cannabisnews.com: 'It's Not Just Weed'





'It's Not Just Weed'
Posted by CN Staff on September 18, 2004 at 09:10:47 PT
By William Marsden, The Gazette 
Source: Montreal Gazette 
Every harvest, he sees strange miniature crop circles in his cornfields that anybody but a seasoned farmer might believe were put there by aliens. The circles are staggered evenly along endless rows of withering feed-corn stalks. They are evidence of Quebec's most profitable cash crop: marijuana."By the time I get to my field (usually in mid-October), the marijuana plants are long gone," he says. "They cut it just after the first frost."
Like every farmer interviewed for this story, he didn't want his real name used. Too many farmers have been threatened, shot at or seen equipment vandalized by what they believe to be pot growers.This is the season when legions of alien trespassers invade the countryside and cash in on what is now a billion-dollar industry in Quebec."It's an industry that's putting a lot of money into the hands of organized crime," said Lt. Jean Audette of the Surete du Quebec.Many people dismiss it as "just weed," he added."It's not just weed. It's a commodity that makes a fortune and that's what makes it dangerous. ... All organized crime is involved."So much money is available that for the first time police have seen Russian, Italian and biker gangs working together. It's a nationwide problem, they say.Staff Sgt. Rick Barnum of Ontario's drug-enforcement squad said most Canadian-grown marijuana goes to the United States, where traffickers get $3,000 to $4,000 a pound in the East and as much as $7,000 in California."Our marijuana is considered to be phenomenal in other parts of the world," he said. "It is traded for cocaine and it hits the streets in Canada as a clean trade for cocaine. ... We're saturated with marijuana grows." Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/weed.htmSource: Montreal Gazette (CN QU)Author: William Marsden, The Gazette Published: Saturday, September 18, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Gazette, a division of Southam Inc.Contact: letters thegazette.canwest.com Website: http://www.montrealgazette.com/Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmCannabisNews -- Canada Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/Canada.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by goneposthole on September 19, 2004 at 09:05:11 PT
'All organized crime is involved'
Which means money laundering, which means banks are involved, which means...
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Comment #5 posted by military officer guy on September 18, 2004 at 19:57:31 PT
Top 10 Reasons NOT to vote for Bush or Kerry.
(Not in any specific order, because all are very important.)10)They both desire to continue the insane "War on Drugs" and the war against medical marijuana patients. (Hint: Badnarik would end the "War on Drugs" and allow peaceful people who do not harm others to choose what they put in their own body.)9) They both desire to reinstate a draft of one sort or another, keep our troops in Iraq if not sending many more, and continue getting the USA involved in entangling alliances around the world.(Hint: Badnarik would absolute oppose any sort of draft, would bring all our troops home as immediately and safely as possible, and would keep us out of entangling alliances while encouraging trade with all nations.)8) Neither Bush or Kerry have the fortitude of character to abolish the thousands of unconstitutional federal programs and agencies that should not exist according to the 10th amendment. In addition, they both desire to add many more federal expenditures that will only grow to an even greater extent the already hugely bloated size, scope, and cost of our government.(Hint: Badnarik would start working to abolish every single federal program not called for the constitution. By doing so he would shrink size, scope, and cost of our government to a much smaller and constitutional level that would be in harmony with the 10th amendment.)7) Bush and Kerry both support the Patriot Act that violates our rights and makes parts of the Bill of Rights null and void. (Hint: Badnarik would strive to abolish the Patriot Act and all other legislation that violates any of our rights, freedoms, and liberties. Because Badnarik demands ALL of our rights be honored ALL the time.)6) The Bush/Kerry duo both desire to continue infringing on our right to bear arms with hundreds if not thousands of gun control laws. Only when it could hurt them politically do they lighten up on their crusade to nullify the second amendment.(Hint: Badnarik understands the difference between a right and a priviledge. You don't have to ask permission to exercise a right, and therefore according to the second amendment ALL gun control laws are unconstitutional. He would oppose all legislation that would infringe on our right to own firearms, and use them in self-defense. Only Michael Badnarik has the courage to state on the record that to him the term gun control means, "being able to hit your target!")5) It is common knowledge and both Bush and Kerry have used taxpayer dollars to fund their campaigns and political conventions.(Hint: The Libertarian Party used not one tax dollar for their convention and Michael Badnarik will not accept even one dollar in matching funds for his campaign. Libertarians do not believe in stealing from your wallet to fund their political aspirations despite how noble or important.)4) Bush and Kerry will do little or nothing to lower taxes in this nation, have no plan to abolish the income tax or the dreadful Internal Revenue Service, and will probably end up raising taxes even higher.(Hint: By abolishing numerous unconstitutional federal programs, bringing all our troops home from around the world, and eliminating massive amounts of government waste Badnarik would be able to quickly abolish the federal income tax and the IRS. In addition, he would be able to replace it with NOTHING and abolish other forms of taxation as well. This would mean every taxpayer would receive an instant pay raise! Also a decrease in the cost of every good and service would result creating a nation where people can live much more affordably.)3) The Republican candidate for president George Bush and the Democratic candidate John Kerry Both want to violate your first amendment right to free speech. They have created and implemented the idea of "free speech zones" in which peaceful protesters must be contained surrounded by fences, razor wire, and swat teams. Additionally, they want to limit the kind of political speech that can be heard on TV, the internet, and the radio. By creating such campaign laws they can hinder third parties or issue oriented organizations from ever being heard. The Republicans and Democrats want to censor everything you see and hear to insure their political dominancy is never threatened by a third party.(Hint: Badnarik believes you have the right peacefully protest wherever you desire, without a stinkin' permit, and that the first amendment automatically made this entire nation one giant "free speech zone". Michael Badnarik is totally opposed to all forms of censorship and believes every citizen, group of citizens, political candidate, or issue group should be free to raise and spend money however they see fit to peacefully spread their message.) 2) Bush and Kerry are both intent on using the power of government to forcefully push their agendas, pet projects, and their own moral philosophy on you and your family. They like big government and the power it gives them to become involved in every aspect of your life including choices about your own body, finances, education, private affairs, personal self defense, and even your own moral principles.(Hint: Badnarik has no agenda, pet projects to push for, or special interests. He deeply desires to shrink the size, scope, cost, and power of government so that no politician ever again can use it to push their agendas on others. Michael Badnarik is the only candidate that believes you have the ability to make sound decisions, pursue happiness, and have a productive life without the government being involved making decisions for you. Quite frankly, Michael Badnarik simply wants the government out of everyones life so that they can live their lives how they see fit as long as they do not violate the rights of others to life, liberty, and property. Unlike Bush and Kerry, Michael Badnarik believes in YOU!)AND NOW FOR THE FINAL REASON NOT TO VOTE FOR BUSH OR KERRY....1) Bush and Kerry are simply no match for an All-American like Michael Badnarik!Michael Badnarik does not drink, does not smoke and does not do drugs (although he will defend your right to do as you wish as long as you do not hurt or pose a threat to other people.)Michael Badnarik is a great communicator with excellent judgement who also happens to fully understand the proper role of American government. Michael Badnarik is simply a great American who will make us all proud when he serves as the next President of the United States!
http://badnarik.org/blog
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Comment #4 posted by CorvallisEric on September 18, 2004 at 09:52:44 PT
Yap yap yap
It's not just weed. It's a commodity that makes a fortune and that's what makes it dangerous.Golly, he's no dummy.Staff Sgt. Rick Barnum of Ontario's drug-enforcement squad said most Canadian-grown marijuana goes to the United States, where traffickers get $3,000 to $4,000 a pound in the East and as much as $7,000 in California.I thought it was generally the other way around - higher in the East than in California. Maybe we should call this the Prohibition Theory of Relativity.It is traded for cocaine and it hits the streets in Canada as a clean trade for cocaineI take this to mean "I want you to think I said it's traded pound for pound, like the playbook says, but I'm saying it with enough ambiguity so you can't call me on it."In some areas, educators claim anywhere from 25 per cent to 50 per cent of boys smoke it regularly.And a regulated legal market is supposed to make this worse?Genetic manipulation has produced strains 10 to 20 times more powerful than the weed smoked at the long-ago pop festivals of Woodstock, Altamont or Monterey. --- SQ lab tests show the average THC - the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana - of plants seized in the 1980s was about one per cent. --- "One guy we caught growing it called it wheelchair weed - one toke and you're paralyzed," a police officer said.Here we go again, and again, and ...
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on September 18, 2004 at 09:26:45 PT
Off Topic: Farm-Aid Webcast Today!
Starting at 4 today Farm Aid will be webcast for a $10 donation.Farm-Aid 2004: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/farmaid.htmMatthews, Young, Nelson and Mellencamp ready for 2004 benefit: The Farm Aid ArtistsTen New Artists Join 2004 Concert Lineup!Jerry Lee Lewis, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Trick Pony, Marc Broussard, Blue Merle, Kitty Jerry, Kate Voegele, Tony Coleman and Tegan and Sara have been added to the stellar lineup.If you know you can’t go, we are creating a new way for you to be there VIRTUALLY LIVE! We are going to WEBCAST the show right here on our website from 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM Pacific Time! http://www.farmaid.org/site/PageServer?pagename=concert_artistshttp://www.farmaid.org/site/PageServer?pagename=concert_home
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Comment #2 posted by knowhemp on September 18, 2004 at 09:16:48 PT
You think?
of course organzined crime is dangerous! get wise and relegalize!!
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Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on September 18, 2004 at 09:15:44 PT
So what are the options? 
Does this paper have anything to offer, other than alarmism? What are the alternatives? I see three: 1) continue current policy 2) legalize 3) crack down, spend tons of tax money and arrest & jail more people.
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