Pubdate: Tue, 12 Dec 2017
Source: Guardian, The (CN PI)
Copyright: 2017 The Guardian, Charlottetown Guardian Group Incorporated
Contact:  http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/174
Page: A10

CRIMINALS TO CAPITALISTS

It's funny how quickly a criminal enterprise can turn into a
legitimate business opportunity. As a federal Conservative politician,
even as late as 2015, Julian Fantino was opposed to the legalization
of marijuana.

In 2004, he even compared weed to murder in an interview with the
Toronto Sun, saying, "I guess we can legalize murder too and then we
won't have a murder case. We can't go that way."

Now, he's partnered with former RCMP deputy commissioner Raf Souccar
to open a medical marijuana business, Aleafia Total Health Network.

Asked about the about face by the CBC's As It Happens, he responded,
"So we're talking about a different issue. We're talking about me
today, as a responsible, educated, informed citizen who's had the
experience of knowing the benefits of medical cannabis for people who
are suffering from ailments that are normally not well cared for by
plying them with opiates."

Former Conservative MP Gary Goodyear has apparently been hired by the
same marijuana company.

Goodyear once told the House of Commons that he felt there should be
stronger penalties put in place for those who operate marijuana grow-ops.

But it's not just individuals who suddenly see opportunities in the
formerly criminal business of the production and sale of marijuana.

In 2013, the government of Newfoundland and Labrador set up a joint
police task force to deal with organized crime, including the drug
business: last week, that same government announced its
multi-million-dollar involvement in a massive marijuana grow-op.

New Brunswick touted marijuana growers as part of its economic growth
plan, and started community college classes in marijuana cultivation
in November, even paying full tuition for the first group of 25 students.

Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island are turning to
weed sales in provincially run outlets, while Newfoundland and
Labrador's liquor corporation will both wholesale the drug to private
retailers and sell it through its liquor stores. In other words, a
criminal scourge will now be a government cash crop.

And private enterprise sees opportunities galore. Just a few years
ago, police officers were trotting out rows of seedlings seized from
someone's basement and valuing their find on what the same number of
fully-grown plants would be worth on the street.

Now, there are even companies that specialize in home-sized grow-ops,
and they are rubbing their hands together at the idea of potential
windfall profits - in the weed equivalent of home brewing.

Aurora Cannabis, already a major player in the marijuana business,
spent $3.85 million in October to buy up a smaller company that
specializes in "grow boxes" that are around the size of a fridge, and
grow four to 18 marijuana plants, complete with hydroponics, lights
and ventilation. The company expects an avalanche of interested
customers once marijuana is legal.

 From criminals to capitalists, and all in the span of a year or so.
Magic.
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MAP posted-by: Matt