Canada Likely To Go Green

With the election of a new, liberal, prime minister, Canada is likely to legalize marijuana.  This comes at an interesting time in U.S. Canada marijuana reform.  With the U.S. presidential prospects leaning in favor of conservative candidates, Canada may be going in exactly the opposite direction of the U.S.  Republican values appear to favor strict enforcement of federal law which would give marijuana growers a compelling reason to travel across the border.

Justin Trudeau, Canada's liberal party leader, will be transitioning into power shortly.  While the time frame is not as fixed as it is in the U.S., the process will pass in a short time.  One of Trudeau's campaign promises was to legalize marijuana.

Likely, Trudeau has seen the failed war on drugs as a solution to drug problem in the U.S. and Canada.  The millions of dollars spent to eradicate marijuana in Mexico, Central and South America has clearly been wasted money.  So long as the Northern neighbors insist on using drugs, marijuana will make it's way to waiting consumers.  

The better plan is to legalize the product, to tax it, to educate citizens about drug use, but to embrace Mary Jane and her sub-products because turning your back as if this product does not exist has resulted in failed policies.

Unfortunately, the U.S. may be taking a turn back to the old ways at precisely the same time when Canadian lawmakers are changing their policies.  It may be, the lessons learned by U.S. pot growers will be exported over the border, not as a means of free trade, but as many of the pot growers flee the U.S. for a more liberal thinking on the cannabis front.

Oddly enough, legalizing marijuana may pose a partial solution to Canada's immigration push.  Several years ago, the nation realized it does not have adequate skilled workers to meet it's needs.  Attracting that labor has been difficult considering the frigid climes.  However. like the state of Colorado, Canada could soon find itself awash in marijuana smokers who don't want to run foul of the law.

Border Patrol Seizes Mother Load

CBP Field Operations at the Pharr International Bridge 

Maybe the truck stopped at this field?

The enforcement side of the war on drugs hit a home run on Tuesday, February 18, 2014.  Officials at the Pharr International Bridge cargo terminal found what they say is over $5,000,000 in marijuana.  The pot was being imported mixed with a shipment of candy.

“This substantial interception of marijuana in the commercial environment comes on the heels of two huge seizures of narcotics accomplished approximately ten days ago” said Efrain Solis Jr., Port Director, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas. “The drug smuggling organizations continue in their pursuit of introducing these drugs across our border and our front line officers’ resiliency is just as consistent in keeping them out.”

A blue 1996 Volvo tractor pulling a white refrigerated trailer arrived at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge cargo facility with a manifested commercial shipment of assorted candy.  Suspecting problems, a CBP official sent the tractor to the secondary area for a better look.  These days, a better look is easily obtained by "non intrusive imaging.  The imaging revealed what turned out to be 4,618 packages of "alleged" marijuana with a total weight of 5,190 pounds.

The CBP says they are tasked with keeping terrorists and terrorist's weapons out of the U.S.  They have not made any statement about how marijuana constitutes a terrorist weapon.

Distribution of Marijuana remains a federal crime even though some states, like Colorado, have legalized the sale and possession of the plant for recreational purposes.  Some people say the only way to halt the thugs who have made an industry of selling pot is to legalize it and tax the sales.  Others say marijuana is a gateway drug and legalizing it will lead to more people addicted to harder drugs.