Pubdate: Thu, 08 Nov 2012
Source: Monday Magazine (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Monday Publications
Contact: http://mondaymag.com/contact/
Website: http://www.mondaymag.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1150
Author: Grant McKenzie

DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY

B.C. is going to have a difficult time shaking its hippy reputation
with a recent Angus Reid poll saying that an overwhelming two-thirds
of British Columbians are now in favour of revamping our country's
outdated criminal code to make smoking and growing marijuana legal.

Somewhere in Alberta, a cowboy just did a spit-take from his bottle of
beer while resting his snakeskin boots on the bitumen-encrusted chrome
siderail of an SUV larger than some of Victoria's new breed of studio
condos: "for the single person who likes to use the washroom and cook
breakfast at the same time."

The reason for the spit-take, however, is only partially because of
our collective moral stand on both the medical and recreational use of
this mild intoxicant, and more on the business model we want to see in
place of illegal drug trafficking.

In the poll, released last week, responders said they want to see a
move away from prohibition toward a system of regulation and taxation.

In other words: Green Gold.

Alberta has its Black Gold - ours happens to be green, and while
Alberta's oil industry is based on non-replenishing fossil fuels, B.C.
could become a world leader in renewable, organic cannabis.

Unfortunately, unlike the oil industry, the legalization of marijuana
would only be a small blip on our economic radar. Regulation and
taxation won't suddenly fill our financial coffers with billions of
dollars in revenue. Instead, it will turn your neighbourhood dope
dealer into the equivalent of your neighbourhood liquor store. Even
more likely, is that your neighbourhood liquor store will simply start
carrying a fine selection of micro-grown cannabis to complement its
selection of micro-brewed beer.

Instead of a discount plastic baggie filled with no-name buds, you'll
be presented with funky packaging, custom labels and manicured
product. Entrepreneurs will research some of your father's and
grandfather's favourite pipe-tobacco blends to offer hydroponic bud
combined with essence of cherry, chocolate, licorice or mint.

Legalization won't be the downfall of civilization nor will it be our
economic saviour, but it will get one more silly regulation off our
plate. Our biggest boon will be in saving time and money on policing,
prosecution, court costs, jail time, etc., that we are currently
flushing down the toilet. Nobody, not even our local police, wants to
spend time busting someone for smoking weed when those resources are
better spent protecting society from real and dangerous criminals.

The other upside will be fewer loopholes for people who depend on
medical marijuana to better their lives. Our current medical marijuana
dispenseries are held together on a shoestring - and that's just wrong.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt