Economic RECOVERY PLAN = POT

The Union: The Business Behind Getting High

Basic Info

Description:
Ever wonder what British Columbia's most profitable industries are? Logging? Fishing? Tourism? Ever think to include marijuana? If you haven't, think again. No longer a hobby for the stereotypical hippie culture of the `60s, BC's illegal marijuana trade industry has evolved into an unstoppable business giant, dubbed by some involved as 'The Union'. Commanding upwards of $7 billion Canadian annually, The Union?s roots stretch far and wide. With up to 85% of all 'BC Bud' being exported to the United States, the BC marijuana trade has become an international issue with consequences that extend far beyond our borders. When record profits are to be made, who are the players, and when do their motives become questionable?

- Why is marijuana illegal?
- What health risks do we really face?
- Does prohibition work?
- What would happen if we taxed it?
- Medicine, paper, fuel, textiles, food, etc. Are we missing something?

Follow filmmaker Adam Scorgie as he dives head first into Canada's most socially acceptable illegal activity. Along the way, Adam demystifies the underground market and brings to light how such a large industry can function while remaining illegal. By interviewing experts from around the globe, including growers, clippers, police officers, criminologists, economists, medical doctors, politicians and pop culture icons, Scorgie examines the cause and effect nature of the business behind getting high.

Nobody's innocent in this exploration of an industry that may be profiting more by being illegal. Join Adam Scorgie as he unravels the mystery of The Union.

[Ted Couillard]

A lot of good could be done in this direction. The cost (not to mention personal) savings from decrim alone would be quite significant. Let's hope MA leads the way for other states. On the international front, its sad to see that the Netherlands seem to be moving a bit to the right, at least concerning mushrooms and cannabis. Its mind boggling that we continue these idiotic control measures of things that occur naturally on the planet as well as give little accepted social structure for the altered conscious experience.

[Star*man]

Not to mention what having Home Grown alternatives would do the Drug Trade that supports the Taliban
when their Poppies rot in the fields because no one WANTS or NEEDS their supply.
Who Knows PEACE might break out!

[Star*man]

/www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HLzmH9VB6A Trailer for THE UNION a must watch...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HLzmH9VB6A">

[larry mann]

There is a good book on line called "The Emperor Wears No Clothes". It details some of the history and explains why it was made illegal. here's a link http://www.jackherer.com/chapters.html . It used to be illegal to not grow hemp.

[Del Pikles]

I completley agree that weed should be legalized and taxed to bring us out of this economic slump that "good ol' uncle bush" has put us in..... But the one major problem I see happening is if it were legal the government would have one hell of a time trying affectively tax it... being that any joe shmoe who wanted to could take a class on hydroponics at their local jr college and grow their own. or hell spend a couple bucks and the cannibible and grow their own..walla no tax on weed.....

In my opinoin this is why it is not yet been legalized uncle sam would have to hard of time making his money off it.

Although it would free billions of U.S. dollars by not prosocuting people for minor pot offenses..

[Star*man]

I believe we have the Prohibition ERA to use a Model for a more modern POT Economic revival.

During the Prohibition in the USA we here in Canada were making a fortune supplying the needs of Americans over the boarders. ROCCO Perry and his likes would supply AL Capone and his types with very poor quality spirits made in peoples bathtubs and other questionable methods. Organized Crime flourished on the backs of Prohibition.
I have ICE CHEST two feet from me right now that once graced the hold of a RUM RUNNER cruiser!
OUR Family was on Both sides of the LAW!

Once Booze was legal again the Supply chain returned to GOOD methods of quality production and booze was again SAFE to drink. Crime Bosses took their Leave their GIG was UP! People just plain rejected BAD tasting DRINK over TAXED but quality assured products.

I do not think SMOKE would be any different. Home GROWN would likely be harsh and hurried varieties of plants.
Its like Tobacco- do you know anyone who Grows their own SMOKES?
Even in Cuba they BLEND tobacco with leaves from certain area's (Dominican Republic for one) that they import to make a FINE CIGAR. I know I have some! Believe me they are NICE. So I feel the switch to an Economy BASED on the NON IMPORT of DRUGS would amount to Hundreds of Millions of Dollars staying in the economic REALM where much of it will be taxed and put to good use. Taxpayers GAIN would be CRIMES LOSSES.

The BIGGEST opposition would not be Church Groups- its the MOB and they have friends in HIGH PLACES.

[Del Pikles]

Star man..... if your home grown is harsh you need to learn how to grow right. if it were legal then there would be no need for hurried varities like there is now with the pot market flooded with crappy dirt weed...


Like I said tho I think it would totally worth a try for an economic bail out . I just personally feel that it would work out as financialy as well as we want it to thats all

[Star*man]

>Like I said though I think it would totally worth a try for an economic bail out . I just personally feel that it would work out as financially as well as we want it to that's all/i>

Well I am too OLD to do time, so I will leave they Hydroponics to the Younger Generations, I don't even brew my own Beer though I am thinking of making some sort of Herbal Abisynthe (Green Fairey) for my own personal use.
Its not for Economics its experimentation of the Bohemian Lifestyles of artistic merit.
I am not sure if it relates well to throwing DISCS though a Abisynthe Fountain sure looks like a BASKET to me.

[JeremyRogers]

I think that w/ legalization there would be a solution making it taxable and also legal to grow your own , growing is fun and enjoyable , yet w/ the ability to be taxed and sold commercially the convenience and capabilities w/ the product would sell itself , making our government closer to being out of debt, I think it would be cool if you could go to the store and buy blended strands, pre rolled, that would be very popular and bought from even the home growers im sure, anyway, hopefully within the next 40 yrs this will be so..

[Star*man]

I don't see it being legal in our Lifetimes. Canada already de-criminalized possession but is still busting grow ops.
Just yesterday the Police were on Television Praising their own efforts to haul in 2 Million (HAHAA) dollars worth of Growth from an apartment. At the SAME TIME they were decrying the lack of support for Child PORN Rings that hauled in 31 people and identified 2 Kids at Risk. They feel there's much more they could do.

WELL JUST DO IT! Who is picking the Numbers of NARCO's vrs PORN Busters but the Cops themselves?

The Female Officer was so PUFFED out PROUD they busted this Herbal Growth yet I can walk down the same street and find CRACK HEADS ! Go figure! You has their Priorities backwards? Democratically 52% of Canadians want POT Legalized. Who is standing in their DEMOCRATIC WAY!!!?
I think we have a similar situation as TIBET where the COPS are BEATING on the Peaceful Monks to show the REST of the country what they have in STORE FOR OTHERS! Its time we pulled the economic PLUG on the Police.
USE the officers YOU GOT to solve REAL CRIME or we will cut the budget. 52% of CANADA needs to support this and the USA has got to stop pressuring Canada into busting people who make their own choices.
The Problem is the 52% of voters are divided by Party Politics. A certain percentage will conclude we NEED Police, and we do, but NOT Police who play politics. THE BAD GUYS are plenty, go get em and get out of FARMING! .
I believe we spend 1.5 Billion Dollars prosecuting pot heads in Canada Alone. Talk about Economic waste we could put a cop on every corner for that!
I'm old and don't have 40 years to wait!

[Ben Calhoun]

There was a radio ad in Ann Arbor, MI last night announcing a pot-growing seminar and describing it as a good business opportunity (new medical use law). They are going to teach people the law, how to grow and sell, etc.

[Fredo]

Who would have thought Mary Jane would save the US? Except of course for all of reefer heads, we knew all along!