Pot decriminalization debated by B.C.'s municipal leaders

The noted HIV/AIDS expert told the crowded room that drug gangs are killing people and municipalities have the power to lead the way towards decriminalizing pot.

Criminologist Daryl Plecas countered, saying municipal leaders should work on reducing marijuana use because smoking pot is harmful.

He caused a roar of laughter among the audience of more than 200 when he said smoking pot is stupid ? and it makes you stupid.

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Former B.C. attorney general Geoff Plant also spoke Monday as a member of the high-profile Stop The Violence coalition, a group of prominent political, medical and legal experts that advocates decriminalizing and taxing pot.

"Five-hundred-eight-five-thousand British Columbians regularly use marijuana," he said.

"Doesn't feel to me like that's a highly successful example of public policy. You all govern and live with the consequences of this disastrous and expensive failure of public policy and it's entirely appropriate for you to take a stand on behalf of the citizens of the communities you represent, for change."

Plant says the debate comes as Washington looks at a tax and regulation plan, and this is an opportunity for a coordinated strategy on both sides of the border.

"The old argument that we can't do anything here in Canada because we can't get too far ahead of American public policy is increasingly no longer relevant," he said.

"Americas are not just playing catch-up, but in some states in the United States I think they are leading on this public policy reform."

Criminologist Daryl Plecas countered, saying municipal leaders should work on reducing marijuana use because smoking pot is harmful.

He caused a roar of laughter among the audience of more than 200 when he said smoking pot is stupid ? and it makes you stupid.

After their initial study was published in November of last year, the two researchers continued to study the effect of CDB on various cancer cells. Desprez told Yahoo News:
"Now we've found that Cannabidiol works with many kinds of aggressive cancers — brain, prostate — any kind in which these high levels of ID-1 are present."
High levels of ID-1 have also been found in ovarian, breast, prostate, cervical, liver and endometrial cancers according to the Journal of Experimental and Clinic Cancer Research.

Ground Zero for ganja in Vancouver is the 300-block of West Hastings Street, which is home to the B.C. Marijuana Party headquarters and Vapour Lounge, Cannabis Culture Magazine, and the New Amsterdam Cafe.

"You don't have people selling or dealing in here. We don't do that," says Phil, an employee at the New Amsterdam. "But people can come here and experience it and if they bring their own stuff they can smoke it here."

The warehouse-style brick and concrete cafe-come-head shop offers vegetarian wraps and vaporizers, lattes and hand-blown glass bongs. Patrons even have the option of gift cards and reward points for purchases.

Next door is the headquarters of Cannabis Culture magazine and the B.C. Marijuana Party, a registered political party that offers tax receipts for donations and has run candidates in elections provincially and federally.

"Overgrowing the government," is their motto, and they appear to be giving it a pretty good go.

Elections BC recently approved an activist's initiative petition to decriminalize marijuana. The results are not binding on the provincial government, but the movement to repeal drug laws that prohibit the drug has become almost mainstream in B.C. It's even on the agenda at this year's gathering of municipal politicians, the Union of B.C. Municipalities.

"Thanos" said
Spammer! Kill it with fire!

"Thanos" said
Spammer! Kill it with fire!