Criminal justice system 'on the brink of imploding'

[wum]

That's what it says in the Vancouver Sun. Marijuana grow ops have become so prolific that in 2003 they were only able to "fully investigate" (execute search warrant) 53 percent of their cases, as opposed to 91 percent in 1997.

In the same amount of time, charges were laid only 76 percent of the time in 2003, versus 96 percent of the time 1997.

What's your take on this?

Should harsher penalties be imposed to curb marijuana production? Or should it just be legalized?

[dabbler]

why are YOU reading the vancouver sun, don't you live somewhere else?

[sidekick]

i thought the vancouver sun was a province wide paper?

[miss.myra]

Hrm, arguably we live in a place where although marijuana is not legal, it's tolerated. I honestly don't even believe legalization is necessary, because people have a fairly easy time obtaining and enjoying the substance. The only thing I can think of is the government is missing out on a major source of revenue for themselves.


Also, a lot of the larger scare grow ops are largely run by and/or supported by organized crime, and I don't think that any government/authority system has ever had an easy time being able to fully investigate those bodies.

[sidekick]

someone on this site, i can't remember who, brought up the point that if marijuana was legalized then the quality of the stuff that you would buy would probably deminish as it would turn into a corporate money making machine. there would be corners cut and the focus would be entirely on profit and not on the quality of the pot being sold to the consumer.

[wikid]

They need to stop caring about mairijuanna. Honestly - how many deaths do you see as a direct result of weed. The only deaths are due to drug busts that kills policemen and the grower.
If they actually move their resources to more harsher drugs such as cocaine and heroin, then they'll actually be improving the streets.

[Sariel]

Personally, I say legalize it, have government grow-ops, and make money off it. The government would be saving a bunch of money not trying to fund a "war" on marijuana. And, they would be making a bunch of money off those of us who are going to buy it anyways.

[wum]

Originally Posted by dabbler

why are YOU reading the vancouver sun, don't you live somewhere else?

I live in Penticton. they got it hurr

[Sariel]

Originally Posted by Sidekick

someone on this site, i can't remember who, brought up the point that if marijuana was legalized then the quality of the stuff that you would buy would probably deminish as it would turn into a corporate money making machine. there would be corners cut and the focus would be entirely on profit and not on the quality of the pot being sold to the consumer.

Outposted...

Very good point... But they would have to maintain some standard of quality, or people would just start private grow-ops again...

[wum]

Originally Posted by Sidekick

someone on this site, i can't remember who, brought up the point that if marijuana was legalized then the quality of the stuff that you would buy would probably deminish as it would turn into a corporate money making machine. there would be corners cut and the focus would be entirely on profit and not on the quality of the pot being sold to the consumer.

umm, since when has the free market diminished the quality of a product?

[sidekick]

Originally Posted by wum

umm, since when has the free market diminished the quality of a product?

i'm just saying that with corporate mass production of a product the quality usually goes down because they are trying to cut corners and find the most cost effective way of mass production.

you see this a lot with food production and mass corporate farms.

[lou_belle]

The laws they have in place right now are fine.
They haven't had any problems with grow ops...so why all of a sudden do they care so much? The decriminalization is an extremely touchy idea..one that could work except for the ever SO important fact that we need marijuana to be taken seriously for one reason...the US war on drugs..
On the other hand, we have the option of harsher sentencing...well...it's pretty obvious that people that grow weed aren't all necessarily criminals. While yes, there is a small percentage of organized crime...the sentencing hasn't scared off the majority who are families and entreprenuers who have started their own marijuana businesses knowing all the while what they're doing is apparently criminal..but rarely persecuted. By the way...the sun's numbers have probably been made to look as though they actually sentence the growers when really it's like 40 hours of community service..or something cheesy like that;P

[wum]

Originally Posted by miss.myra

Also, a lot of the larger scare grow ops are largely run by and/or supported by organized crime, and I don't think that any government/authority system has ever had an easy time being able to fully investigate those bodies.

this is exactly it. violent gangs have a monopoly on this racket.

[lou_belle]

Originally Posted by wum

this is exactly it. violent gangs have a monopoly on this racket.

HAHaha.

[wum]

Originally Posted by Sidekick

i'm just saying that with corporate mass production of a product the quality usually goes down because they are trying to cut corners and find the most cost effective way of mass production.

Ya, I don't doubt that there will be lower quality weed for the sake of profits. But one must realize that there is a whole spectrum when it comes to your consumer base. Where you have your MacDonald's you also have your upscale French restaurants. Some people just like better food.

[lou_belle]

Originally Posted by wum

this is exactly it. violent gangs have a monopoly on this racket.

you WERE joking right?

[soma]

Originally Posted by Sariel

Outposted...

Very good point... But they would have to maintain some standard of quality, or people would just start private grow-ops again...

^ which will surely happen in organised crime rings.

but most people will just get a pack of doobies at 7/11 or the beer and wine.

it's only a matter of time.

[wum]

Originally Posted by lou_belle

you WERE joking right?

on the bigger grow ops. not your garden variety dilly

[Sariel]

Originally Posted by soma

^ which will surely happen in organised crime rings.

but most people will just get a pack of doobies at 7/11 or the beer and wine.

it's only a matter of time.

hahaha... I was in the Philippines in November, walked into the 7-11 behind the hotel, and there was a cooler full of beer, and a shelf or 2 for hard alcohol...

Didn't see weed for sale though.... not suprising for a country that puts "Death to drug traffickers" in big bold letters on the customer slip.

It's a nice dream though. Although, it being a 7-11, they would totally overprice the weed...

[wum]

Originally Posted by lou_belle

um...yer misinformed~

what, do you and your friends run shit?

[wum]

well... if i was in charge we could all grow weed in our backyards no problem :)

[lou_belle]

yeah..but I hate the way when and if they legalize it they've made a set of laws that make it illegal to grow it on your own, and on top of that they're planning on doubling the sentence for growers. Basically they want a monopoly, like organized crime thugs;P

[lou_belle]

I vote no on legalization and yay on decriminalization..done and done;P

[Sue Bitch]

well right now I am takin 2 crim courses and wow have I learned alot
One thing is that you have to take into consideration that the crim rate is that the police only decide to report, since there is always so much paper work to do. It really is a fucked up system since when i had to go to court some guy got off on a drinking driving charge cause the paper work did not have matching dates on it when he obviously wass drunk and driving
*shakes fist at the world*

[e_BoY]

Originally Posted by wikid

They need to stop caring about mairijuanna. Honestly - how many deaths do you see as a direct result of weed. The only deaths are due to drug busts that kills policemen and the grower.
If they actually move their resources to more harsher drugs such as cocaine and heroin, then they'll actually be improving the streets.

They know weed by itself isnt a killer. Their biggest concern is that it is a gate way drug. You start off trying pot then gradually move on to bigger and worse things. It would be cool if it was legalized but i can sense a back fire if that was the case. Were already at the point where its so tolerated that it doesnt really matter. Most people from anywhere in the world would kill to have the amount of tolerance BC has for weed. Well obviously AMsterdam is excluded