THE GREEN GRASS OF HOME

Nelson Council Lobbied On Positive Economic Impact Of Local Pot Industry,
Politicians Warned That A Cannabis Crackdown Could Attract Organized Crime

Like it or not, the marijuana industry is a big part of Nelson's economy -
and it's an industry worth protecting.

That's the message a local business owner and legal assistant took to
Nelson City Council last week.

"Whether this council believes it or not, cannabis is an integral part of
the economy here," said Dustin Cantwell. "You can ask any business owner,
you can ask any merchant."

Cantwell, co-owner of the Holy Smoke Culture Shop, and a legal assistant
with a local lawyer, made a five-minute presentation to council last week
in response to their request for extra police for both the city's municipal
force and the RCMP.

"Make sure your drug policy takes into effect the economic benefits to the
community," Cantwell warned, citing the local grass scene's tourism draw
and its increasing international profile.

On one business day last week, Cantwell said Holy Smoke had customers from
London, England, Montana, Oregon and New Zealand.

"All of them asked me where they could purchase cannabis."

North American publications like Forbes, Powder and Skier magazine have
made mention of the city's reportedly commonplace pot culture as well.

Stressing that he is in no way in favour of the legalization of hard drugs,
Cantwell cautioned council on the potential effects that crackdowns on
marijuana grow ops and sellers would have on the city's crime scene. The
longtime marijuana advocate believes that by bringing in extra RCMP or NCP,
"mom and pop" growing operations will be squeezed out, making room for more
organized criminals to move in and take over the industry.

"The police go after the easy pickings," said Cantwell. "The more
sophisticated criminals will be the ones making the money off this."

Cantwell said small operators are the ones being busted most often now.

"When I'm in court I see the mom and pop operations, not the bike gangs or
the Mafia."

Cantwell believes that organized crime would also bring with it harder drugs.

"I don't want this council to think that I condone hard drug use," said
Cantwell, who feels marijuana is on the "lowest totem" of the drug pole and
is just about the only illegal narcotic that should be tolerated."

In early January, council agreed to forward a letter to B.C.
Solicitor-General Rich Coleman and RCMP Superintendent Sam MacLeod
"expressing strong support for the reinstatement and/or creation of
additional positions at the RCMP detachment in Nelson." The request,
brought forward by councillor Donna Macdonald, was based on council's
concern that numerous police positions had been reassigned from Nelson in
recent years and other police officers are expected to be lost in the years
ahead due to centralization.

(continued p. 3 "Police chief refutes pot advocates' claims")

The RCMP are considering the assignment of members to Nelson to address
both drug trade and customs and excise enforcement.

Councillor Michelle Mungall, who seconded the motion, said she was under
the impression that any additional policing would be directed at harder
drugs like cocaine. Last year, local RCMP and NCP teamed up on a major
coke-dealing ring, arresting a number of dealers in Nelson and the
Castlegar region.

"But I hear your points," she told Cantwell, "and I do agree. I think you
have to be living under a rock not to acknowledge cannabis is a big part of
our local economy here."

Cantwell, who noted the federal government's move towards decriminalizing
the possession of small amounts of pot, suggested money for extra policing
instead be spent on drug counselling. An incoming federal bill will forgo
criminal records for minor possession. Instead, folk who toke will be fined
and receive a ticket.

Mayor Dave Elliott, who agreed with Cantwell's call for increased drug
counselling, said "there's discussion around the police board all the time
about cannabis."

I'd only hope that if it becomes a ticketable offence, that money from the
tickets will go towards education, and not enforcement."

Councillor Gord McAdams, the father of two teenage girls, said he too,
understood Cantwell's argument, but challenged the Holy Smoke co-owner's
argument as disregard for the law.

"I appreciate where you're coming from. But I'm not willing to support a
de facto abuse of the law, by reducing our capacity to enforce it.

"If you want to change the laws, laws can be changed, but that's not our
job here at council."

Nelson City Police aren't sold on Cantwell's mom and pop argument. Even if
the region's marijuana growing industry is comparatively small-time, NCP
Chief Dan Maluta says the business is still dangerous to the community as a
whole.

"Most of the violent crimes that we've experienced in the Central Kootenay
area have revolved around people involved in the cultivation of cannabis,"
says Maluta. "And I think that's a significant point that's lost on the
public occasionally."

The chief points to a report from the University College of the Fraser
Valley's Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice (see sidebar story
on front page) that he says shows a clear connection between the Lower
Mainland/Vancouver Island grass growing industry and Vietnamese gangs and
Hells Angels.

"That deflates the myth of the mom and pop operation somewhat."

While he stopped short of estimating what percentage of the Central
Kootenay's grass growing profits currently go towards organized crime,
Maluta says "the bulk of the grow operations in the province are linked to
organized crime."

Cantwell challenged council to be aware of what he says are changing
attitudes towards pot.

"This council, whether they like it or not, have to be ware of the cultural
changes within Canada, within British Columbia and within the federal drug
regime.

"This council has shown itself to be a very economically-minded
council. And the economic benefits of cannabis cannot be underestimated."