Friday, May 10, 2002. Entry #148

I've been thing about the whole 'legalizing marijuana' issue for some reason today.

Not sure why. I don't smoke the stuff, and only know a couple people who do regularly. But I read news stories and articles on the subject at least once or twice a week.

I can't see what all the big deal is. It's been proven that it's less harmful and addictive than tobacco, so why the hold up?

I think it's because the government can't figure out how to make money off it if it's legal.

Why is it, you think, that there are not a lot of independent growers of tobacco in Canada? I mean our outside conditions are not conducive to tobacco growth, but why aren't there more homes growing the stuff in their greenhouses and basements? From what I've read, it's not that hard, and given the current huge price, there's certainly a market for homegrown product.

We all know the reason why. People are lazy. It's so much easier to plop down your $10 for a pack at the 7-11 and whine about the cost, than it is to build the greenhouse, kiln and everything else you need to make your own, plus the months of work to get one usable crop.

But people put in that same amount of effort for marijuana every day. With no legal source for the stuff, lots of people grow it. Every week you hear tell of another bust of some shmoe growing the stuff in hi garage.

If the government makes the stuff legal, the only way they can make money off it is by taxing sales of it, like with cigarettes. But why would anyone pay $10 a pack at the store when Jimmy's little brother down the street can get you a bag of home grown for the same amount? For big businesses to take over, then they've got to get rid of the little guys.

What I'm saying is that since they are already doing it, pot growers are not going to give it up just because United Conglomerate is doing it as well. It's too ingrained into the sub-culture.

So the government will have to license pot growers, and have people fined and arrested for growing it without a license, and we're back to where we started.

Did I have a point? Not sure. I could just be talking out of my ass. Like I said, I don't smoke the stuff, so I don't really know.

Caffeine is still legal. And dirt cheap too.

Got a call today from someone working for the French Consulate out in Vancouver. She was updating her files on the 'top Canadian corporations', and wanted to ask me some questions, as I'm the Webmaster of our investment relations site.

Of course, I don't have a clue as to the inner workings of this place (I just post what they tell me to post) so I had to transfer her up the chain.

But it felt weird anyway. For a minute I was convinced this was some sort of hoax or scam (why would the French Consulate be calling me?), and then I was a little daunted by them looking at a site I put together (Is it good enough? Important people are looking at it!)

She was very forgiving of my fumbling about with the transfer button though. So I feel better.

On Survivor: Did I call it, or what? You tried hard Rob, but so long! You tried hard too, Mark Burnett, to make us doubt ourselves. But you failed.

Next week: Kathy has figured out the same thing I have, and now is her last chance to make any sort of change. I think the only way she can win is to get to the final three and then win immunity. In the final two, I think she has a chance to win against either Sean or V, but not Neleh or Pascal. So she may side with Sean and V and vote Neleh out.

Let me think a while on this one. I'll let you know next week.

One Year Ago: The hiatus continues. I thought about having a shower, I think.

Mom Rating: 4.5 out of 5. Mom is in favor of legalizing marijuana. My Mom's cool.

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