TRANSCRIPT: MARC-BORIS ST-MAURICE'S VISIT TO THE DRUGSENSE CHAT ROOM

Boris:

SO here we are. I am really happy to be here as a guest.

Dean:

Welcome Boris, we're happy to see you.

Boris:

I guess what I am the most concerned with is, as an activist, not so much
showing why we should end prohibition. I would rather show HOW we can end
prohibition

Trippin:

Boris, what's the latest word in Canada concerning marijuana

Dean:

I agree there is plenty of why to go around, tons of data, enough to
overload the supposed government data

Boris:

Hmmm. I think that the marijuana issue has really taken off here in the
last year or two.

Boris:

There are now several MP's that are supporting it, the house of commons is
debating it, and, contrary to somewhere like the US, our parliament has
been much more sensible about it

Boris:

I think (and I have said it before) that Hemp and medical marijuana are
small battles. The was is about recreational use. Medical marijuana brings
the issue to those who usually would not pay attention to pot

Trippin:

Boris....what is the...how...that we can end prohibition?

Boris:

the idea now is to take that awareness, and use it to get the point across
about recreational use

Richard_Lake:

Yes, there seems to be so much happening in Canada. In parliament. Plus in
the Supreme Court. Boris, any ideas from where success may actually come,
and when???

Boris:

I think Canada is one of, if not the , key player Boris:

I think that the next move is the supreme court.

Dean:

Very key player, yet the UK is giving yall a run for your money.. thank God

Boris:

The supreme court will not rule twice on this, this is our "last stand"

Trippin:

are the supreme court putting up a real fight ...or are they listening?

Boris:

Other issues (I often refer to gay rights as the best example) saw some of
the most significant gains from supreme court rulings. Abortion in Canada
is another great example

Boris:

I think the supreme court will be very balanced in Canada. Remember, Gerald
LeDain, from the LeDain commission, sat as a supreme court judge

TulipPrincess420:

does the senate committee on illegal drugs having any positive influence?

Boris:

And with the situation here (on the street-public opinion) it will be hard
for them to come down on the marijuana constituency

bc:

The supreme court of Canada is hearing the Clay, Caine and the Malmo-Levine
case as we speak which will also affect several other provincial supreme
court cases currently in the courts across Canada,

Boris:

I think the senate committee has done wonders so far. It scared the pants
off the liberals to the point that they created a parliamentary comity to
take the spotlight away from the senators

Boris:

The presence of the Marijuana Party on the scene has made it virtually
impossible to not take a side in the debate. That was our point, and I am
glad to say we succeeded

Richard_Lake:

The Charter of Rights and Freedoms has been used well in areas which could
well be considered similar, IMHO. I am so glad that in the cases being
reviewed by the Canadian Supreme Court is that of the constitutional
challenge of Chris Clay, which is a true recreational use case - and one
for which the testimony and affidavits are so strong, from so many
outstanding citizens, Boris. See http://www.drugsense.org/tcl/legal/

Boris:

The next step, on a National level is to get all Canadians aware and
informed that this case is coming up. Generating public support will make
it even harder to rule unfavorably

Boris:

I dare say the US courts would NEVER agree to hear what was heard in the
Canadian courts

sonnyboy:

The appeals court in Ontario has yet to come down with a decision in the
Wakeford challenge. That could /should force Health Canada back to the
drawing board, perhaps it will influence what's happening in the Supreme Court

Boris:

As far as the US is concerned, Canada should be kind and humble. We are a
diplomatic example of how cannabis can be better dealt with

Boris:

Might I add that Europe has been breaking new ground for us

Boris:

Canada is in the privileged position of having strong ties with Europe,
while being right next to the USA

TulipPrincess420:

has the UK's recent changes been of any help to Canada?

Boris:

We are the middle ground where ideas like legalizing pot can simmer and
percolate down to the US

Dean:

Every day, the changes round the world make the US a more glaring example
of inquisition.

Boris:

Every bit that moves towards our goal is a great help. UK and Belgium, and
Switzerland, and even Germany have been kicking ass

Richard_Lake:

Spain and Italy have also moved our way. There is even a small but growing
opposition to the neo-nazi approach to drug policy in Sweden.

Trippin:

Portugal has made great strides to rid itself of the bad effects of
prohibition....every one is seeing the light except for the tyrant US

Boris:

Eventually, the US will be isolated as an island of prohibition (and all
the cool Americans will move out of the US)

Boris:

The supreme court should hear the case within 12 months (maybe 18) but it
is hard to tell for sure...

Lefty:

Boris: Can you give us your opinion on government taxing recreational
marijuana?

Boris:

I have no problems with a REASONABLE tax on retail marijuana

Dean:

Perhaps something like a tobacco tax?

Boris:

I think that legal pot will definitely push the price way down, and the
quality up

Boris:

I would rather see some of the money go to hospitals, or roads and other
services, than see it support the bikers

Boris:

In Quebec, there is a huge war going on with the Hells angels and other
crime groups. 175 deaths (executions) in the past 5-6 years!

keystonekabes:

that's the problem with prohibition - it gives lots of money to those who
shouldn't have it.

Boris:

all because of drug turf

Dean:

It's amazing when you think of how a few benefit, the masses pay billions

Lefty:

Boris, and now we have new anti-conspiracy anti-gang laws. Guilt by
association.

Boris:

Well there is a lot of sympathy here for anti-gang laws

Boris:

A journalist was shot because of the gang war... it's like ... Columbia!

Trippin:

Boris...what types of industry do you see immerging in Canada after the
prohibition is destroyed?

Boris:

I would hope the marijuana industry in Canada would be what wine is to
France. Small producers, national distribution, blends, expensive high
quality, cheap table wine... etc

Dean:

Here in the US, we have the paramilitary, they call themselves Task Forces,
but we got Colombia here too.

Boris:

The US is absurd! I have never had a problem finding marijuana there

Boris:

In fact, even in places that have extreme laws, there is pot.

allan:

Boris- Some fear that the DEA presence in Vancouver is an attempt at
linking US - Canadian mmj movement types into one conspiracy-
"International trafficking in controlled substances", do you see this as a
possible scenario, given the paranoia of US Prohibition types?

Boris:

I remember buying great weed in SINGAPORE! (seriously)

Dean:

I think at this point, it is more about Freedom than it is pot, black is
not white, never will be!

Boris:

I think that the DEA has been in Canada for a while now. Given the
paranoia, I am sure that people have tried to link the movement to all
sorts of nasty ideas

Boris:

At the Quebec city summit (the riots at the WTO) the Bloc Pot was in the
National Post as being a front for the Black Bloc... we laughed and laughed...

Boris:

In Quebec, the provincial elections are going to be within the next 12 months

TulipPrincess420:

BC went down in history for the BC Marijuana Party all ridings filled with
a candidate

Lefty:

Boris: When's the next election and will you be able to run a full slate of
candidates?

Boris:

We are looking at running a full slate of candidates here (125)

Boris:

The BC party running a full slate was a wonderful accomplishment

Boris:

I still for the life of me, do not understand why they chose to include so
many other issues... I will never understand that.

sonnyboy:

I think Canadians are quite blind to what DEA are up to. The Justice
Minister makes no bones about slipping into bed with the Scum. and boasts
increased drug War efforts..

Lefty:

Yes, and they're bringing in more FBI for the "terrorist" open border
problems...

Boris:

I fear that marijuana gets legalized at the expense of increased repression
towards other drug users... that would be wrong

Lefty:

CBC radio announced today that the fed liberals will not divulge how many
FBI agents already operate in Canada...

Boris:

The sad fact is that I agree with several scholars that Canada's direction
could very well end up doing just that. Legal pot, but a worse drug was on
other stuff.

Dean:

The UK seems hell bent on legalizing heroin, how could the drug war then
continue?

Boris:

If marijuana is legalized, organized crime will put more energy on
promoting the sale of other drugs

Boris:

If the UK goes ahead with the heroin program, it will help inspire other
nations

allan:

Boris- when the rest of the "civilized world recognizes patients' right to
cannabis will the US still be trying to lie their way through continued
Prohibition?

Boris:

I do believe in activist separation (like the Dutch model of market
separation) is a good idea. There are lots of hard drug activists here, I
will focus on pot

Boris:

I wonder what the US will end up doing.

Boris:

History can provide a great example. Marijuana was outlawed in 1923-24 in
Canada, A full 14 years before the US

Boris:

What happened is that there was no OPPOSITION here to that law. In the US,
it took 14 years more to pass the law, because of opposition to it.

FlashGordon:

it had more to do with racist fiction written by Janey Canuuk

Boris:

Right now, there is less opposition in Canada to the legalization of pot.
That means we are more likely to do it first. Once the US see we did it and
that no one is going crazy in the streets, it will be harder to deny

Boris:

It's not like the US constitutes a bloc of 300 million prohibitionists...
there is a huge movement there. The US has it's hands full from within Boris:

I suspect that history will repeat itself. Canada will legalize, then maybe
10-15 years later, the US will follow, because they will be losing so much
money from Americans traveling to Canada

Boris:

The medical issue of pot is somewhat of a smoke screen. the big issue is
the simple possession for recreational use. The best way to solve the
medical marijuana problem is to get simple possession for any use
legalized, and the supreme court is our best chance

kaptinemo:

Boris, I suspect that the reaction would come even swifter; how many
professionals would emigrate to Canada if you re-legalized?

Boris:

I would be happy to welcome any pot smokers to Canada. they are some of the
most resourceful, intelligent, worldly, inspiring individuals I have the
pleasure of working with. Bring em on!

Boris:

In Montreal, there are these bus loads of US tourists that come here
because they can go to bars when they are 18. They get so wasted, they
start riots, get rowdy etc... no one is freaking out about it. So why not
pot smokers. God knows they are way more mellow

Boris:

Big Bong, YES. We have a Convention planned in Montreal for the marijuana
party on April 20th-21st (4-20). We also are organizing the million
marijuana march cross Canada, for May 4th

Boris:

Getting marijuana legal for recreational use implies "ipso-facto" that it
will be easily available for medical use

Boris:

Wow, big crowd here tonight

Dean:

They are still making the Canadian patients jump through a lot of
hoops. Is that the main focus in the courts?

Boris:

Well , I see the time flying. If there are any other questions or comments,
now would be the time

keystonekabes:

Boris do you think the successes of the reform effort in the UK has had an
impact in Canada? Boris:

The advances in the UK do wonders for Canada. It keeps the movement
inspired and we have a close bond with the Brits... together we can stand
up to the US

Boris:

I want to end prohibition and see marijuana available for any adult who
chooses to use it (with some guidelines to reduce any harms of risks)

bc:

To quote Dr. Lester Grinspoon,"Once the camel gets his head under the tent,
the rest is not far behind."

Dean:

It's like a cool breeze on a summer day, when the hope floats down here
from Canada.

George McMahon

Boris Would you agree, medical is what began this move?

Boris:

Not sure medical started the move... the LeDain commision and the LaGuardia
commission had only passing references to medical uses

sonnyboy:

Medical got the wedge in the door by using the Charter of Rights and
Freedoms, Parker / Wakeford forced them to include medical in the CDSA.

FlashGordon:

if you go to www.cannabisculture.com >forums >artistic impressions > better
Ideas :for days for freedom in may ... you'll see what Chris Bennet, David
Malmo-Levine and I are up to Boris, book mark it for later ... we want you
to come speak in Vancouver for it May 1st thru 4th liberation day

Ben_Masel:

When Canada went industrial, and the world did not end, medical became ripe
for discussion.

Richard_Lake:

Boris -- Thanks so much for being here. Looking forward to your visit to
the NYT Drug Policy Forum Tuesday....

Dean:

Thanks Boris, Tuesday on NYT. Great work!

Lefty:

Boris -- Thanks so much for your dedication to this cause. You have and
will continue to make a huge difference.

kaptinemo:

Merci boucoup, M. Boris!

bumbleweed:

Thank you, M.Boris

allan:

Thanks Boris

good job!