Progress In Vancouver BC

[Alaskan Biker]

I have as yet been unable to confirm this from any other sources of news but thought some of you might find this of intrest.



http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/4573.html

[Stygian23]

If things keep moving this way in British Columbia, I think I might seriously consider emigrating to Canada. Never thought I would say that.

[Alaskan Biker]

Your not the only one considering it I moved to Alaska 2 years before they recriminalized cannabis and after taking about 12 long years to get it legal in this state again I have decided if they ever put us through that crap again I think I am going to emigrate to Canada I love the BC area anyway the land is just beyond words and the bud is world class.

[DoctorJim]

Canada would have decriminalized long ago. The difficulty is that we need to keep our Southern neighbours happy. We are too laid back, and we have relied on the US for defense instead of defending ourselves. As a result our politicians tend to act on what keeps our major trading partner happy, rather than what is sensible or economical. We have little choice as the alternative would likely be invasion just like Third World countries also unable to defend themselves.
Our legal system would far sooner concentrate on "real" crime however we must keep tabs on the evil weed to prevent the bible thumpers from invading. Oddly, we consider guns criminal and not a Constitutional Right. I haven't heard of anyone being killed by a joint during the commission of a crime...
Unfortunately, as long as Americans continue to elect hippocritical morons to lead their country, Canada will be unable to follow through with the promises our politicians have been making for 25 years.
As a quick bit of history: Canada never had any desire to enact Alcohol Prohibition and the effort was pretty lame by all standards. As a result, Canada was the major pipeline for illicit alcohol during Prohibition and viewed as the enemy of the USA. Today I would wonder if any lessons have been learned. The thousands of Amercian citizens who make an honest living producing Kentucky Bourbon and or serving clientele in California Martini bars were felony criminals - as were their customers.
Anyone who thinks dinosaurs are extinct should meet Dubya and the Dick.

[woody]

Got a Aunt and a load of cousins in North Vancouver who keep telling me to come and visit...think i'll have to price some flights up

[Lafe]

DoctorJim wrote:

Anyone who thinks dinosaurs are extinct should meet Dubya and the Dick.

Give me a fucking break, please. To put this on Bush is just plain ignorant. Last time I looked, Clinton didn't do shit either, but this doesn't happen at the national level. It happens one municipality at a time. This didn't start on January 21, 2000.

Don't forget: piss Clinton off and he'll put a cruise missile on your aspirin factory. Talk about a true hypocrite - Mr. "but I didn't inhale", and he's the one who might have gotten something done given his admission of MJ use. Got any harsh words for Clinton? I didn't think so.

Don't put it on Bush for the sake of Bush-bashing. Every time someone does this in an otherwise cogent argument, the credibility meter dips well below zero.

sheesh......

[DoctorJim]

It was meant to be diplomatic rather than tarring all Americans with the same brush. All Canadians worship the ground the USA walks on and the hidden truth is that we have the highest respect for that brilliant President Bush... Although the average Canadian had a hell of a lot more respect for Bill Clinton since he and his adminstration came across as "educated" compared to the current Gong Show.

Possibly the average American feels that it is fair for the US to extradite a Canadian born citizen to the US for selling seeds by mail. Due to lack of internal security the world is a stage to invade and punish as only the Americans can see fit. The war on terror includes drugs and even their next-door neighbour is the enemy who must be taught a lesson. The first step is start to building a fence to the north just like the Mexican border but those Canadian bastards will just tunnel under it anyway.

There is no point in furthering this debate - Americans are ALWAYS right. Just don't be expecting any major changes to Canadian drug laws until the USA changes themselves.

[Lafe]

Although the average Canadian had a hell of a lot more respect for Bill Clinton since he and his adminstration came across as "educated" compared to the current Gong Show.

Yes, "came across" being the operative phrase here. Does getting your dick sucked in the Oval Office and then lying about it under oath to federal grand jury during a civil sexual harassment case brought forth by Arkansas trailer trash he couldn't keep said dick out of in years previous qualify as "educated" to the average Canadian? I sure as hell hope not.

You make some good points but you undermine your own argument by putting U.S. "drug" policy solely on the current administration. It's been going on for quite some time.

The current Gong Show inherited a shitstorm from the previous Gong Show. If the previous Gong Show had been taking care of business perhaps we wouldn't be in this very unfortunate situation, worldwide.

But like much of the rest of the world, possibly the average Canadian feels the roots of this turmoil started on January 21, 2000. I sure as hell hope not, but based on what I read and people I talk to worldwide, that seems to be the concensus. Anyone who thinks this is truly the case is either uninformed, naive, or possibly both.

[DoctorJim]

I believe that the average Canadian is too polite to express how we really feel. If we are viewed as uninformed or naive that would be quite typical, after living next door for over a century it has become the expected response.

Don't take my opinions as gospel, come to Canada and see for yourself. Visitors are sincerely welcome and we would love to share our real opinions in private conversation. However please keep in mind that we use some foreign phrases like Please, Thank you, I was wrong and I am Sorry.

[Lafe]

If we are viewed as uninformed or naive that would be quite typical, after living next door for over a century it has become the expected response.

I make this statement based on your post, nothing more. As I said, anyone believing this crap started with GWB may fit into that category, and your spin does not change things.

We're quite familiar with please, thank you, I was wrong, and I am sorry south of the border as well.

Thank You for the debate, Please do a little research into the subject rather than just jump on the Bush-bashing bandwagon no matter how easy it is, I was Wrong to assume you might be interested in the facts rather than spewing anti-Bush rhetoric, and I am Sorry you would rather spin than defend your indefensible position.

There are plenty of reasons to bash Bush, but current U.S. "drug" policy isn't one of them, other than maintaining the status quo.

Yes, I have been to Canada several times, BTW.....

edit: re - Marc Emery: I am absolutely opposed to this extradition, but he tempted fate over and over again. I hope it works out for him and his crew. Don't put this solely on the U.S. - your government is kowtowing to U.S. demands. If Canada would "just say no" there wouldn't be an unjust extradition.

[nytvd]

no doubt Bush and this administration can be criticized about many things but the war on drugs is not one of them. This policy has been ongoing for a few decades now. Even Carter back in the seventies had thoughts about reforming some of the weed laws but like every president does not want to touch this subject. The forces currently keeping these laws and profiting from them are too powerful.

As for Canada - keep at it , I love you for your efforts to de-criminalize pot and bring back commercial hemp production...maybe we will learn from you.

[Lafe]

no doubt Bush and this administration can be criticized about many things but the war on drugs is not one of them. This policy has been ongoing for a few decades now. Even Carter back in the seventies had thoughts about reforming some of the weed laws but like every president does not want to touch this subject. The forces currently keeping these laws and profiting from them are too powerful.

As for Canada - keep at it , I love you for your efforts to de-criminalize pot and bring back commercial hemp production...maybe we will learn from you.

You are exactly right: it's political suicide to even start a debate about it.

And yes, go Canucks, you're getting it right, as the Dutch have done.

[CityLiver]

In Canada the Conservative's got a whopping 36% of the vote and the lead, therefore forming a minority government. W/ their stated policies and speeches, every indication is they will do what they can to stop the legalization process for soft drugs at the national and provincial levels.

As a minority government, they are liable to stay in power only about 18 months before having to call new elections.

As for this,

There are plenty of reasons to bash Bush, but current U.S. "drug" policy isn't one of them, other than maintaining the status quo.

I'd agree only in the sense that neither party is for even decriminilizing it, much less legalizing it.

Any politician, Dem or Republican, who even suggests changing the drug policy from a military response is denigrated and marginalized, IMHO.

[Alaskan Biker]

W/ their stated policies and speeches, every indication is they will do what they can to stop the legalization process for soft drugs at the national and provincial levels.

They are definitely against it in a big way their stated polices on Cannabis are down right frightening and when I first heard they had won the election I was concerned until I spoke to some of my friends in Canada and from what they tell me the Conservatives do not have the necessary votes to make any real changes in the Cannabis laws....considering the sources I felt much better .

[weedman]

It was meant to be diplomatic rather than tarring all Americans with the same brush. All Canadians worship the ground the USA walks on and the hidden truth is that we have the highest respect for that brilliant President Bush... Although the average Canadian had a hell of a lot more respect for Bill Clinton since he and his adminstration came across as "educated" compared to the current Gong Show.

Possibly the average American feels that it is fair for the US to extradite a Canadian born citizen to the US for selling seeds by mail. Due to lack of internal security the world is a stage to invade and punish as only the Americans can see fit. The war on terror includes drugs and even their next-door neighbour is the enemy who must be taught a lesson. The first step is start to building a fence to the north just like the Mexican border but those Canadian bastards will just tunnel under it anyway.

There is no point in furthering this debate - Americans are ALWAYS right. Just don't be expecting any major changes to Canadian drug laws until the USA changes themselves.

If the US continues its bizarre trend of "plummeting international relations" at its present rate, no country will want to follow the agenda of the U.S.

US cannot continue to blunder through international foreign policy and expect the rest of the world to abide by its policies (particularly drug policies). At some point, it will stop. So will the excuses, I guess (i.e. U.S.' strong stance against drugs that creates the problem).