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  Pot Growers Eye European Sales
Posted by CN Staff on May 23, 2002 at 11:04:34 PT
By David Carrigg-Staff Writer  
Source: Vancouver Courier  

cannabis Vancouver bud could soon be smoked in Paris or Amsterdam as local growers find ways to deal with tighter security along the U.S. border.

Cpl. Scott Rintoul, RCMP's Vancouver-based drug awareness officer, said the U.S. government's increased focus on border security and renewed war on drugs is forcing the city's estimated 20,000 marijuana grower/exporters to change tactics.

"It's business as usual. It's just not business as it was before Sept. 11; they've changed methods and destinations," Rintoul said. "They've had to go further east to cross the border in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Air traffic is limited and taking it in vehicles across manned border crossings is pretty much a no-no."

B.C. bud is turning up in Toronto and Montreal in increasing volume and could be stashed into cargo containers for a trip across the Atlantic, according to Rintoul.

"Is it possible it's going to Europe? Very much so. We've got it going to Ontario. Law enforcement officers there are already starting to shake their heads at the volume."

Michael Jones, Toronto Port Authority's deputy harbour master, said it's more likely B.C. bud would be shipped out of Montreal or Halifax because their container traffic is much greater than Toronto's.

"I haven't heard of any seizures in those ports, but anything is possible," Jones said.

Rintoul said U.S. border guards are reporting fewer, but larger, seizures because growers are putting more effort into single shipments instead of getting several people to smuggle smaller volumes.

"Before, there would be 10- or 50-pound seizures. Now they are getting 300-pound seizures and smugglers are starting to cross through the bush more, rather than at border crossings."

Despite the changes to smuggling patterns, criminal gangs are still able to sell their wares and some have taken to exchanging marijuana for guns or cocaine and ecstasy instead of cash.

As a result, Rintoul thinks the province's estimated $6-billion marijuana industry will remain intact.

"Some organizations are bringing money back, particularly the Vietnamese and Chinese gangs, but the biker gangs are bringing back cocaine. They deal commodity only. The marijuana goes across and they exchange it for cocaine or guns."

In the U.S., bringing even the smallest amount of pot over the line is considered a major crime, usually resulting in prison time for those caught.

In the past two weeks, border guards have arrested three groups of American teen smugglers heading back into the U.S. from Canada at the Blaine border crossing.

Source: Vancouver Courier (CN BC)
Author: David Carrigg-Staff Writer
Published: May 22, 2002
Copyright: 2002 Vancouver Courier
Contact: editor@vancourier.com
Website: http://www.vancourier.com/

Related Articles & Web Site:

Canadian Links
http://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htm

B.C. Bud Crosses The Line
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12897.shtml

Smoke Signals From The Coast
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12845.shtml


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Comment #5 posted by FoM on May 23, 2002 at 20:56:05 PT
p4me Oh My Gosh!
I am watching Pot TV for the first time and it's great! No jumping or anything. I'm so impressed and I had to say something and thank you!

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #4 posted by BGreen on May 23, 2002 at 14:40:26 PT
How do they know?
It's amazing they're so good at recognizing this B.C. Bud, considering the lack of product labeling. I imagine any sinsemilla they seize becomes "B.C. Bud, the most potent, toxic, and addictive substance ever."

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #3 posted by FoM on May 23, 2002 at 12:54:46 PT
p4me
I just tried and it wouldn't connect. I think I'll need to upgrade the real player. That's what it says. I'll go do that and give it a try. This is so cool. I can't believe it but I do. I double posted already and am looking for news and checking the satellite out and so far it is great. I haven't configured my email yet and might not get at that today. I see they have links on Pot TV from Cannabis News! That's down right awesome.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #2 posted by Naaps on May 23, 2002 at 12:48:53 PT
Whatever you say, Cpl. Rintoul.
On May 17th in the National Post article entitled “U.S. Fears Drug Spillover from Canada” which was posted here, Scott Rintoul estimated that 70% of the marijuana grown in Canada ends up in the United States. In the article, the information which he based the estimate is not revealed.

Now only a week later, the same Scott Rintoul - one of the featured IDEAS speakers - is now saying that BC Bud is traveling across Canada, across the Atlantic, to Europe. What percentage is that, Scotty?

As if the Europeans don’t have their own supplies, being located closer to North Africa and the Middle East, as well as growing their own.

It’s the U.S. Government’s prohibition that drives up the value of the cannabis. Here in B.C. a pound of good quality pot, properly trimming, wonderfully fragrant, gleaming with crystals sells for between $2000 and $2500 Canadian. Considering Kaptinemo mentioned the good stuff in his area costs $400 U.S. an ounce means that if an enterprising person can deliver it across the line, there’s some significant profit to be made. Especially, considering the currency exchange rate and that no taxes will be rendered.

Rintoul says that the B.C. Bud is turning up in Toronto and Montreal. From MAPinc, there’s a spate of stories bemoaning the number of indoor gardens cropping up in Ontario. How is Rintoul sure that it is B.C. Bud? Meanwhile, Michael Jones of the Toronto Port Authority says he hasn’t heard of seizures in Montreal or Halifax.

It’s just another day of scare mongering to keep his job for Scott Rintoul. Maybe later he’ll go to a nearby High School lecturing on the perils of ‘poly-drug use’. Then he’ll field a few calls from reporters, careful not to reveal how he comes up with his estimates.

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #1 posted by p4me on May 23, 2002 at 12:48:16 PT
Why am I not laughing at the laughable?
FoM, here is the link to pot-tv for March 22nd if you want to test your satellite: http://www.pot-tv.net/archive/shows/pottvshowse-1335.html

Michele Kubby used a term that I had not heard before referring to the border security that protects the American people from Canadian marijuana at a cost freater than the national defense budget of Canada. She refered to it as the cannabis curtain.

I just cannot believe that the people that want to make movies don't tap into the absurdity of the situation. I wish they would show people flying little model airplanes over the border and dropping marijuana about like US drones drop bombs over Afganistan. Or even just shoot it across in a cannon. Or maybe go up in a hot air balloon right at the Canadian border and shoot some hollow arrows filled with some good stuff to get into a fraternity in an Animal House for Canadian moviegoers.

I think that this summers vacations will have Canada as a destination. If Ottawa or Toronto had a coffeehouse I think I would even go. Which I may go to Vancouver if my poodle dies. If I went I would pass through the border two or three times just to make the customs people work and show protest.

Piss on the Washington Post and The New York Times. Piss on all of them. The government is unAmerican and the media is unAmerican. The war on marijuana is unAmerican.

ICBS,VAAI,POW

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