Pot Heads Of The World, Unite!

While organizing for Michael Ignatieff, I came across a woman who has been working hard with community activists and lawyers to legalize marijuana.

While I am a huge advocate for the legalization of marijuana for one reason or another, I think the biggest reason why I believe marijuana should be legalized is because the drug trafficking industry can be quite dangerous and I have met countless people who have been directly affected by it, regardless of whether or not they are involved in it. If you live in BC, or more specifically, the GVA or the Fraser Valley, chances are you have seen just how insiduous, nasty and trecherous this industry can be.

Something needs to change and so I wanted to post a resolution that this woman created.

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS Cannabis, its preparations, derivatives and similar synthetic preparations including:

(1) Cannabis resin;

(2) Cannabis (marihuana);

(3) Cannabidoiol (2-[3-methyl-6-(1methylethenyl)-2-cyclohexen-1-yl]-5]pentyl-1,3- benzenediol);

(4) Cannabinol (3-n-amyl-6,6,9-trimethyl 1-6-dibenzopyran-1-o1);

(5) Nabilone ((+)-trans-3-(1,1, dimethylheptyl- 6,6a,7,8,10,10a-hexahydro-1- hydroxy6,6-dimethyl-0H-dibenzo[b,d]pyran-9-one);

(6) Pyrahexyl (3-n-hexyl-6,6,9-timethyl, 7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-6-dibenzopyran-1-of);

(7) Tetrahydrocannabinol (tetrahydro-6,6,9-trimethyl-3-pentyl-6H-dibezol [b,d]pyran- 1-ol);

(7.1) 3-(1,2-dimethylheptyl)-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-6,6,9-trimethyl-6H-dibenz[b,d] pyran-I-of (DMHP)

but not including

(8) Non-viable cannabis seed, with the exception of its derivatives;

(9) Mature cannabis stalks that do not include leaves, flowers, seeds or branches and fiber derived from such stalks is a controlled substance pursuant to the provisions of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Schedule II)
(“Marihuana”)

WHEREAS despite that prohibition the production, including manufacturing, synthesizing or using any means of altering the chemical or physical properties of the substance, or cultivating, propagating or harvesting the substance or any living thing from which the substance may be extracted or otherwise obtained and includes an offer to produce Marihuana and trafficking in Marihuana, including selling, administering, giving, transferring, transporting, sending, delivering or selling an authorization to obtain Marihuana of offering to do any of the above is a flourishing industry;

WHEREAS the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have identified the Fraser Valley in the Province of British Columbia as a major source of Marihuana production and trafficking;

WHEREAS the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have determined that illegal activity related to the production and trafficking of Marihuana, including but not necessarily being limited to the trace in illegal weapons, laundering of proceeds of crime, importation of other prohibited or controlled substances specifically but not limited to cocaine and heroin, smuggling of illegal immigrants and violent offences such as assault are directly related to the marihuana industry;

WHEREAS the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have determined that the illegal production and trafficking in Marihuana typically occurs in residences and out buildings such as barns or sheds within the Fraser Valley of the Province of British Columbia and specifically within the federal riding of Langley;

WHEREAS the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have determined that the production and trafficking of Marihuana is directly related to theft of electricity, extensive property damage and fires caused by improper electrical installation;

WHEREAS the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have determined that they have inadequate resources to address the production and trafficking of Marihuana and the other incidental illegal activity;

WHEREAS the Royal Canadian Mounted Police report that more than $8 Billion of Marihuana produced and trafficked in British Columbia is traded across the border of Canada and the United States of America each year;

WHEREAS the federal riding of Langley is directly adjacent to the United States of America;

WHEREAS the problems associated with the prohibition of Marihuana are analogous to the problems associated with the historical prohibition of alcohol;

WHEREAS the chronic use of Marihuana leads to psychological and physical addiction of users;

WHEREAS chronic users of Marihuana may be socially marginalized;

WHEREAS the chronic use of Marihuana has been identified as a health risk to users;

WHEREAS the chronic use of alcohol leads to psychological and physical addiction of users;

WHEREAS chronic users of alcohol may be socially marginalized;

WHEREAS the chronic use of alcohol has been identified as a health risk to users;

WHEREAS residents in Canada actively and legally produce wine, beer and other alcohol beverages in their residences and at licensed business premises;

WHEREAS the Provinces of Canada control the production and distribution of alcohol and collect taxes;

WHEREAS the former Minister of Health, John Munro has, in the past, given active consideration to the legalization and control of the production and distribution of Marihuana;

BE IT RESOLVED that this convention endorse a policy to remove Marihuana from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and to add Marihuana to the legislation of the Provinces to permit production and distribution of Marihuana within Canada and to establish a tax collection scheme for the purpose of controlling and taxing the production and distribution of Marihuana by way of enacting Provincial legislation analogous to the Liquor Control Act.