Tax marijuana, says B.C. mayors' coalition

[erinmore3775]

http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/canada/story/ ... ation.html

I believe that congratulations are due to Mayor Baker for joining with other Mayors for the province to regulate and tax the growing and distribution of marijuana. This has long been a problem in Lake Country where the small RCMP detachment spends hundreds of hours of their time pursuing a crime, which many citizens of BC believe should be decriminalized.

Baker's appeal appeared in a letter that said "... Whatever the federal government policy is, is not working, and we're saying that we need a better approach, and that is to regulate it using a public health model, much as we do, for example, with tobacco or alcohol. The letter appeared on the website of Stop the Violence BC, a coalition of law-enforcement officials, legal experts, academics and public health officials."

I would hope that other citizens of Lake Country would support Mayor Baker and the other Mayors in this endeavor.

[james-d]

In my opinion if they were to leagalize or tax pot .the rcmp would be real busy trying to catch all those who do't want to pay the tax, because it is real easy to grow a couple pot plants and not declare it, It is a lot tougher to make whiskey or raise your own tobacco in large enough amounts.

[Kalvin K]

In my opinion if they were to leagalize or tax pot .the rcmp would be real busy trying to catch all those who do't want to pay the tax, because it is real easy to grow a couple pot plants and not declare it, It is a lot tougher to make whiskey or raise your own tobacco in large enough amounts.

Then why isn't this a problem with Tabacco?

Making your own wine/beer is a common practice. You only need to pay a tax when sell it, not if you produce for personal consumption.

[WhatThe]

In my opinion if they were to leagalize or tax pot .the rcmp would be real busy trying to catch all those who do't want to pay the tax, because it is real easy to grow a couple pot plants and not declare it, It is a lot tougher to make whiskey or raise your own tobacco in large enough amounts.

Riiiight, sure they will, just lIke they do now for garage sales and barter trades and selling crap on castanet. And once again you know absolutely nothing about this subject. It's not as simple as throwing seeds in dirt and watch em grow... Unless of course you're growing industrial hemp.

I have no tolerance for ignorance that literally destroys lives and costs ME money through wasted dollars. Do some freakin research

[Glacier]

It's not as simple as throwing seeds in dirt and watch em grow...

Actually it is. Back in the day when I was young and my parents used to grow, they grew them in the garden alongside all the vegetables. They easily grew 10 feet tall, but then the goats got into the garden when no one was home and ate all the leaves.

[metallica]

To James, easy with the yelling. If you actually smoke this stuff I would think you would be alot quieter in your speech. And as for research, not everyone has the time, but evidently we all have an opinion. Now I have to make supper and have another beer. Cheers. :127: :127: :127:

[WhatThe]

Glacier, yes you're right, one can do that but the results amount to industrial hemp by today's standards. I'm sure you've heard of the potency levels today vs 30 years ago. That was achieved through genetic selection and carefully controlled growing conditions, it has become a science of sorts.

[WhatThe]

Oh James, I shoot every one of your posts down with fact on this subject. Why don't people grow tobacco or make moonshine? Some do but for the majority they can't be bothered or produce product quality on par with companies that have been doing it for centuries. Why doesn't everyone grow gardens when they could be eating veggies for free? Convenience not "harsh penalties".
I seriously can't believe I'm spelling this out for you. In fact it's absurd I have to.


Good on the folks that have the brains to challenge the drug monopoly created by irrational govts.

[OnTheRoadAgain]

In my opinion if they were to leagalize or tax pot .the rcmp would be real busy trying to catch all those who do't want to pay the tax, because it is real easy to grow a couple pot plants and not declare it, It is a lot tougher to make whiskey or raise your own tobacco in large enough amounts.

people also don't report all their tips, or collect taxes on their garage sale items...
small level tax evasion.

[james-d]

removed - Jennylives

[Kalvin K]

removed - Jennylives

[WhatThe]

The funny thing James. I'm vehemently against drug use but I can see the broader context of what's going on and the lives it ruins, not just of users, but also the collateral damage ideological policies create. That collateral damage has affected everyone's lives whether they think it or not.

I've learnt from my mistakes, why can't govt?

We are a nation of drug users, from chocolate to morphine to anti-psychotics, without one iota of context or how it affects lives right from when children are cognitively aware.

[steven lloyd]

The funny thing James. I'm vehemently against drug use but I can see the broader context of what's going on and the lives it ruins, not just of users, but also the collateral damage ideological policies create. That collateral damage has affected everyone's lives whether they think it or not.

The costs (both fiscal and social) and damage created by our long failed drug laws and policies far outweigh the damage caused to any one individual user by drug use itself. As a non-user working within the criminal justice sytem I really get to appreciate the waste of resources (tax dollars) and see firsthand the extent of collateral damage. Very sad.

[jennylives]

Stop with the personal attacks!

[erinmore3775]

Here is an interesting footnote to the debate about the decriminalization of pot. Whether CC actually smoked pot or not is irrevelent. What is revelent is the fact that the debate is reaching a higher level.

http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/canada/britis ... juana.html

It would be interesting to see how a poll on decriminalization would turn out on Castanet. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to set one up. Is there anyone who would like to take that on?