Pubdate: Mon, 07 Mar 2011
Source: Alberni Valley Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2011 Jen Fisher-Bradley
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouverisland/albernivalleytimes/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4043
Author: Jen Fisher-Bradley

MARIJUANA INDUSTRY HELPS KEEP CITY VIABLE

Port Alberni should come out of the closet and admit that the 
underground marijuana industry helps keep the city viable. On the 
other hand, money-laundering is detrimental to our local economy. 
Generally speaking, organized criminals make for poor neighbours. 
Democracy and freedom of speech tend to suffer.

I cannot help but support the end of prohibition since farming would 
get the support it needs in a time of dire food insecurity.

Imagine a farmer being able to grow some medical marijuana on a 
certain percentage of the farm land and get a decent, guaranteed 
price from a stakeholder regulated marketplace. This cash crop 
enables the farmer to grow food for his/her community. Perhaps the 
deal would be that if you do not grow the food you don't get to grow 
the marijuana. It's up to us, citizens, to create the rules, 
together, with the common good in mind.

I am a medical marijuana user and proud of it. I am proud to promote 
alternative medicine with my voice and with my life experiences.

I am proud of all fellow Canadians who have fought and continue to 
fight for the right to access these medical alternatives.

Marijuana is used to help people who suffer with the nausea related 
to chemotherapy, and it is a very effective pain reliever for some people.

These are just two of many known benefits.

I suggest all conscious beings read the book by Jeanne Auchterberg 
called Woman as Healer. You'll find that historically there's been a 
wide variety of choices with human healing and then, the patriarchal 
movement got in the way, reducing our choices dramatically.

You know, witch hunting and the whole nine yards. I read it while I 
was a prisoner at B.C. Womens' in Burnaby. I was serving time for 
contempt of court for blockading Weyerhaeuser in the Walbran Valley 
under the unconstitutional S.L.A.P.P. suit. The reason I was in jail 
was because I defy anyone's right to clear-cut the peoples' 
watersheds in the face of rapid climate change. It is a crime against 
humanity. It's the water stupid.

Jen Fisher-Bradley

Port Alberni
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom