Buggernut Posted November 15, 2012 Share Posted November 15, 2012 The US federal government is still formulating its response to the recent initiatives passed in Washington and Colorado legalizing marijuana. Washington Governor Chris Christie plans to push ahead unless the feds obtain a court injunction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronthecivil Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 Now that's a referendum worth signing. Simply not enforcing the law sounds good to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wetcoaster Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 Now if only our own Christie would likewise fight for the democratic will of the British Columbian people. Referendum needed on policing of marijuana in B.C Vancouver SunNovember 15, 2012 http://www.vancouver...com/7551575.bin According to a recent survey, 75 per cent of British Columbians said they favour taxation and regulation of marijuana instead of prosecuting users. Photograph by: Ed Andrieski, The Associated Press, Vancouver Sun At this point, no one needs to be told that the war on marijuana has been a dismal failure. Or almost no one. After all, there is abundant evidence from around the world, and from right here in British Columbia, that marijuana prohibition has failed to achieve any of its stated objectives. Indeed, as governments spent trillions - yes, trillions - of dollars prosecuting the war on drugs, marijuana use rates increased, with the potency of the drug increasing and its price decreasing. And while failing to solve any problems, marijuana prohibition generated entirely new ones. British Columbians are all too familiar with one of those problems: Gang warfare, as gangs compete for control of the extraordinarily lucrative marijuana market. The evidence of the failure of marijuana prohibition is therefore abundant and compelling. So compelling, in fact, that an amazing array of individuals and organizations has called for an end to this failed experiment. Illustrious individuals who support ending the war on marijuana include former B.C. Attorneys General Geoff Plant, Ujjal Dosanjh, Graeme Bow-brick and Colin Gabelmann, and former Vancouver mayors Sam Sullivan, Larry Campbell, Philip Owen and Mike Harcourt, and current mayor Gregor Robertson. And organizations that have registered their support for ending the war include the Union of BC Municipalities, the Health Officers Council of BC and Perry Kendall, B.C.'s Chief Medical Officer, the Canadian Public Health Association, academics and researchers with Stop the Violence BC, the law enforcement group Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, the federal Liberal and New Democratic parties, the B.C. New Democratic Party and many newspapers, including The Vancouver Sun. Perhaps most important of all, the public has got the message: According to a survey conducted at the end of October, 75 per cent of B.C. respondents said they favour taxation and regulation of marijuana instead of prosecuting marijuana users. And only 14 per cent believe possession of marijuana should lead to a criminal record. You could say, then, that ending marijuana prohibition is a no brainer. And yet, the very organization capable of doing so - the federal Conservative party - remains steadfast in its opposition to ending the war. In fact, the Conservatives favour mandatory prison sentences for non-violent marijuana offences - a move that will further play into the hands of organized crime, as it will scare away mom-and-pop outfits and leave more business for the gangsters. And B.C. Premier Christy Clark has endorsed the federal Conservatives plans, and yet has never explained how it is she plans to reduce the violence associated with the marijuana trade and marijuana prohibition. Clearly, then, we can't expect our leaders to exercise leadership on this issue. Hence, much as Americans have been doing for some time - and as Washington state, our closest neighbour, just did last week by ending marijuana prohibition - we must take matters into our hands by holding a provincial referendum on the matter. Although criminal law is a federal matter and therefore beyond the authority of the provinces, provinces are responsible for the administration of justice, including policing priorities. British Columbia can therefore amend its Police Act to direct police away from taking any action against individuals for marijuana possession, while treating underage marijuana possession the way we currently treat underage drinking. In effect, this would amount to refusing to enforce the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act when it comes to adult possession of marijuana, much as B.C. (and seven other provinces) refused to enforce the federal Firearms Act due to opposition to the Long Gun Registry. The organization Sensible BC has drafted the Sensible Policing Act, which would amend the Police Act in the aforementioned way, and is calling on the government to pass the act. But it is also hoping for a provincial referendum on the issue, which would be held at the next provincial election in September 2014. Yet to have a provincial vote on the matter, Sensible BC must get the signed support of 10 per cent of registered voters in every riding. If you care about the violence that has wracked our province and wish to help make B.C. safer, all you have to do is visit, and register at www.sensiblebc.ca. © Copyright © The Vancouver Sun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronthecivil Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 The problem is this is a matter of federal, not provincial jurisdiction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blame Obama Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 So prices are starting to surface estimating $300/ounce in Washington.. which is pretty damn cheap for an ounce, and can only get cheaper as legalised marijuana further legitimises and people who fell for government propaganda slowly realise your brain isn't an egg getting smashed by a frying pan when you take a hit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aGENT Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 300 1oz? that isnt cheap.. maybe 130-180 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wetcoaster Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 Then let the feds pay for the policing, court costs, and jails. Operation "the cheques in the mail" is a highly effective manoevre..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Ambien Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 *For BC. It's a touch riskier and hence costlier to buy in the US especially as they get a lot of product from here there's more mark up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aGENT Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 It depends, if you go to certain districts in the city (SF), or Berkeley, you can get it probably $50-100/oz, with no guarantee of course you're getting quality, but elsewhere you're looking at ridiculously inflated prices. It doesn't seem much cheaper in Ontario either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avelanch Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 the good thing about the washington law (for the users) is that sellers will be required to test and label their THC content (just like alcohol %) so you'll know the strength and most growers will try to compete on quality. sure there will be discount brands that sell crap quality (just like alcohol), but within each level of THC amounts there will be premium brands, value brands, and low quality brands that sell for cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canucks since 77 Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 The government realizes that pot is something people can grow right? How are they gonna know if the ounce that people are carrying around was grown or bought legally from the government? Something tells me the government bud will be weak. Just a hunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
key2thecup Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 OH NO YOU DON'T! United Nations Moves to Impose International Treaties On States Legalizing Marijuana The United Nations has declared Colorado and Washington in violation of international treaties following ballot initiatives that have legalized the recreational use of marijuana. The President of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Raymond Yans, has voiced “grave concern about the outcome of recent referenda in the United States of America that would allow the non-medical use of cannabis by adults in the states of Colorado and Washington, and in some cities in the states of Michigan and Vermont,” according to an INCB press release. The INCB is a quasi-judicial “control organ” for the implementation of the United Nations drug conventions. Mr. Yans said the referendum in Colorado and Washington state “are in violation of the international drug control treaties, and pose a great threat to public health and the well-being of society far beyond those states.” Yans cited the standard nanny-state reasons for dictating what consenting adult Americans put in their bodies, including mental disorders, and cited the welfare of children as a primary concern of the internationalist organization. “Legalization of cannabis within these states would send wrong and confusing signals to youth and society in general, giving the false impression that drug abuse might be considered normal and even, most disturbingly, safe. Such a development could result in the expansion of drug abuse, especially among young people, and we must remember that all young people have a right to be protected from drug abuse and drug dependency,” the globalist bureaucrat said. Yans called for the U.S. federal government to “resolve the contradiction between the federal and state levels in the implementation of that country’s obligations under the drug control conventions” and demanded it “take the necessary measures to ensure full compliance with the international drug control treaties within the entire territory of the United States, in order to protect the health and well-being of its citizens.” In other words, the United Nations insists the federal government perpetuate the destructive and expensive War on Drugs that has fostered a massive prison-industrial complex and ruined countless lives over the last few decades. As a consequence of the War on Drugs, the prison population in the United States has quadrupled since 1980, primarily as a direct result of mandatory sentencing for drug crimes. Around half of all inmates in federal prisons are there for drug offenses and more than 45 percent of all drug possession arrests in the U.S. last year were for marijuana, according to the FBI’s annual crime report. The United Nations supports this insanity with its call for the United States to obey international drug treaties. Marijuana legalization is a classic states’ rights and federalist issue. “States should be allowed to make a lot of these decisions,” Rand Paul said earlier this week when asked about marijuana legalization. “I want things to be decided more at a local basis, with more compassion. I think it would make us as Republicans different.” “I think, for example, we should tell young people, ‘I’m not in favor of you smoking pot, but if you get caught smoking pot, I don’t want to put you in jail for 20 years,’” Paul said. Fortunately, the tide is slowly turning and many states are finally realizing the War on Drugs is not only grossly unfair, but an immense waste of law enforcement resources and tax payer money. The United Nations is attempting to insert itself in decisions made by the states and by doing so is acting to perpetuate the War on Drugs. Americans should not only ignore the United Nations and the INCB Secretariat, but the federal government as well when it comes to decisions made by citizens on the local level. http://www.infowars....zing-marijuana/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aGENT Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 The best the UN can come up with is the same tired, old and inaccurate arguments against marijuana? Seriously? Legalizing/decriminalizing it will "expand drug use, especially amongst young people"? Really? Despite that everywhere it has been decriminalized has actually seen a DECREASE in general drug use AND youth drug use? Why we continue to let people with archaic mindsets tell us how to live is a mystery to me. I know evolution is slow but come on people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronthecivil Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 It does not work that way under our Constitution. The provinces are charged with the following under s. 92 (14) of the Constitution Act 1867: The Administration of Justice in the Province, including the Constitution, Maintenance, and Organization of Provincial Courts, both of Civil and of Criminal Jurisdiction, and including Procedure in Civil Matters in those Courts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aGENT Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 I know. But as administrators of justice we can simply do a very bad job prosecuting. So much so that every case gets thrown out before it even gets to court. After all, the fact that serious crimes like assault are being tossed out of court due to delays is a problem right now. As admins you have to figure out how to make the system flow better. So we simply decide to put the offenses we don't want to enforce at the back of the line by default. Ergo "the cheques in the mail". If the feds get upset about not prosecuting the law, you say "we are! Look, they are in line to be done. We will get to it as soon as we can." Easy breasy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wetcoaster Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 The best the UN can come up with is the same tired, old and inaccurate arguments against marijuana? Seriously? Legalizing/decriminalizing it will "expand drug use, especially amongst young people"? Really? Despite that everywhere it has been decriminalized has actually seen a DECREASE in general drug use AND youth drug use? Why we continue to let people with archaic mindsets tell us how to live is a mystery to me. I know evolution is slow but come on people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aGENT Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Remember these provisions about marijuana exist because of intense pressure by the US of A to include them in the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and it has been the US of A which has been providing the most funds and resources to the International Narcotics Control Board for the War on Drugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefan Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 I don't understand how legalising marijuana would send the signal to society and youth that drug abuse is ok. Alcohol is legalised. Does that impose a message that being an alcoholic is good? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
key2thecup Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 I don't understand how legalising marijuana would send the signal to society and youth that drug abuse is ok. Alcohol is legalised. Does that impose a message that being an alcoholic is good? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wetcoaster Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 And...? Does that make the comments less ignorant? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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