Should Marijuana Be Legal?

[The_Squid]

Even conservative leaning MDs won't sign on to their BS. That's good to see. Smart people are not fooled by this gov't. That's why the Harper gov't wages class-warfare on those types of people. I.e. scientists, academics, etc.

[jacee]

A little more back and forth ... but the doctors aren't budging:

http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/#!/content/1.2739666

Ambrose told reporters the initiative came from the doctors, but the CMA also rejected that assertion.

The Canadian Medical Association called for a national marijuana-smoking cessation campaign for youth and I agreed. Health Canadas campaign is in response to that," Ambrose said.

In a late statement issued on Monday, the group responded by saying "the CMA is on record as calling for a public education campaign on the dangers of marijuana use by youth.

"We did not ask for a multi-million-dollar taxpayer-funded advertising campaign to be turned into a political football."

.

Edited August 19, 2014 by jacee

[PIK]

All because Justin cried about it being political when it was not.

[Smallc]

Yes blame Trudeau for everything.

[PrimeNumber]

The doctors will never budge now, it's the timing of the whole thing. Emery gets released, comes back, does a tour promoting the Libs and their Mary Jane policy. Alll the sudden the Tories want an ad they can throw back at Trudy to get the illinformed back on board. "Oh no, we must vote conservative to save the children!!" If they would of done it sooner the doctors might have signed on board. As dumb as it sounds and like it or not but Marijuana laws will be the biggest minor policy of this coming election. You'll be surprised at how many normaly no shows will be out next year tallying one more up for the liberals if their policy on legalization stays the same.

[jacee]

All because Justin cried about it being political when it was not.

Oh yes it certainly was and is political!

http://ww2.nationalpost.com/m/wp/blog.html?b=news.nationalpost.com/2014/08/17/justin-trudeau-defends-marijuana-stance-says-he-wont-let-tory-attack-ads-knock-him-off-course

The Tories have also used Trudeaus position on marijuana legalization to launch attack ads and circulate flyers that claim the Liberal leader plans to make it easier for children to obtain marijuana.

And as I said before ... the Conservatives must think their supporters are pretty stupid if they think they're going to believe that crap. Pretty insulting to Con supporters really.

It's a lowlife attack and a loser strategy.

.

Edited August 20, 2014 by jacee

[On Guard for Thee]

All because Justin cried about it being political when it was not.

When was it ever NOT political? At least in your lifetime.

[On Guard for Thee]

I find it so sleazy that after Harper made his statement to Mansbridge in an interview a while ago the when you buy that mj cigarette you aren't buying it from your neighbour but from the Mexican cartels.....and on and on with his pitch to his bae he now, through Mackay comes out with the idea of relaxed pot laws only once again because he can see a few votes by once again tilting at windmills as Trudeau pulls further ahead in the polls. At least JT has the guts to state his case and stick to it.

[Boges]

I find it so sleazy that after Harper made his statement to Mansbridge in an interview a while ago the when you buy that mj cigarette you aren't buying it from your neighbour but from the Mexican cartels.....and on and on with his pitch to his bae he now, through Mackay comes out with the idea of relaxed pot laws only once again because he can see a few votes by once again tilting at windmills as Trudeau pulls further ahead in the polls. At least JT has the guts to state his case and stick to it.

Their plans for decriminalization isn't new.

It actually can make money where outright criminalization costs money.

[waldo]

Their plans for decriminalization isn't new.

wrong talking point, hey Boges! Quick... someone needs to update Harper Conservative Justice Minister Peter MacKay:

But he stressed again Tuesday that the government remains opposed to decriminalizing or legalizing marijuana.

"We believe the harmful effects on the development of health and welfare of children in particular warrants holding the line and looking for ways in which we can assist the police in their ability to protect communities and their ability, in this instance, to make marijuana less readily available," MacKay said.

"I don't believe that the position of others to normalize marijuana, to make it more available to young people, is the direction you will ever see coming from our government."

[Mighty AC]

Their plans for decriminalization isn't new.

Just 3 years ago they "stongly agreed" that simple possession should be a criminal offence. They have also doubled the maximum jail term for growing while also adding mandatory 6-month jail terms for the possession of as little as 6 plants.

Good thing the Libs and the rest of the country are moving in the right direction. The only downside that I see to JT's plan to legalize it, is that my pothead friends will have nothing left to talk about.

Edited August 20, 2014 by Mighty AC

[On Guard for Thee]

Just 3 years ago they "stongly agreed" that simple possession should be a criminal offence. They have also doubled the maximum jail term for growing while also adding mandatory 6-month jail terms for the possession of as little as 6 plants.

Good thing the Libs and the rest of the country are moving in the right direction. The only downside that I see to JT's plan to legalize it, is that my pothead friends will have nothing left to talk about.

I heard an interview not long ago with a Vancouver based criminal lawyer who discussed this 6plant/6month law and he claimed after a review of court dockets that it would add approx. 4000 people to the prison population. A recent report says the average cost housing persons in the prison system here is 117K annually. So basically Harper is costing a lot of dough simply to screw peoples lives up while garnering a few votes from what he deems is his party base.

[overthere]

I find it so sleazy that after Harper made his statement to Mansbridge in an interview a while ago the when you buy that mj cigarette you aren't buying it from your neighbour but from the Mexican cartels.....and on and on with his pitch to his bae he now, through Mackay comes out with the idea of relaxed pot laws only once again because he can see a few votes by once again tilting at windmills as Trudeau pulls further ahead in the polls. At least JT has the guts to state his case and stick to it.

I don't know about Eastern Canada but the wholesale weed business in the West is not run by neighbour or the Mexicans. It is dominated by bikers who don't wear their colours or ride bikes when they are working. It is a very large and profitable business, pretty safe too since their customers are frequently middle class middle aged people. They buy entire crops on contract from small growers. The greatest danger in growing weed is not the cultivation, it is selling the product. The penalties for trafficking are far worse than for growing, and the bikers take care of that with a single transaction

[On Guard for Thee]

I don't know about Eastern Canada but the wholesale weed business in the West is not run by neighbour or the Mexicans. It is dominated by bikers who don't wear their colours or ride bikes when they are working. It is a very large and profitable business, pretty safe too since their customers are frequently middle class middle aged people. They buy entire crops on contract from small growers. The greatest danger in growing weed is not the cultivation, it is selling the product. The penalties for trafficking are far worse than for growing, and the bikers take care of that with a single transaction

Well my point is that whatever criminal element is currently profiting from pot sales I would much rather either grow my own (if I had the space and time) or pay my neighbour/friend for their efforts. Because let's face it, if you or I decide to go get a joint (I'm not making any assumptions here) we could "git r' dun" pretty quick, with or without Harper's blessing.

[overthere]

Well my point is that whatever criminal element is currently profiting from pot sales I would much rather either grow my own (if I had the space and time) or pay my neighbour/friend for their efforts. Because let's face it, if you or I decide to go get a joint (I'm not making any assumptions here) we could "git r' dun" pretty quick, with or without Harper's blessing.

Harper or Trudeau or anybody else wont change the relationship that many Canadians have with the occasional joint.

All of this-all- is just posturing. Really, nobody including the cops gives a shit.

[eyeball]

I think most weed grown in BC is grown in small amounts for personal use...like people who make their own wine. What little excess comes from that might be sold to offset hydro bills.

I'd be very surprised to see much tax revenue from BC.

[On Guard for Thee]

I think most weed grown in BC is grown in small amounts for personal use...like people who make their own wine. What little excess comes from that might be sold to offset hydro bills.

I'd be very surprised to see much tax revenue from BC.

Oh I don't know, various reports put the value of BC pot around 6 billion bucks with something like 40% of the pot used in the country grown here. Stands to reason given the climate and the lay of the land. Now if you legalize it, we're talking money almost literally growing on trees.

[WestCoastRunner]

I think most weed grown in BC is grown in small amounts for personal use...like people who make their own wine. What little excess comes from that might be sold to offset hydro bills.

I'd be very surprised to see much tax revenue from BC.

A report done in 2012 shows a potential 2.5 billion over 5 years in tax revenue.

[eyeball]

I'll believe it when I see it, like legalization.

[PIK]

So the government sells it, nobody else will?? Come on people, the government will sell shitty weed for a big buck. Anyways harper said not to long ago , that they are looking at it again and I will bet he will come out with a softer approach for it.

Edited August 20, 2014 by PIK

[eyeball]

So the government sells it, nobody else will?? Come on people, the government will sell shitty weed for a big buck.

Exactly. And people are turning away from bikers and big corporations for the same reason. High cost and shitty quality.

[Mighty AC]

I heard an interview not long ago with a Vancouver based criminal lawyer who discussed this 6plant/6month law and he claimed after a review of court dockets that it would add approx. 4000 people to the prison population. A recent report says the average cost housing persons in the prison system here is 117K annually. So basically Harper is costing a lot of dough simply to screw peoples lives up while garnering a few votes from what he deems is his party base.

I suspect the Conservative plan is to eventually privatize the prison system. At some point they will use those same costs they have helped to increase to justify handing the mega jails over to private corporations. Kind of like using their own spending increases to justify gutting any department not inline with the CPC agenda like science, research, environment, etc.

[On Guard for Thee]

I suspect the Conservative plan is to eventually privatize the prison system. At some point they will use those same costs they have helped to increase to justify handing the mega jails over to private corporations. Kind of like using their own spending increases to justify gutting any department not inline with the CPC agenda like science, research, environment, etc.

As frightening as that scenario sounds, especially when you can just look south of the border to see how bad such a system can be, it certainly seems plausable. I recall hearing an interview with Harper were he stated the feds weren't building any new prisons. Didn't take long to ferret out that ruse in that in fact they are spending in the billions (dodn't have the exact numbers at hand just now) to add to EXISTING prisons. Typical CPC shell games. So yeah, build 'em. fill 'em up. and sell 'em off. And what the hell, while we're at it lets sell off healthcare to Haliburton.

[eyeball]

This fusion of big governments and big business will also occur under a Liberal government. The payoff for politicians and bureaucrats who facilitate this is the old revolving door to personal fortune and padded opportunity.

[scribblet]

Well, the CMA delegates are against it.

http://www.canada.com/Delegates+Canadian+Medical+Association+meeting+vote+oppose+smoking+plant+substance/10134228/story.html

They already opposed tobacco. Now the nation’s doctors say Canadians shouldn’t smoke “any plant material” whatsoever, including marijuana.