Interesting election results in Canada. With 170 seats needed for a majority, the Liberal Party of Canada leads with 139 seats, Conservative Party with 76, and New Democratic Party with 12. Both the Liberal Party and New Democratic Party candidates have pledged to support legalization of marijuana. The way things are shaping up, this could result one way or another in the ouster of Harper, and implementation of marijuana legalization.
Tom Angell notes:
“While U.S. states led the way by becoming the first places in the world to legalize and regulate marijuana in 2012, it looks like Canada could soon leapfrog ahead of us and become the first country in North America to legalize cannabis nationwide. If that happens, it’s not only good news for Canadians who will be able to purchase marijuana from legal and regulated storefronts instead of being treated like criminals. It’s also likely to give reform efforts in the U.S. a bit of a boost — not that we really needed it, but a little friendly competition is always a good motivator. And legalization in Canada is also a first step to all kinds of interesting implications, like the prospect of President Obama’s successor discussing international marijuana trade issues with his or her Canadian counterpart in the not-too-distant future. It’s no longer a pipe dream to imagine a day when consumers and growers in Washington State and British Columbia, for example, could be ordering each other’s wares on the Internet for cross-border shipment.”
Nice thought.
Update: They are now projecting a Liberal Party majority. Trudeau pledges to work on pot legalization policy ‘right away’ if elected
Holy wow, Batman!
We have a majority (184 of the 338 seats) government for a legalized and regulated recreational market in Canada.
http://tinyurl.com/dukrezultz
Done deal,,Trudeau won and will immeadiately start to legalize marijuana similar to the CO model.
In a sane world when CAN and MEX legalise marijuana we will be surrounded by legal markets and our government would cut the cash flow to criminals but they have already proven that is not important to them ,,,just to the taxpayers.
Only when politiicans start losing seats to reform candidates will the lure of the lobby money work.
The message to register and vote is the message needed now,,large increases in new voter registrations scares the shit out of incumbents.
We’re joyful here in Canuckistan that Harper has bit the dust. If elected he promised to give the RCMP many more millions to persecute cannabis users.
My prediction is that he will legalize but it will be over regulated and over taxed.Will he allow limited home grows or be forced to buy from the LP’s which are already up and running? He wants use a retired cop ,Bill Blair as a consultant for the legalization changeover. After persecuting us for years I’m reluctant to give anything to a cop mentality. Not disrespecting LEAP members but I don’t think Blair is really on our side yet.
However overall we sent the world a message that a pro cannabis stance is not political suicide anymore.
If they are considering the CO model and include it’s personal grow limits it allows 6 plants per adult IIRC.
I could work with that limit but at the same time,,,how would they know what is in your house? It smelled like more than six plants?
They couldn’t stop us with zero tolerance and they can’t stop us trying to ensure only the wealthy can play the game either.
Even if they catch you over the limit,,they have to find a jury to convict you if CAN allows trials. And that is going to grow harder,,not easier.
Right Clay I don’t plan to change my lifestyle no matter what crazy ideas they come up with but the next year should be interesting especially with the US election next fall.
Trudeau’s plans for marijuana decriminalization have been outlined here. Some of his plans for freeing marijuana from tyranny need updating. For instance:
Seems a bit harsh, especially the motor vehicle part. Compensating for legalization by escalating the drug enforcement problem is exactly the opposite of what needs to be achieved. Drug war de-escalation on all fronts is better. Trudeau went on to champion cost savings, which is good. I presume the new Trudeau government will also be expunging marijuana convictions:
I’m guessing that they feel – they must have some *harshness* in their statements = to pacify the worries of Soccer Moms, Dads with teen daughters, and the 65+ demo of Nanny-Staters that bought into “Reefer Madness – Episode One” – We’ll see how long that nonsense lasts, I wouldn’t bet on it holding long.
There’s a quote from someone (who seemed friendly to the movement – in the NDP?) talking about “changing the law the minute we form government”.
I think it was decriminalization that person was talking about.
But, given the “surprise factor” I don’t understand why someone wouldn’t go the extra step = after the Trudeau already took the *scary step* = going with the flow shouldn’t be too hard…
Note: I don’t know Cannuckistan Politics very well, But IIRC this is *at least* the second time the Liberals won a recent election in Canada – amirite?
I would suggest that somebody should collect all the info regarding “Pro-Cannabis Policy = Win” and send it to current ‘friendly’ (or persuadable/amenable) US legislators and would-be candidates in various upcoming 2015/2016 Elections…
It should probably be done Very Carefully – picking who is friendly and who would use such info to scare-up the Senior Citizen voters.
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I still have never heard of a person who was investigated for suspicion of cannabis addled driving where the driver wasn’t drinking and the smell of burnt cannabis was not present and noticed by the police. 75% of the 2014 arrests by the Colorado State Patrol were made at “sobriety” check points and included either an also drunk driver and/or the smell of burnt cannabis. Don’t smoke it when you’re driving. Better yet don’t include combustion in your delivery method at any time.
Good gawd people, trying to convince a sycophant of prohibition that your driving ability is impacted is a genuine dictionary picture worthy example of a waste of time.
Lawful medical cannabis operators across America have just scored a major victory in federal court.
Judge Breyer’s ruling hands a shield to every state-legal pot shop facing federal action, lawyers state. It sets a precedent that will likely chill federal prosecutors eyeing state-legal medical cannabis enterprises, said the law office of attorney Robert Raich, through a spokesperson.
“We finally have a federal judge who is taking the authors of the spending amendment seriously when they say the intent and its wording should be interpreted so that the federal government should not be spending resources prosecuting individuals complying with state law.â€
It represents a major setback for the Department of Justice, which had hoped Rohrabacher-Farr would be interpreted far more narrowly.
“I’m very happy and I’m very relieved that I will get to return to my life’s work,†Shaw said.
Shaw said the case is precedent-setting. A federal judge has ruled Congressional law means what it was intended to mean — the war on medical cannabis is over, she said.
“We won the war,†she said. “And I’m the first POW to be released.â€
http://tinyurl.com/nf4xlrf
The DEA won’t exist for long without a fearful America. Harassment and opposition to ending the war on drugs in this case takes the form willful and covert non compliance to Congress, and the generation of fear among the public. The DEA is deathly afraid of the legalization of marijuana. As the war on marijuana winds down I find it odd to see an epidemic of heroin on the rise that seems proportional to the progress being made in legalizing marijuana. Coincidence? I think not. The purposeful generation of fear is the insurance policy of the DEA.
Its good to see Judge Breyer is not fooled by the DEA’s drug war antics.
The DEA is a millstone around the neck of the American taxpayer, as is the drug war they embellish to justify their continued existence.
http://tinyurl.com/no7fabf
Youthful marijuana connoisseurs are apparently behind the recent hacking of CIA Director “fat boy john brennan” and Homeland Security Director Jeh C. Johnson:
If marijuana enhanced spying can do this, the CIA and Homeland Security need to issue marijuana allotments to each of their personnel. The media should also stop using the marijuana pejorative ‘stoners’ to describe anarcho-journalists who are obviously better at intelligence gathering than HS or the CIA.
Allan was yelling at his computer. Now I know why! Wow, things are sure changing fast. And I appreciate all the efforts I know have come from this couch! We finished our harvest and got some beautiful, phat and sticky buds. Of course we photographed it!! Here is an image we did Saturday that I just LOVE! And yes I am naked, so adults only please.
http://www.redbubble.com/people/1oldman/works/17003077-la-llescera
Why are you internalizing your own Miss Soggy Knees? Dress modestly like a proper Christian womyn, you racist!
An attractive woman and smelly flowers, what’s not to like?
Modesty is cool, but bringing in racist? WTF asshole?
Luck for me I scarfed down a whole bowl of custard and then oxygenated.
Top notch indeed;
Thank you both!!!
aye, ye aulde custard eater!
The Mormons in Utah have invented a new drug war to fight a new drug menace. And no, it’s not some chemical analogue of caffeine:
Leave it to the LDS Church to base their porn analogy on drugs. Their intent is a bit too obvious. Now that laws such as those in California and elsewhere are backing off from persecuting drug consumers, the FTND believes it’s time to persecute porn consumers, or something; anything in fact if it allows Mormons to keep their illusions of relevance. If the LDS and other religious organizations really wanted to make a contribution, they might try focusing a little more on enhancing their charity programs:
the followers of joe smith are getting tight with a nickle as their “religion” evolves. who would have thought it?
“We don’t yet know exactly what rate we’re going to be taxing it, how we’re going to control it, or whether it will happen in the first months, within the first year, or whether it’s going to take a year or two to kick in,” Trudeau said on Wednesday night in Surrey, B.C. [emphasis added]
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No, Mr. Trudeau, legalization should not take more than a year to “kick in”. Like the US and many other countries in the world, Canada already has a regulation and distribution system for other legal drugs — alcohol and tobacco specifically. No reason to reinvent the wheel. Of course, you could always appoint some fact finding committee (governments love these) to visit Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Oregon, or Washington D.C. to see how things are going in those locales. It’s not a long trip to any of those places and there is already much to be learned. You could roll out things incrementally — first expunge all cannabis related criminal records, allow home growing right away and later — but not much later — phase in commercialization.
Please don’t worry about sabre rattling or dire warnings from from the DEA or any other US government entity (you can bet certain levels of dismay are coming your way from the “land of the free and home of the brave”). Just gently point out the states mentioned in the paragraph above. International drug treaties? Again, your neighbor to the south is already on shaky ground here. There is likely to be some caterwauling from US states that share the border with Canada (no need to worry about Alaska and Washington!). Ignore them, remind them you’re a sovereign nation, or point out that Canadian cannabis businesses would love to do business with their residents. Better yet, suggest they wake up and get with the times.
You (and your government) can be both bold and intelligent here. Don’t over complicate and drag out the legalization process. Excessive hand-wringing suggests weakness, not fortitude. Get going and good luck.
“We are on track to full legalization, but it is more complicated than snapping your fingers.
That’s Tom Mulcair NDP (who said in August “I want to make sure that everybody understands that the NDP’s position is decriminalization the minute we form government,”
AND
“Decriminalizing marijuana is the position of the NDP, it’s my position and it’s something that we can do immediately.”
In the video from a VICE Cananda clip – in link above = from Oct.13 – he used the word “Overnight” instead of ‘Immediately’ that’s about as positive as I’d expect from a politician…
And if you watch the clip it seems they’re looking for some way to legalize the production – whose going to grow/supply, be able to sell it, and how to tax it.
Not something you’d want them to fuckup by rushing it – I’d be exstatic to hear “within the next year” here in Texas!
If this moves as fast as marriage equality and they have the mistakes of Washington & Colorado to go on (Example: WA hiring Mark to do “Botec” – they have plenty of paper and pencils to work out the figures with.)
And quite possibly the blessing of the UN = I see a giant laser target dot on the Single Convention Treaty, that’ll probably be tossed out ASAP.
Its been keeping people from doing research on synthesized meds for the kiddies & pissing off hippies for far too long! We’re not going to put up with obvious Stalling tactics for more than a year or two at most = The Conservatives are cheapskates & This is on the news as “Criminal Justice Reform” about every 5 mins. – We’re not going to be too patient about it.
“Cannabis is not harmful to the nation or to the individual. The cannabis culture in Canada has been persecuted and prosecuted for 45 years, with two million arrested, over a million convicted, and hundreds of thousands having spent some time in jail or prison for cannabis “offences”.
I have been arrested in Canada 28 times for cannabis-related offences, and jailed on 23 separate occasions (though often involving more than one facility). My convictions for cannabis include serving a three-month sentence for passing one joint, for “promoting vaporizers, for giving a half gram of hash to an American tourist, and several for selling cannabis seeds.
I’ve had my magazine Cannabis Culture banned by local police forces in Canada. I’ve been extradited by my government to the United States for a five-year sentence for selling seeds to Americans by mail. Selling seeds by mail has become a rather common and ordinary thing these days. I have been held, jailed or imprisoned in Canada in 28 prisons or jails for cannabis, and in six different U.S. states.
I am merely the most notable Canadian cannabis prisoner-of-the-drug-war, but hundreds of thousands of Canadians have experienced the trauma of arrest, stigma, and suffering under Canada’s three-generation reign of cannabis prohibition.
So as a culture and a nation, we are owed. The nation has come to a consensus. “Legal” is “legal”. No one should go to jail, or be arrested for any peaceful involvement with the cannabis plant and its byproducts.
So I declared on midnight October 19, once a Liberal majority was confirmed, that “Pot is legal in all of Canada.”
http://tinyurl.com/Dukzizfaster
The Liberals may not stop at cannabis, couch mates. A sudden outbreak of sanity may be on the immediate horizon. http://www.straight.com/blogra/404631/justin-trudeau-tells-ubc-students-he-wants-supervised-injection-sites-across-canada
This is a hard hat area until further notice. Watch out for falling pieces of drug war wall. And mind your couchmates. We’re mighty close to where it is starting to crumble… 😉
Canada Marijuana Stocks Higher as Liberals Vow Legalization
Canadian marijuana companies are smiling after last night’s election stunner
2nd Kaya Shack Opens
As Oregon Records Millions in Marijuana Sales
The government is stifling medical marijuana research,
major think tank declares
If half as much money was spent on recovery programs and health issues as were on “the war on drugs”. We might actually get somewhere.
Reaching our paw out are we?
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Oh yes please, let’s waste another $trillion of borrowed money to pay the
phrenologistsaddictionologists for providing “treatment” for the fiction of merrywanna addiction. Couldn’t we better spend a borrowed $trillion to have a single payer health system and pay medical professionals who treat actual…you know…diseases?Frankly the general public and in particular the sycophants of prohibitionists have it bass ackward. It’s the god damn addictionologists that need “treatment” not the people who have been being forcibly sodomized with the dildo of addictionology by their own governments more or less constantly for around a century.
Hell, I’m sure that everyone hear has the 5 stages of grief memorized. I’m convinced that and the sycophants of prohibition have advanced to bargaining stage. Oh well, castles made of sand, slip into the sea, eventually. (thanks Jimi)
(I’m almost 100% certain that when I use the phrase “the fiction of merrywanna addiction” a not insignificant percentage of people think that its just me in denial. If I’m in denial then how can a guy tell the typical prohibitionist that he has bullshit coming out of his ear and that it stinks? They get us coming and going. If I tell the prohibitionist that I need “treatment” for a bad case of the fiction of merrywanna addiction it proves that I’m an addict. If I tell them that I’m not an addict that also proves that it’s true.)
Where the heck is Yossarian when we need him?