cannabisnews.com: Politicians Keep Blowing Smoke





Politicians Keep Blowing Smoke
Posted by FoM on August 09, 2001 at 06:24:21 PT
By Diane Francis, Financial Post
Source: National Post
Marijuana should be legalized as quickly as possible in Canada as it is, de facto, in British Cannabis. I mean British Columbia. To do so, the Criminal Code should be amended to eliminate marijuana from its list of banned substances. The reasons for this action are quite compelling.Marijuana cultivation, distribution and export has become one of Canada's biggest underground industries and is so profitable that it can never be eradicated. This reality is creating an enormous and powerful underworld of gangsters who are moving into this sector.
Secondly, it is relatively harmless.Thirdly, to legalize it would save taxpayers billions in needless police and court costs and would raise billions in tax dollars annually.I have always been in favour of legalizing cannabis. But my investigation of the situation culminating in a recent three-part series made me realize the magnitude of the clandestine industry and the extent of civil disobedience underway.Anyone can invest $20,000 in hydroponics plus labour and can turn their basement recreation room into an urban cannabis farm for 750 plants (three harvests) and make $2.25-million. TAX FREE.And in British Cannabis --where courts turned a blind eye toward marijuana offences first -- marijuana has become one of the province's biggest economic sectors in a handful of years.My calculation is that the marijuana sector is around $29-billion a year extrapolating the street value of busted growing operations last year, which was more than $7-billion, and multiplying this times four, which is the estimated number of growing operations left.Forestry in B.C. is worth $29-billion annually, and agricultural exports to the United States "only" $10-billion a year.Who says Canadians aren't entrepreneurial or into free trade?Another reason to legalize it is because Canadian attitudes have shifted in a remarkable way. Polls show support and courts are rebelling against the Criminal Code because the Establishment is now comprised of those of us who grew up in the 1960s, smoked up and realized the practice was harmless.So do law enforcement personnel. For instance, Vancouver police constable Jay Osborne, part of a five-man detachment called the Growbusters, agreed that it should be legalized in a recent interview.The Growbusters just go around shutting down growing operations and never pursue full-scale prosecution or investigation against the individuals involved. That's because the courts don't care and someone caught in a grow operation will get a $2,000 fine, which is simply like an executive getting a speeding ticket. The Growbusters shut down 10 operations a week on average."I've got friends that smoke pot and so what?" said the constable. "It's a herb. It's medicinal. It should be studied. It's not any worse than alcohol or tobacco. I've never gotten into a fight with guys on pot. But drunks can be really ugly and violent. It's part of the War on Drugs. But that's the Americans not us."The fact is that thousands are slaughtered every year by drunken drivers. Pot smokers, on the other hand, get stoned and can't find the car keys. Of course, some socio-fascists may argue that tobacco and alcohol should be banned, too. But using that logic, everything from donut shops to fast cars should be banned because they "kill" people.In the absence of political courage, Canada's courts are leading the way.Two court decisions forced Ottawa to come up with its recently announced experiment with medical marijuana. The feds are growing the stuff in an underground cave from confiscated seeds for limited distribution next year through physicians.The Canadian Medical Association wants no part of this because physicians don't know a thing about marijuana's medical effects. But that's another story.What I'm hoping is that another court decision -- by the Supreme Court of Canada -- will make marijuana legal as quickly as this year. A landmark test case (my Aug. 8 piece on marijuana) will be heard in November as to whether it is unconstitutional to deny consenting adults the right to smoke or ingest marijuana when it is dramatically less harmful than other legally permitted drugs.The state has no right to intrude in this way into our personal lives. On the other hand, not everything should be allowed.Individuals must not trample the rights of others in the pursuit of their own rights. That's why laws banning second-hand smoke are correct and punishments meted out to drivers who drink are appropriate actions by the state.Clearly, Canada's highest court must realize that it is everyone's constitutional right to smoke or ingest this stuff as long as, by so doing, they don't harm anyone else.More importantly, I now realize the facts show that the Prohibition against Pot is harmful to Canadian society. Not its legalization.Note: Too many reasons exist not to legalize marijuana.E-mail: dfrancis nationalpost.comSource: National Post (Canada) Author: Diane Francis, Financial PostPublished: Thursday, August 9, 2001Copyright: 2001 Southam Inc. Contact: letters nationalpost.com Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/ National Post Special Series Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmActing High Above The Law http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10558.shtmlB.C.'s 'Prince of Pot' http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10549.shtmlThe Taxman's Lost Cash Crophttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10531.shtml
END SNIP -->
Snipped
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #6 posted by mayan on August 09, 2001 at 19:38:59 PT
Their Loss!
I seriously doubt that the cops bust 25% of the grow-op's in B.C. That is definitely an inflated figure if it comes from the cops themselves. They probably bust closer to 15% of them. That would make the marijuana industry worth about 43 billion dollars a year just in B.C. alone!Too bad for the Canadian Government that they would rather waste money trying to eradicate something that can never be eradicated, than regulate & tax it.Furthermore, civil disobediance is prevalent & law enforcement has lost the confidence of the citizenry.WILL WE EVER LEARN?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by Patrick on August 09, 2001 at 08:50:56 PT
Hey Kevin
Can you say, Money saved on airfare to Amsterdam can go a long long way by driving to BC!!!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by Kevin Hebert on August 09, 2001 at 08:47:59 PT:
When Canada Legalizes
When Canada legalizes the weed, which I am really beginning to think could be as soon as this November, what do you think will happen in the United States? Myself, I believe there are a few possible scenarios. Of course, one scenario that will definitely play out is a massive boom for the Canadian tourism industry.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by ekim on August 09, 2001 at 08:26:23 PT:
just how much tax is missing
Insiders speculate that Canada's market share of marijuana sold in the United States is roughly 5%, Mexico supplies 50% and American growers plus some Caribbean countries make up the rest. But Canada's pot is regarded as superior, encouraging sales in the United States.A pound has a street value of roughly $2,300 to $3,000 in Vancouver; in Washington, the same amount costs $4,500, and in California it might sell for as much as $9,000. In New York City, it can soar to $12,000 a pound. In Maine, the price of high-potency Canadian marijuana brings five times the price of Mexican and domestic varieties, according to the local Drug Enforcement Agency.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by Patrick on August 09, 2001 at 08:26:03 PT
Diane who?
Sorry I am not familiar with this authors previous writings. However, She is dead right in this article with the exception that stoners cannot find their car keys! I for one, do not endorse driving under the influence of anything including cell phones. But, I would venture to say that if the cop in NY had been smoking pot instead of drinking, three innocent people would still be alive today.More importantly, I now realize the facts show that the Prohibition against Pot is harmful to Canadian society. Not its legalization. So was this author adamantly opposed to legalization before now? If so, it is but another sign the tide is turning. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by Renzo on August 09, 2001 at 08:11:46 PT:
Leagalizing Pot
I can't believe Diane Francis has written something that I agree with. What is she stoned?
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment