From the head of DEA to the pimple-faced skater punk, everybody knows that you can't kill weed - you may as well try to rid the world of dandelions and rainbows. Ready or not, weed will do what weeds do - they spread. But not to worry Mr. and Mrs. Buzzkill; think of marijuana as a phase that society is going through. Like a teenager going through a rebellious stage. Just like 99.9 per cent of the people reading this, teenagers will also try things like alcohol, tobacco and fornication. [continues 512 words]
Donald Trump bumbled into the debate over repealing Obamacare, insisting that "nobody knew" health care was so complicated. Justin Trudeau may be thinking the same about his plan to legalize recreational marijuana. Converting a $7-billion-a-year black market into a government-regulated industry is proving to be, well, complicated. One of the thorniest problems will be deciphering the economics of taxing marijuana. Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau and his provincial counterparts agreed this week on the principle of keeping taxes low and co-ordinating related policies. But virtually all the key details remain unresolved as the clock ticks down to planned legalization a year from now. [continues 523 words]
City eyes temporary ban on commercial marijuana outlets The City of Prince Rupert stepped into hazy territory Monday night when councillors discussed how to navigate the potential legalization of marijuana. Currently, if the federal government legalized cannabis this year, as it has stated, the absence of zoning or business licensing bylaws in the city may lead to the Wild West. "At this time as well, it's not possible for the city to develop effective and also fair regulations governing commercial marijuana operations in the city without first knowing the federal and provincial frameworks," said Hans Seidemann, the manager of community development for the city, who presented the report to council Jan. 9. [continues 494 words]
Margaret Trudeau gives impassioned speech on mental illness at UFV Margaret Trudeau, a self-described hippie child of the 60s and 70s, has spent much of her 68 years in the spotlight - a light whose glare has been less than flattering at times. Her name was first plastered across Canadian headlines in 1971, when she married Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, a man nearly 30 years her senior. She remained in public view for many years after, as that marriage fell apart, as she partied with celebrities, when her youngest son died and, more recently, when her son Justin Trudeau, followed his father's path to the prime minister's office in 2015. [continues 746 words]
BC growers worry they will be cut out of the equation as governments move towards legalization. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's promise to legalize marijuana could cripple an underground economy in British Columbia that experts at Simon Fraser University's Sauder School of Business estimate is worth $2 to $5 billion dollars a year. "Cannabis is the economic backbone of most small towns across this province," says Teresa Taylor, co-founder of "Craft Cannabis," a BC-based group of small marijuana producers who supply dispensaries, medical marijuana patients and recreational users. [continues 1583 words]
There's a whiff of change in the air, so to speak, says Grace McGregor. The board chair and Area C director for the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) was speaking about the complex medical marijuana issue often splashed across the country in media headlines. The subject hit home last week when Brian Taylor, a Grand Forks councillor and long time medical cannabis activist, provided insight to the medical marijuana juggernaut in a presentation to regional directors during the Feb. 25 board meeting in Trail. [continues 997 words]
In the latest taxpayer-funded mailout to all households in his Hastings-Prince Edward riding, our illustrious member of Parliament asks us if we are feeling safer these days. Daryl Kramp wants our feedback, postage-free (read: We are all paying for this with our taxes), sent back to him in Ottawa. Within that same mailout we are told exactly how the Harper Government has made us safer. So, naturally, our answers should be, "Yes. I feel safer. Thank God for Mr. Harper." [continues 880 words]
Provocative poet devoted his life to the marginalized Vancouver poet and social activist Bud Osborn, who helped found the harm reduction program VANDU (Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users), has died at the age of 66. Osborn, who lived in poverty himself and was a former drug addict, was outraged by the living conditions of people in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and dedicated most of his life advocating for them, said longtime friend and VANDU co-founder Anne Livingston. "His poetry captures the raw horror of being abandoned, poor, cold and lonely," she said. [continues 380 words]
What Legal Pot in the US Means for BC Drug Gangs IT'S OFFICIAL: British Columbia, once North America's pre-eminent destination for weed, now runs a distant third. This spring, the government of Washington state (hot on Colorado's heels) achieved the impossible, becoming in essence a purveyor of recreational marijuana. Just over a year after regulation was voted in, the policy apparatus is finally in place for buyers of age to choose from a variety of retailers, strains, and products, with restrictions limited to public consumption and driving under the influence. While some British Columbians may feel the sting of being replaced, they can take consolation in knowing that Washington's legalization of cannabis was partly motivated by a homegrown issue in BC: its legion of drug gangs. [continues 838 words]
'We know that we can't advertise. We know that we can't solicit' Proponents of Canada's new medical marijuana program promise patients will eventually have an abundance of choices. Even now, with just 11 commercial entities licensed so far, there's pot worth bragging about. Toronto's Bedrocan Canada is bringing in strains of marijuana its Netherlands affiliate has spent nearly a decade perfecting. And Markham's MedReleaf Corp.'s offerings will originate with a respected Israeli producer. Meanwhile, Vancouver Island's ThunderBird Biomedical Inc. is proud to offer a homegrown solution. "It's called BC Bud worldwide because we know what to do," said a representative by email. "Why on Earth would we import it? Do the French import Australian Champagne? ... We have Grand Cru here." [continues 733 words]
To the Editor, Re: Marijuana 'reeferendum' misguided, BC Views, Oct. 10. There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and protecting children from drugs. Decriminalization as proposed by "Sensible B.C." acknowledges the social reality of marijuana and spares users criminal records. That's a step in the right direction. What's really needed is a legally regulated market with age controls. Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. As long as organized crime controls marijuana distribution, consumers will come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like cocaine, meth and heroin. This "gateway" is a direct result of marijuana prohibition. [continues 80 words]
Top cops from across the country think ticketing for pot possession is better than jail. Nelson Police Department's Wayne Holland is among Canadian chiefs of police who met in Winnipeg this week where a resolution was passed suggesting officers should have the option of writing tickets to penalize pot users caught with less than 30 grams of bud. Canadian chiefs say this would be more effective and efficient than laying criminal charges. Holland agrees that this process would eliminate unnecessary red tape for both law enforcement and the public. A ticket would mean no criminal record, no court costs, no cost of a lawyer and the matter would come to a quick conclusion unless the ticket was challenged. [continues 460 words]
When it comes to the legalization of marijuana, I find myself in a quandary. I firmly believe people should be allowed to do as they please, provided they're only doing it to themselves. In any case, no amount of enforcement can stop the supply of drugs because no amount of enforcement can stop the demand. Faced with this reality, legalization is the philosophically appealing policy. But what about the practical considerations? British Columbia is the heartland of Canada's pot culture, with domestic consumption estimated on the order of $ 500 million annually. [continues 451 words]
Portland, ore. - Now that marijuana is legal in neighboring Washington state, Portland police are offering some helpful advice to Oregon pot users. Sure, you can go over to Washington state to "smoke some weed," a police advisory states, but you might get arrested for driving under the influence if you're pulled over coming home, even if you're on a bike. And if you are among the 55,000 people with an Oregon medical marijuana card, Portland police say you'll be able to get your allowed amount of medicine in Washington state. Still, even though you now can't get busted for toking in Tacoma or elsewhere in Washington (though you could get a ticket for public use), it will be a year before selling or buying it is legal. [continues 729 words]
"Except as authorized under the regulations, no person shall possess =C2=85 cannabis, its preparations, derivatives and similar synthetic preparations, including =C2=85 cannabis (marihuana)." - Controlled Drugs and Substances Act More than twice as many marijuana possession charges have been laid in Nelson in recent years compared to a decade ago. The Vancouver Sun reported last week on the rise in charges for simple possession province-wide: 88 per cent between 2002 and 2011, far in excess of the population increase over the same period. [continues 713 words]
In Tuesday's United States election, 55 per cent of Washington voters supported a state initiative to make it legal for residents to have up to an ounce of marijuana in their possession for recreational use. Colorado voters also supported a similar initiative. Previously both states only allowed possession of marijuana for medical purposes, which is also what's permitted in Canada. Don Skogstad, a criminal lawyer who splits his time between Nelson and Penticton, supports Canada-wide drug reform and has become the go-to lawyer for people in this area facing drug-related charges. He said unlike across the border where marijuana laws can change state by state, BC can't legalize recreational marijuana on its own. Ottawa would have to make that decision for the whole country. [continues 549 words]
In B.C. Passing Initiative 502 and legalizing marijuana could be one of the best ways to reduce gang violence in British Columbia, according to guest columnists Evan Wood and David Bratzer. ARE you aware that passing Initiative 502 is one of the best ways to reduce international gang violence? Like the violent cartels gripping Mexico, British Columbia is affected by the organized-crime groups which control its huge marijuana industry. These gangs produce and export BC Bud to American consumers, including the 6.8 million residents of Washington state. [continues 611 words]
Medicinal marijuana users in the Tri-Cities will no longer have to travel to dispensaries in Vancouver to buy their bud. Coquitlam Natural Path Society opened a facility in Maillardville and has been selling marijuana to licensed users since last Wednesday. Christopher MacLeod, the operator of the shop, said the location (931 Brunette Ave.) will make it easier for people, who often suffer from chronic pain, to access their medication. "The stigma is starting to dissipate," he said. "I have been very surprised at how the local community has been." [continues 299 words]
Whereas I applaud Cpl. Scott Hilderley's community concern for our younger citizens, I feel that he has somehow missed the mark. Of course we do not want our children or grand-children using marijuana, anymore than we would like to see them using alcohol or tobacco. I understand that his point has to do with making healthy choices, but my point is, that these latter two products are legal, and where we, as a society, have decided that one must be of a certain age to purchase them, they are still offered for sale. Under discussion therefore, is not whether marijuana has benefits or not, but that this substance is illegal under the criminal code. [continues 183 words]
RICHMOND B.C. -- Another person -- a teenaged boy -- has died from an ecstasy overdose in Vancouver this month, bringing to 19 the number of ecstasy-related death in the past six months in B.C. Ecstasy is described as a "recreational" drug. It makes you feel warm and outgoing. It makes you want to hug everyone. Kids used to go to raves to do ecstasy and dance the night away. Now they go to house parties in the tony West Side of Vancouver to do the drug. [continues 667 words]
