba. That “obvious” thing which the feds missed did not go unnoticed by the esteemed Senator from B.C. Carney, who quite rightly pointed out that if you want some good weed in Canada, British Columbia is where it’s at. Perhaps it’s a bit presumptuous to expect the federal government of Canada to know that B.C.’s underground marijuana-growing operations are world famous and, if truth be known, are a huge boost to the province’s official, above-ground economy. Perhaps the federal government is just too busy getting its MPs in line, executing such clever moves as killing private members’ bills of honourable MPs, such as the Canadian Alliance’s Esquimalt-based representative Keith Martin. It must be so much more fun sticking it to out-of-order MPs rather than addressing the issues, such as marijuana decriminalization, head on. Or perhaps the federal government just doesn’t know what it’s doing. It is too much, at this point, to expect those with the power to foster change to stand up and acknowledge that existing laws on the legality of substances for personal consumption have no logical basis, and the ongoing war on drugs should really be renamed the war on personal freedom. Yet, if the federal government is really serious in at least easing the restrictions on marijuana so that those who claim a medicinal use — such as many supplied through illegal compassion clubs which operate in many major North American cities, including Victoria — then get on with the job of supplying the stuff. If there’s a need to consult experts, then consult the real experts out here in B.C. If need be, consult a map. Source: Victoria News (CN BC) Related Articles & Web Site: Canadian Links Carney Pushes B.C. Bud for Official Pot Crop B.C. Pot Growers Blast $6 Million Waste MPs Present Petition To Reintroduce Pot Bill Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #5 posted by dddd on May 15, 2002 at 07:51:59 PT |
| .....Yes!...........Brother Patrick..... I am inspired,and proud ,,,,,if something I wrote helped to fueled the embers of realization from deep within!.....I dont think it is an exageration to say that the war on drugs,and the war on terror,are symbiotic with a war on Freedom!,... ...It's a sad and strange thing,,to realize that as Americans,,our Freedom is being threatened by those who are supposedly protecting it!....Instead of the headlines reporting on pedophile catholic priests who have been violating children for years,,,the headlines should tell of the rape of America,by those who fell under the influence of the root of all evil!,,those who have been gradually infesting the true America for years,,with an obscure agenda that developed into the present empire.....I am not suggesting that all politicians are involved in this empire shit.,,,in fact,,I think that the numbers of those who have "carnal knowledge",of these things,is quite small...I think there is a significant amount of brainwashed Americans,,who are caught up in the cult of the two parties. ..I always marvel,when I meet people who are proud to say,,"I vote republican!",,or;"I'm a democrat.".. These are people who have bought into the assumption,that America is somehow officially a country with two partys.,,when in reality,,,our countries founders never intended to have political parties weild such dominance and influence in our freedom...............It makes me happy to see people using the term "empire".I think it's a very appropriate,and fitting name for our newly reconfigured parasite government...The empire consists of republicans,and democrats....It's rather sad to see people who think that there is a significant distinction in being a "democrat"....I will agree with the fact that republicans have dominated the formation of the empire,,and I think democrats tend to be somewhat less evil,or greedy,.. BUT,, the truth of the matter,is that this two party thing is a false dichotomy.,,a magnificent charade that has allowed,and promoted The War On Freedom!.....As an American ,I believe that Freedom is sacred.. and it's sad to realize,that Americans are going to have to fight for their Freedom once again.. It's strange,but true,,we are coming to the same situation,,a modern version of why our forefathers came here in the first place,,to be Free of imperialesque demagogery! ..On a closing note,,I was happy to see that someone in Florida is suing Jeb Bush,over the law that says anyone convicted of a felony,permanently loses their right to vote!....WHAT???..How could this be?If you served your time,and are now out of prison,,..Why would you be denied the right to vote????...And if you are denied the right to vote,,then you should be exempt from paying ANY taxes! . May JAH Shine on You All.....dddd [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by Patrick on May 15, 2002 at 05:57:44 PT |
| Amazing perspective! The war against personal freedom fits the way I feel more appropriately than WOSD or WOD. I been underground smokin for so long I just sorta fazed out about the fact the government was still locking people up. Until I discovered this site and all you fine people who post n rant and laugh n yell n scream! Now I take notice of how many have been bashed and are getting bashed by the empire for enjoying life. This is a war on personal individual freedom! Like our freedom to go to cuba or to ride a motorcycle without a helmet. Wear a seat belt or not. Piss in the ocean or the public toilets. I mean telling us what we can grow in the soil and locking us up for doing it is so out of this world to begin with but we also are being told how to do everything this way and how to do it that way or how much water I can flush with. There is a freakin new law against something else every time you turn around. I always heard the expression ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law but who can recite every law on the books or keep up anymore? I predict the prohibitionist control freak bubble is gonna pop real soon but I don't think it will be mass hysteria or a drug frenzy free for all with everyone becoming a nation or a world of full of nothing but mind numbed addicts. Smart people will always seek guidance when curious and without prohibition honest answers will be there instead of stupid commercials. People in this country didn't become raving alcoholics at the end of that last prohibition and they will not become heroin addicts at the end of this one. Just like there were alcoholics before during and after prohibition there will always be a % of addicts before during and after this one too. We need to tell the empire to stop spending our billions to fight our freedom to pursue happiness. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by dddd on May 15, 2002 at 04:10:50 PT |
| ......you are striking telling blows to the heads of nails!.........I think you are right on in saying that this is not so much a war on drugs,,as it is a war on personal freedoms..... .And,,the worst part is,that those who are waging this war on personal freedom,,are continuing the attack on many fronts!..The war on drugs,and the war on terror, are both elements of the War On Freedom..... I hate to say it,,but even if progress is made in the reform of Cannabis,and Marijuana laws,,the War on Freedom will make such victories trivial!...I mean,,here we are,, trying and begging to make the government ease up on criminalization of an herb!..an herb that God gave us. And the outrage is further embellished by the outlawing of Hemp,,,a plant that was used to make the paper that the Declaration of Independence was written on!......The battle against absurd Marijuana,and drug prohibition is a noble cause,,indeed,,,,,,,BUT,,,, it has now been dwarfed by the bigger cause of fighting the attack on Freedom!.. ..... .. ..Look at it like this;,,,We now are dealing with an Empire!...We may win some battles for our cause,,but it will be like when I throw my dog a small piece of chicken to shut him up!...He is all happy to get the piece of chicken,,but I still have control of the entire world of priveledged foods that are not dog food!..My dog is extremely spoiled,and if I am eating,he will insist that I give him some...so,,I wait until he is frantic in his subdued professional whining/begging show,,and I will give him a tidbit!,,yes,,a tidbit of grissle from the chicken will shut him up!,,, BUT,, he will not be shut up for long,,he will be happy,and smile in appreciation for the bit of chicken,,then he will start to do the same old show...Alot of times,I will ignore him,and keep eating,,but he is so dam spoiled,,when he starts to realize the chicken is almost gone, he will begin his next phase of advanced professional begging,,and start the "Poor offended Shivering Starving Dog" routine....(yes,,I admit I am somewhat obsessed with my dog.I got him as a pup about 13 years ago,and he's a part of me,and my life.),, .. Anyway ..the point of obscure relevance that I sidetracked into with the dog stories,is that we are kinda like dogs,in that we tend to find hope in small victories,,,,,Drug law reform will be little more than a tidbit,when compared to the entire big Chicken of Freedom Reform........ ...none the less.....Keep the Faith!............... ...reporting live from outer space........dddd [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by p4me on May 14, 2002 at 22:53:49 PT |
| I am working with my computer to get Word working and screwed up comment 1. It should have copied this. the ongoing war on drugs should really be renamed the war on personal freedom. I somehow thought that was understood. Maybe we are guilty of acting like a conquered tribe adopting the language of our oppressors. We know it is a War for Freedom even if it is not said enough. It is like Highways. North Carolina was so backwards in the 1890's it was called the Rip Van Winkle state and to change things there was a massive effort that drafted men to work on roads to at least get the county seats linked by roads. And since I do not want to be part of the dumbing down of America I will mention Iredell County that is the junction of I-77 and I-40 with that intersection being about 42 miles to both Charlotte and Winston-Salem. For educational purposes I will mention that Iredell County is bordered by 9 counties, the most of any county in America. Anyway the road from Statesville to Hickory was called the Hickory Highway and from Hickory to Statesville it was called the Statesville Highway. What Statesville called Salisbury Road, Statesville called the Salisbury Highway. The same was true for Charlotte, Wilkesboro, and so on. I would not have the attitude I do if I regarded as a War against the War on Drugs. I do not like the waste and the misdirection of effort, but what gets me going is that it is a War for Freedom. Sometimes we say to the other side you mean a War on Some Drugs there don't you, you freedom-robbing BAHstard. But make no mistake about it, it is definitely a War for Freedom we are fighting and the prohibitionist are fighting reason and good sense as well as doing something to drive up the price of drugs that the usually call the WOD. VAAI. Down to dogcather. [ Post Comment ] |
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