Selling Legal Pot In L.C.B.O. Makes Alot Of Sense. Premier Says. NF

[fish_fishburn]

Looks like someone leaked the Premier's sale strategy for cannabis sales in Ontario.lol

[Dara]

Maybe Hydro One can deliver it...that won't be criminal at all

 

Get this..Brookfield power is moving all of their billing and engineering operations for Ontario power production to Gatineau...happy new year

[scuro2]

It's funny to see the passion of the anti-legal lobby here. Such eloquence and clarity of thought, you would think we are talking about ISIS.

 

The irony is that few see that if the government jacks the price up to current sale prices people would pay no more then they already are,...oh wait we forget to calculate a possible distribution discount that they currently receive.

 

That could also explain a few of the libertarian anti-government posts against legalizing pot, if we legalize it being a pothead could no longer be a job!

[misfish]

The guy beside me this morning was smoking a dube, I had no problem with him smoking away, but dont offer it to me. I dont know where your lips have been.

 

We are totally screwed as a society, so who really cares if it,s legal or not.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND HAPPY HIGH TO ALL

[GbayGiant]

 

 

We are totally screwed as a society, so who really cares if it,s legal or not.

 

Really?

 

Brian, Have some hope!!

[OhioFisherman]

I don't use it anymore, but look at the costs of Marijuana prohibition here in the states? You actually had less hassles getting caught with small amounts here in Ohio in the 60's and 70's, then they made crime and punishment a cash cow.

 

It's the roaring 20's all over again? but now reefer is the bad guy and not alcohol?

 

If Ontario legalizes it? Someone here might build a tunnel under Lake Erie to get it? LOL

[manitoubass2]

Before premiers, liquor unions and corporations start falling all over each other in an effort to cash in on legal cannabis sales, let's remember the real reasons we should be ending cannabis prohibition in Canada.

 

Yes, we should be legalizing cannabis in Canada, but not because of the tax revenue it will generate, and not because legalization a better way to keep cannabis from kids, and not even because polls show that most Canadians now support changing the law.

 

We should be ending cannabis prohibition in Canada because the war on cannabis and cannabis users has always been unjustified, immoral and harmful to individuals and society.

 

 

 

Let us remember that cannabis prohibition was founded solely on racism and ignorance. There was never any valid scientific, health, or social reason to ban cannabis and punish cannabis users in the first place. As a society, we need to acknowledge these truths before we can start talking about tax rates and points of sale.

 

The first step must be to immediately end all arrests for possession and personal cultivation, nationwide. That must be at the top of the agenda for any cannabis reform in Canada.

 

These days, Canada's cannabis community is feeling like the Little Red Hen from the classic fairy tale.

 

We remember what happened when we asked, "Who will help us fight against cannabis prohibition?"

 

"Not us," said the unions. "There are a lot of jobs for us in arresting and jailing cannabis users."

 

"Not us," said the corporations. "Legal cannabis would hurt our investments in pharmaceuticals."

 

"Not us," said the politicians. "Instead, we're going to pass stricter laws than ever, because that gets us more votes!"

 

So we did it by ourselves.

 

Canada's cannabis community opened bong shops and seed shops, we created cannabis magazines and websites, we held cannabis rallies and opened medical dispensaries, all in peaceful civil disobedience and in defiance of these unfair laws.

 

When some of us were raided by police and ended up in front of a judge, we asked "Who will help us fund these important court cases, to defend our rights and change these unjust laws?"

 

"Not us," said the unions. "All these new prisons mean jobs, jobs, jobs!"

 

"Not us," said the corporations. "We can't patent cannabis medicines, so we don't care."

 

"Not us," said the politicians. "In fact, we will fight you in court every step of the way!"

 

So the cannabis community raised the funds ourselves. We used the money from our openly illegal bong shops, seed banks and dispensaries to pay lawyers and cover court costs, chipping away at prohibition one case at a time.

 

It was through the courts that we forced the government to first create a medical cannabis program, and every single improvement and expansion of the program has come as a result of lengthy and expensive court battles funded by grassroots activists.

 

Now that we have mostly beaten the laws in court and on the street, with cannabis gardens and dispensaries spreading into every city and town across the country, we ask, "Who will help us sell cannabis and profit from legalization?"

 

"We will sell it to you for profit!" say the unions. "We know how to sell liquor, and it's all the same thing, right?"

 

"We will sell it to you for profit!" say the corporations. "We will sell it to you for $15 a gram, as long as the police shut down all the illegal dispensaries first."

 

"We will sell it to you for profit!" say the politicians. "We will keep the taxes high, so we can pay for all the harm that you cannabis users are causing society."

 

To which we say, "Get lost! We will keep growing it and selling it ourselves. We already have hundreds of dispensaries across the country that are providing great quality cannabis. We already have dozens of court precedents which have forced your police to stop arresting our people. We already have a thriving culture and a vigorous, successful and diversified cannabis industry. We don't need your help, but thanks anyways."

 

The moral of the story? Those who show no willingness to contribute to a product do not deserve to share it.

 

Canada's cannabis community doesn't need the liquor unions, or the corporations, or the politicians to take over our industry. We know what we're doing when it comes to growing, distributing and enjoying cannabis.

 

The groups that have oppressed our culture and fought against legalization should not be the groups that get to regulate and profit from our sacred plant.

 

Just get rid of your ridiculous prohibition laws, stop arresting and hassling peaceful people for pot, and leave the rest to us

[manitoubass2]

Copy and pasted that for ya gbaygiant

Edited January 2, 2016 by manitoubass2

[GbayGiant]

sure thing Art

 

Posted Today, 12:07 PM

Before premiers, liquor unions and corporations start falling all over each other in an effort to cash in on legal cannabis sales, let's remember the real reasons we should be ending cannabis prohibition in Canada.

Yes, we should be legalizing cannabis in Canada, but not because of the tax revenue it will generate, and not because legalization a better way to keep cannabis from kids, and not even because polls show that most Canadians now support changing the law.

We should be ending cannabis prohibition in Canada because the war on cannabis and cannabis users has always been unjustified, immoral and harmful to individuals and society.

Let us remember that cannabis prohibition was founded solely on racism and ignorance. There was never any valid scientific, health, or social reason to ban cannabis and punish cannabis users in the first place. As a society, we need to acknowledge these truths before we can start talking about tax rates and points of sale.

The first step must be to immediately end all arrests for possession and personal cultivation, nationwide. That must be at the top of the agenda for any cannabis reform in Canada.

These days, Canada's cannabis community is feeling like the Little Red Hen from the classic fairy tale.

We remember what happened when we asked, "Who will help us fight against cannabis prohibition?"

"Not us," said the unions. "There are a lot of jobs for us in arresting and jailing cannabis users."

"Not us," said the corporations. "Legal cannabis would hurt our investments in pharmaceuticals."

"Not us," said the politicians. "Instead, we're going to pass stricter laws than ever, because that gets us more votes!"

So we did it by ourselves.

Canada's cannabis community opened bong shops and seed shops, we created cannabis magazines and websites, we held cannabis rallies and opened medical dispensaries, all in peaceful civil disobedience and in defiance of these unfair laws.

When some of us were raided by police and ended up in front of a judge, we asked "Who will help us fund these important court cases, to defend our rights and change these unjust laws?"

"Not us," said the unions. "All these new prisons mean jobs, jobs, jobs!"

"Not us," said the corporations. "We can't patent cannabis medicines, so we don't care."

"Not us," said the politicians. "In fact, we will fight you in court every step of the way!"

So the cannabis community raised the funds ourselves. We used the money from our openly illegal bong shops, seed banks and dispensaries to pay lawyers and cover court costs, chipping away at prohibition one case at a time.

It was through the courts that we forced the government to first create a medical cannabis program, and every single improvement and expansion of the program has come as a result of lengthy and expensive court battles funded by grassroots activists.

Now that we have mostly beaten the laws in court and on the street, with cannabis gardens and dispensaries spreading into every city and town across the country, we ask, "Who will help us sell cannabis and profit from legalization?"

"We will sell it to you for profit!" say the unions. "We know how to sell liquor, and it's all the same thing, right?"

"We will sell it to you for profit!" say the corporations. "We will sell it to you for $15 a gram, as long as the police shut down all the illegal dispensaries first."

"We will sell it to you for profit!" say the politicians. "We will keep the taxes high, so we can pay for all the harm that you cannabis users are causing society."

To which we say, "Get lost! We will keep growing it and selling it ourselves. We already have hundreds of dispensaries across the country that are providing great quality cannabis. We already have dozens of court precedents which have forced your police to stop arresting our people. We already have a thriving culture and a vigorous, successful and diversified cannabis industry. We don't need your help, but thanks anyways."

The moral of the story? Those who show no willingness to contribute to a product do not deserve to share it.

Canada's cannabis community doesn't need the liquor unions, or the corporations, or the politicians to take over our industry. We know what we're doing when it comes to growing, distributing and enjoying cannabis.

The groups that have oppressed our culture and fought against legalization should not be the groups that get to regulate and profit from our sacred plant.

Just get rid of your ridiculous prohibition laws, stop arresting and hassling peaceful people for pot, and leave the rest to us.

Hows that Doug?

Edited January 2, 2016 by GbayGiant

[manitoubass2]

Growers will get some great jobs lol.

 

The best strains in the world are coming from kitchen chemists haha.

[GbayGiant]

Travel Guru Rick Steves Has The Best Advice For Fighting ‘Big Marijuana’

Posted by Johnny Green at 10:00 AM on January 2, 2016Ending Marijuana Prohibition

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‘Big Marijuana’ is like the boogeyman in the marijuana world right now. Marijuana opponents warn of the imminent demise of American society due to the threat of big marijuana. Those claims are nothing more than scare mongering. Many people in the marijuana movement and industry fear a corporate takeover of marijuana, and those fears are well founded in my opinion. Travel guru Rick Steves has some stellar advice to combat the corporate takeover of marijuana – grow your own.

Rick Steves offered up that advice in an interview he did with KUOW a few weeks back. The comments came as Rick Steves was discussing the need for Washington State to add a home cultivation provision to its marijuana legalization law. As it stands right now, Washington is the only state to legalize marijuana but yet not allow home cultivation. Per KUOW:

Rick Steves doesn’t think Big Marijuana should control your pot. That’s one reason people in Washington state should be able to grow their own weed, Steves told KUOW’s Jeannie Yandel.

“I don’t want marijuana to go the route of tobacco and have Joe Camel and Big Tobacco and Big Marijuana” dominate the industry, Steves said. “If there’s money to be made, it’s going to attract big corporate interests and they’re going to have the clout. I like the idea of having home grow because it gives people an option to having to buy something from a giant organization. They can just have a few plants on the window sill, and it’s not a big deal.”

The host of

Travels With Rick Steves

was a big supporter of the state’s original marijuana initiative, I-502, which passed in 2012 and took effect last year. Now he supports a proposal to allow people to grow six of their own marijuana plants. It could be considered next year in the state Legislature.

I personally have no plans to purchase corporate marijuana. That’s not to say that I outright oppose corporate marijuana, I just think that marijuana grown by smaller growers tends to be better because the plants get more attention, and I always root for and support the ‘little guy.’ I don’t grow right now, but I intend to do so this next grow season either at my house or at a family members. The right to grow marijuana at home is something that every state needs to include in its legalization reforms. Washington’s initiative should serve as a lesson to all other states that follow.

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[GbayGiant]

The McKnight family is the West Carleton Review’s Newsmaker of the Year for 2015.

The Constance Bay family – which includes Mandy and her husband Dave, their son Liam and daughters Maya and Ava – scored a big win in July when Health Canada reversed its medical marijuana position, allowing users to ingest the drug in ways other than smoking.

The overturned legislation launched the West Carleton family back into the spotlight as a face of the cause.

Mandy fought for years for the right for her now seven-year-old son Liam, who has been diagnosed with a rare condition called Dravet syndrome, to have the legal right to take cannabis in oil form.

“It was huge news for us only because now it means Liam can get a reliable, standardized product,” she said. “That’s what we always wanted.”

It’s been a big year of firsts for Liam: a family vacation by plane without landing in hospital; the first time he attended the first day of school in September; participating in his school’s Christmas concert; the first time he went 11 days straight without a seizure; and those are just highlights.

In April, he earned the Celebrating Excellence Award of Merit for his outstanding contribution to his school community at St. Michael's in Fitzroy Harbour.

“He’s just doing so much better overall, health-wise, then what he’s ever done. He’s really doing amazing,” said Mandy.

“It really does change everything when he’s able to get out and participate because it means us as a whole family can participate in life.”

Mandy and her family were at her parents’ home in Newfoundland when they received the news of Health Canada’s reversal. That trip was the first family outing by plane in more than three years.

In the past when they would travel by plane Liam would end up in the hospital for “90 per cent of the trip,” Mandy said, so they stopped visiting her family on the east coast.

This time was different.

“It was the best two-week family vacation we ever had. He did absolutely amazing. It’s the first time we went home and he wasn’t hospitalized at all.”

Other firsts for Liam this year included his first Reconciliation with the help of the staff from his school and Father Michael Ruddick, an Ottawa Senators NHL game, a family hike in the Gatineau hills and a visit to the Diefenbunker without having to use a stroller, a day at the Carp Fair, leisure time on the Constance Bay beach, and the ability to eat food as simple as a banana and cob of corn.

All because his seizures are being better controlled.

Before July, by-products of marijuana – such as oils – were prohibited.

According to the law, Liam was expected to smoke or vaporize the drug, something Mandy said she never would have allowed.

“I felt like what was being done to our family, to Liam in particular and to lots of other children, I felt it was a huge injustice. I felt like the government authorized him to use cannabis as a medicine, but then they put up so many roadblocks,” she said. “It creates criminals out of law-abiding citizens.”

She began raising awareness about the benefits of cannabis oil through social media – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; she petitioned federal MPs and created a letter campaign that saw people from across Canada write to their federal politicians about amending the medical marijuana law to allow for extracts; and the West Carleton family’s struggle became news across the world.

Liam had his first seizure at nine months old and in April 2010 was diagnosed with Dravet syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy that causes frequent and severe seizures.

Liam would often have dozens of seizures in a 24-hour period, lasting as long as four minutes and with a recovery time of hours, said Mandy.

After introducing him to cannabis oil, however, Liam’s condition improved dramatically. He still has seizures, but nowhere near the frequency or intensity of before.

“Now they last maybe 10 seconds and he can carry on doing whatever he was doing right away,” she said. “The impact of the seizure is not anywhere near what the impact was before. He’s doing so amazing that way.”

The McKnight family has helped dozens of other families from around the world – across Canada, the United States, Netherlands and the United Kingdom – consider the benefits of cannabis oil when other conventional medication efforts fail.

“I get at least one email a day, some days multiple emails, from parents all over the world who really want to try cannabis for their children. They want to know the steps we took, how we arrived at a decision. We’re always more than willing to share our experiences,” said Mandy.

“When we started cannabis, we saw incredible results immediately; we did not have these on traditional medications. I was very active in the Dravet community talking about cannabis, just everything and anything we could to try and get it out there that it’s not this big bad drug it’s made out to be. When I think of all the other (conventional) drugs Liam was on in his short little life, they were 10 times more detrimental.”

In February, Liam was weaned from the last of the pharmaceutical medications and now only uses cannabis to control his seizures.

The McKnights have been instrumental in raising awareness about Dravet syndrome and epilepsy in the community and beyond.

Mandy travelled to Toronto twice to talk about their journey with Liam, first as a keynote speaker at a women in the cannabis industry event and in second as a member of a women’s panel on the impact of cannabis on their lives.

She was awarded the Canadian Cannabis Crusader Award, handed out to an individual who has made significant contributions to the progression of cannabis knowledge, access, research or acceptance. It was awarded in recognition of the work she has done campaigning for greater access to cannabis oils and other derivatives for children suffering from seizures.

The McKnights have hosted the annual Dravet Walk for the Kids for the past four summers, raising more than $180,000 for Dravet and epilepsy research.

“I felt like I was compelled to do something and help in some way. People in this community feel the same way too because they’re amazing and very supportive,” said Mandy.

The event has grown considerably; this year saw 18 affected families take part either in person or virtually, up from the original four the first year.

The event was supplemented by a Dravet walk at Liam’s school that raised over $1,100.

Looking ahead to 2016, Mandy said she’s waiting to hear that licensed producers can begin distributing cannabis oil.

Tweed, a medical marijuana corporation based out of Smiths Falls, where Mandy plans to get Liam’s oil, is just waiting on its Health Canada inspection, she said.

Being able to purchase a standardized, licenced product will help cut down considerably on the number of steps – and hopefully the cost – of producing her own cannabis oil.

Currently, Mandy purchases 150 grams of dry marijuana a month. She uses a recipe for the oil then ships a test sample to B.C. for every batch. The cost per month is more than $1,300 out of pocket, including tax on the cannabis.

“It’s crazy. Who can afford that? A lot of people using cannabis are on fixed income, or disability. I hope when legalization comes down all these things are taken into account,” said Mandy.

“Once the New Year rolls in and we start getting an idea too about what the plan is for legalization, I plan to definitely reach out to our MP, Karen (McCrimmon), and just highlight some concerns.”

Mandy said she would like to see insurance coverage for medical marijuana patients, as well as removal of the tax on a prescription.

She said she also wants to ensure medical marijuana users aren’t forgotten if and when the government legalizes pot.

“When legalization occurs, I’m worried that there won’t be that urgency anymore for research or insurance coverage for medical patients,” she said.

“For us, we really need insurance coverage. We’re managing, barely, but it’s only because of the amazing people especially in this community. If we didn’t have that support I don’t know what we would do.”

A number of fundraisers have been held for the family to help cover medical costs and all proceeds go to Liam’s prescription – which the McKnights are very grateful for.

“I’m shocked every time somebody does a fundraiser or calls me or would like to do something for Liam,” said Mandy. “I just think this is such an amazing community. There’s just something about him that makes us want to help; it makes us want to do something.”

Sammy’s Bay Burgers, the Greystone Grill, the West Carleton Legion, BuzzOn Vapour Lounge are among the many hosting fundraisers for Liam.

For continuing to raise awareness – locally and internationally – about Dravet syndrome, epilepsy, and the benefits of marijuana derivatives, the McKnights are our newsmaker of 2015.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Liberal MP Karen McCrimmon was elected in the new riding of Kanata-Carleton as the nation voted overwhelmingly red on Oct. 19.

McCrimmon received 51 per cent of the vote in an area that has been a traditional Tory stronghold.

The Constance Bay resident was recently appointed parliamentary secretary to the minister of Veterans Affairs and the associate minister of National Defence.

We are expecting big things of our MP in the New Year, as she has consistently said her constituents are her top priority.

Two years after the concept was created, many hundreds of thousands of dollars has been raised, allowing the Sandhills Project to be celebrated with an opening ribbon-cutting earlier this year.

Traffic in the new addition to the Constance and Buckham’s Bay Community Centre has been steadily increasing with the new fitness centre and classes, a larger library, and health care services.

[KLINKER]

I see Bill Blair has replaced Allen Rock for the go to guy to screw up everything he touches. This is the guy that brought RCMP officers from BC for the 1 hr. job of guarding luggage from the airport to the hotel during the g20. Instead of copying the ridiculous way we sell booze he should be looking at the way we sell garlic. Strike all pot laws off the books and start over with regulation if and only if there is a need for it. Many will use this as medication so there should be no taxes. Legal is as legal as the grass on your lawn and that aint going to happen especially when everyone smells money.

[muddler]

Who cares? Other than medicinal uses, this is a total waste of time. Read this in a paper, "We have more important issues in this country than wasting time pandering to the drug obsessed in our society. Sad and pathetic that so many people's lives revolve around getting their next fix.".

 

Couldn't agree more.

 

My 2 cents......muddler

[fish_fishburn]

For some reason no matter how I think about this appointment I cant come to the conclusion that this is a good idea. This to me is like appointing Rona Ambrose as Minister of Health (dumb idea) He is probably taking calls all this week from Big Pharma on how this should be dealt with.I don't think there will be much movement on this file now or in the near future. I hope I am wrong.

[Garnet]

It's almost a guaranty that heavy jail time is coming for a small time grower.

[dave524]

not at all,canadian courts dont see cannabis as a bad thing anymore....penalties will be small...

 

Sure they don't see cannabis as a bad thing but they'll hammer you for evading taxes on it.

[Old Ironmaker]

Set me straight. I was led to believe that you are or where allowed at on time in Ontario a property owner could grow a small number of Pot plants for personal use. The pot can not leave the property other than in someones blood system.

 

True/False.

 

What irks me is I see a young strapping 21 year old that doesn't have a job (there ain't no jobs) , sleeps until noon (cause I have a sleep disorder) and plays video games (helps put me to sleep) until all hours of the morning puff on his Medical pot as soon as he gets out of bed. " My Dr. says I need it". More than a few kids of friends actually.

[GbayGiant]

Both things you say are indeed,

 

False.

[solopaddler]

We have more important issues in this country than wasting time pandering to the drug obsessed in our society. Sad and pathetic that so many people's lives revolve around getting their next fix.

 

 

I've been finding it difficult to verbalize precisely how I feel about all of this. Thank you.

[fish_fishburn]

Its very important Muddler. Just not to you I guess.

[Garnet]

Yes you are correct.

 

To protect the tax it will be more criminal. The real simple numbers are 450 million tax dollars. If you go way back in this thread some one said it's more like 1.3 billion.

[Old Ironmaker]

GBG, how can both statements I made be false when the second is not an opinion it is an observation of a friend of mines kid. And he's not the only one I have seen to be similar. I agree that there may be merit in Marijuana use for medical reasons but like any narco product, there are abuses. Would you not agree? I know people that chain smoke the stuff and find it difficult to string along a few words to make a sentence. There can be too much of anything.

[fish_fishburn]

Old Ironmaker, think I would chalk that up to schittey parenting. You don't need to be on pot to play games all day. Lots of people play games all day without cannabis. No jobs when you sleep all day.

[Old Ironmaker]

Oh you are right there FF. Mom pays for this punks pot too. Wait you and I too, she's on a disability pension.