Pubdate: Sun, 31 Oct 2010 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2010 Canwest Publishing Inc. Contact: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Lena Sin Cited: Proposition 19 http://yeson19.com/ Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/find?272 (Proposition 19) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Marijuana - Canada) CALIF. VOTE COULD UPSET B.C. ECONOMY Legalizing Pot South of Border Likely to Put Big Dent in Trade of Locally Grown Bud, Says Criminologist B.C.'s illegal marijuana industry will be dealt a heavy economic blow if Californians vote to legalize pot in the Golden State on Tuesday, says a criminology professor who has studied the impact of B.C. bud for more than a decade. Darryl Plecas, criminology professor at the University of Fraser Valley and director of the Centre for Criminal Justice Research, says decriminalizing pot in California would have a huge economic impact on the illegal trade of B.C. bud -- and would weaken organized-crime groups. "The single biggest fuel for organized crime in B.C. is grow-ops," says Plecas. "It's hard to imagine it could not have some significant impact." Californians will vote, during the midterm elections on Tuesday, on whether to legalize pot. If passed, Proposition 19 would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to 28.5 grams of marijuana and to grow pot at a private residence in a space of up to 25 square feet for personal use. Local governments may also authorize larger amounts for commercial cultivation and the retail sale of up to 28.5 grams of marijuana per transaction. Plecas says 70 per cent of B.C. bud is destined for export, with Washington and California the major markets. California, with a population of 36 million -- about three million more than all of Canada -- has been a particularly important market because the farther south pot travels, the higher the price it yields, says Plecas. And if Californians are able to legally cultivate and purchase pot, that will drive the price of B.C. bud down and weaken the strength of organized crime, he argues. "One way to look at it is mass layoffs," says Plecas, suggesting that there would be fewer people needed to cultivate the drug in B.C. B.C.'s illegal pot industry generates between $3 billion and $7 billion annually, says Plecas. And diminishing demand would not only negatively affect the underground economy, but could also cause a wider ripple effect, with retail and restaurant industries taking a hit, along with real estate. Plecas estimates at least 10,000 homes in the province are used as grow-ops. It is unlikely, however, that legalizing marijuana in California would mean the end of gangs in B.C. "I definitely worry about what will they do next," says Plecas. "We'd be naive to think [they'll say] 'Oh, that's it, I'll go and get a job at McDonald's." But Staff-Sgt. Dave Goddard of the RCMP E Division Greater Vancouver Drug Section disagrees and says organized crime in B.C. may actually benefit from greater demand. Goddard says legalization in California would likely lead to more pot smokers who are more likely to buy the drug than grow it. "There's not much marijuana you can grow in a five-by-five [foot] area. Quite frankly, you're only going to be able to grow one plant and that won't be sufficient," says Goddard. Goddard predicts it would take some time for commercial production and sales to begin, given that they need municipal government approval, and in the meantime, users would be likely to buy from the easiest means possible, which would be through the underground industry. "I think it'll create more demand for grows up here -- it just increases the market," he says. Jodie Emery, longtime pot activist and wife of Marc Emery, the so-called "Prince of Pot" who's been jailed in the U.S. for mailing marijuana seeds south of the border, says B.C.'s "cannabis tourism" would go up in smoke with the passage of Proposition 19. But she supports the bill and on Saturday flew to Oakland, Calif., to help pro-legalization activist Richard Lee campaign for the Yes vote. "I'm absolutely for it 100 per cent and . . . I'll be down there campaigning with the people for Prop. 19," says Emery. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake