Pubdate: Mon, 28 Jun 2004 Source: Western Standard (Canada) Copyright: 2004 Western Standard Contact: http://www.westernstandard.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3448 Author: Peter Jaworski Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?196 (Emery, Marc) DESPERATE BEEF PRODUCERS LOOK TO DRUGS FOR RELIEF "Just read a news article regarding your offer of help for those down on our luck with the mad cow crisis happening recently. You know, you are the only person actually offering to DO SOMETHING to help. I would like to thank you on behalf of the industry for the offer." So begins an e-mail from "R.W." to Marc Emery, marijuana activist, publisher of Cannabis Culture magazine, and widely known as the "Prince of Pot." R.W. is a farmer somewhere in Saskatchewan, one of the many devastated by the crisis brought on by the worldwide embargo on Canadian beef, after an Alberta cow was diagnosed with BSE last May. The two may share a love for, well, agriculture, but it took the catastrophic consequences of BSE to bring the pair, from very different walks of life, together. Despite the farmer's gratitude, he doesn't want to publicly thank Emery for his aid package. In fact, he's requested anonymity. That's because Emery's offering to send beef producers something that's even more verboten than Canadian beef: a marijuana growing kit, complete with a lamp, nutrients, seeds and everything else they'll need to grow one pound of pot every two months. Emery's suggesting that farmers diversify into the narcotics business to supplement their income while they wait for beef prices to recover. The seeds, which yield high-potency marijuana strains, such as Afghanis and Northern Lights, as well as hash plants, take about 45 days to mature, and, unlike our homegrown beef right now, are highly marketable commodities, according to Emery. "They don't have a lot of experience in the business, so they have to have good stuff to at least make the sale," says Emery. If they do it right, Emery predicts the ranchers can take in an extra $2,000 every couple of months. Since Emery started the program in February, the response has been modest. So far, one farmer each in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan has taken Emery up on the offer. But, says the pot activist, there have been plenty more just writing to thank him for his efforts to at least try to help, even if they don't plan on getting into the trafficking business. Not surprisingly, Emery is a small-government kind of guy (he's been fighting Canada's pot laws for years) and says his efforts to help out are driven by his belief that the community should be the one coming to the aid of stricken beef producers, not government. "I guess I'm opposed to all business bailouts, including for farmers," he says. "I guess that's what brought this on--I don't believe in government action in the economy, but I believe that people have to take the initiative to help others. So I'm kind of like an old-world conservative: I believe in private contributions to help people out of a mess." Predictably, there are few willing to endorse Emery's initiative, even though they admire his charitable spirit. When contacted for comment, a spokesperson from the Canadian Cattlemen's Association laughed at the scheme. Ron Glaser, spokesman for the Alberta Beef Producers, chuckled a bit, too, and says farm diversification is a good policy, but not when it involves crops like this. "We certainly appreciate all of the support we receive from Canadians of all walks of life, but recommending that producers who are struggling move into illegal activities--that's just foolish," he says. Federal Minister of Agriculture Bob Speller declined comment, but a spokeswoman said the idea is "not something he would chuckle about." Emery isn't discouraged and says his offer is still open to farmers who can prove they are the genuine article (he insists on seeing cattle sale receipts as proof that they are "real farmers dealing in cattle"). He says he knows he's doing the right thing when he hears from farmers like R.W., who recently wrote to Emery to share the enthusiasm he and his wife have about the new venture. "We are excited, and a little nervous about our new proposition," he writes. But, concludes R.W., "I'm happy I decided to e-mail you. Thank-you so much. It's been pretty depressing out here the last couple years. You've got two older folks acting like kids, which we haven't done in a long time." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake