Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Back in March 2024, I wrote about some early indications that Canada’s legalization of cannabis was, on balance, causing more harm than good. Well it looks like we’ve now moved past “early indications” and entered the “nervously searching for the exit” stage. The new concerns follow the recent release of a couple of groundbreaking Canadian studies: Cannabis Use Disorder Emergency Department Visits and Hospitalizations and 5-Year Mortality which found evidence relating cannabis use to early death, and Convergence of Cannabis and Psychosis on the Dopamine System which describes a possible biological mechanism linking cannabis use to psychosis. Canadian governments had very little moral liability for the medical consequences of cannabis use before they legalized it in 2018. However, legalization predictably led to a near doubling of consumption ... CLICK HERE for the full story 

RCMP photo -- illegal grow-op in the Pemberton area VANDERHOOF (December 9, 2019) ­– With the forestry crisis worsening, and John Horgan and the NDP still yet to introduce a comprehensive strategy to address the litany of layoffs and closures plaguing both the interior and coastal forestry sectors, attention is turning to a relief fund for illegal cannabis growers quietly announced by government last month.   The Cannabis Business Transition Initiative designates $675,000 dollars to help existing illegal cannabis growers in the Kootenays “overcome the barriers to operating in the legal economy” as they transition out of the black market. “ To think that John Horgan and the NDP have created a relief program for illegal cannabis growers at a time when the forestry industry is imploding and forestry workers throughout the province are struggling to survive, shows you the misguided priorities of this government ,” said Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Op...

Legalization of cannabis is one of the worst mistakes made by our current government. For decades cannabis (marijuana) has been in widespread use from public schools, to the hallowed halls of justice and parliament. Everyone who wanted to experiment knew someone, who knew someone, who could provide access. Many people, young and old, were introduced to pot in a social setting, asked to ‘ try this, you’ll like it’ . There is something risqué about doing something prohibited. For most, indulging in pot was occasional and recreational. Others used pot more frequently and some made it a daily habit. Frequent users, mostly through fear of being caught with an illegal substance on their person, or in their homes, lobbied government to decriminalize low quantities of pot. Others demanded that pot be legalized to serve their personal desires. During the 2015 federal election campaign, Justin Trudeau announced that if his Liberal Party was elected to govern, ...

On Wednesday July 18th, the Manitoba government outlined key components of its recreational cannabis regulatory regime -- one of those being the Social Responsibility Fee (SRF) , which will be imposed on all licensed pot retailers in the province. Now I am the first one to question ANY new taxes and / or fees, however this is one which I can embrace fully.   That's because the Government of Manitoba has indicated that revenues generated by the SRF will help fund social costs associated with the legalization of cannabis.   In announcing the new Social Responsibility Fee, Manitoba's Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister, Blaine Pedersen, stated, “ The various health, safety, education and enforcement implications of legalized cannabis fall almost entirely to the provincial level of government .” “ Our plan will help cover these provincial costs and also ensure fairness, recognizing the social responsibility retailers must share .”  As ...

At the age of 18, without parental consent, what legal rights do individuals in British Columbians have?   JANE PHILPOT: " I am proud to stand up for our drug policy that is informed by solid scientific evidence and uses a lens of public health to maximize education and minimize harm " Well it's pretty minimal ... basically you have the right to vote in a Municipal, Provincial, or Federal general election. HOWEVER ... without parental consent ... you must wait until the age of 19 for the following rights as an individual: - to get married - to get a drivers license - to join the Armed Forces - to purchase alcoholic beverages - and to purchase tobacco products As many are aware, this week,   the federal government announced it will be making it legal to purchase Pot (cannabis) by July1st of next year; the wheels are fully engaged to have that happen by that date.   So then, at what age has the Justin Trudeau Liberal governm...