A Canadian cannabis activist is pledging to give away 1 million seeds through the mail to further test Canada's crumbling prohibition laws:
After mailing out dime bags to Canadian members of Parliament earlier this year, British Columbia weed activist and former New Democratic Party candidate Dana Larsen is expanding his pot giveaway to tokers from coast to coast.
Today, Larsen pledged to send free weed seeds to anyone wanting to plant a cannabis "victory garden" this spring. He says it's an effort to put pressure on the feds to keep their election promise and end pot prohibition. "It is civil disobedience against the unjust pot prohibition laws that has gotten us to the verge of legalization," Larsen wrote in an announcement. "Let us finally bring our plants out of the closet and into the fresh air where they belong." Larsen invites would-be weed growers to visit a new website and fill out a quick form. From there, he'll personally mail ten or 100 seeds to anyone who pledges to grow "openly and freely, preferably on your own property."
Recreational weed use is still illegal across the country, but Larsen isn't too worried about cops coming after him. In the past, he's mailed Premier Christy Clark a half ounce of Purple Kush and delivered all 184 sitting Liberal MPs a gram of ganja along with his book, an illustrated history of cannabis in Canada. At the time, Toronto law enforcement said an investigation into the pro-pot stunts would be a waste of time.
[...] In February, a landmark court decision ruled that medical marijuana patients are allowed to grow their own weed, despite laws passed by the former Conservative government that required patients buy from federal growers. By breaking the law, Emery and Larsen hope to see that right extended to recreational users at home.
Canada's ministry of public safety did not comment on Larsen's seed giveaway, but a government spokesperson confirmed the move is still technically illegal. "Under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, marijuana possession, production and trafficking remains illegal in Canada," wrote media relations officer Scott Bardsley in an email, adding the legalization process will take some time. Constable Annie Delisle with the federal RCMP said the pot mail out is currently under investigation. "We will not be commenting further at this time," reads an emailed statement.
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Recreational cannabis is now legal in Canada... to a point. Here are some ground rules:
Adults of at least 18 years old will be allowed to carry and share up to 30 grams of legal marijuana in public, according to a bill that passed the Senate in June. They will also be allowed to cultivate up to four plants in their households and make products such as edibles for personal use.
[...] The supply of recreational marijuana could be limited, at least early on, in some stores. Officials in Nova Scotia and Manitoba said they won't have a large selection, at least not on the first day, CNN affiliate CBC News reported. [...] Marijuana will not be sold in the same location as alcohol or tobacco. Consumers are expected to purchase the drug from retailers regulated by provinces and territories or from federally licensed producers when those options are not available.
[...] Authorities will soon announce plans to pardon Canadians who have been convicted with possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana, CNN partner CTV reported. The production, distribution or sale of cannabis products will still be an offense for minors.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by DeathMonkey on Tuesday March 15 2016, @05:54PM
He's got a point. It's been wink-wink nudge-nudge "legal" forever. Leaving these laws on the books just opens the door for selective enforcement abuse.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Vanderhoth on Tuesday March 15 2016, @06:01PM
I just want it legalized so I don't have to listen to either side whine about it anymore ^_^
It's one of those topics that comes up all the time and there really seems to be FAR more people in favor of legalizing it, or just apathetic, than people against it. Smoking is practically illegal in Canada on public property now anyway, feels a lot like you're free to smoke if you stand on the yellow line in the middle of the road, but no where else. So if you're smoking a joint you're likely going to have to do it at home anyway.
"Now we know", "And knowing is half the battle". -G.I. Joooooe
(Score: 3, Informative) by DeathMonkey on Tuesday March 15 2016, @06:07PM
In CO the recreational legalization won by something like 55 to 45%. That's a massive landslide in our political landscape.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 15 2016, @06:47PM
How about we make a deal: we legalize pot, but make use of emoticons, emoji, or other smileys a capital offense?
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 15 2016, @06:50PM
( *∀*)y─┛
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 15 2016, @06:53PM
Go directly to jail, do not pass go, do not collect $200.
(Score: 2) by Bot on Tuesday March 15 2016, @07:21PM
DID SOMEBODY SAY CAPITAL?
Account abandoned.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 16 2016, @05:22AM
No, silly, it was meant in the sense of "jolly good, a capital idea. [huffingtonpost.com]" Not capital letters.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by bob_super on Tuesday March 15 2016, @05:59PM
Don't mistakenly send any of those letters south of the border, or you'll instantly end up either dead or in spending life in jail.
It's cartel territory, son, and we don't like competition.
(Score: 5, Funny) by Anne Nonymous on Tuesday March 15 2016, @06:20PM
> give away 1 million seeds... from coast to coast.
So he's a modern day Johnny Apple Weed?
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Tuesday March 15 2016, @06:54PM
I gots mine coming! :) Yay, Canada, Yay being Canadian.
IAMCANADIAN
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. I have always been here. ---Gaaark 2.0 --
(Score: 3, Insightful) by RedGreen on Tuesday March 15 2016, @07:36PM
Hopefully you can tell the difference between the male and female plant otherwise you will end up with seedy pile of junk bud. Now clones are different and definitely the way to go you have exactly the same strain you got them from therefore takes all the guess work out of growing them. Properly taken care of when growing you will end up with the same yield and potency when harvested every year.
"I modded down, down, down, and the flames went higher." -- Sven Olsen
(Score: 3, Informative) by archfeld on Tuesday March 15 2016, @07:47PM
Your neighbors might kill you if you let males grow, and their crops goes to seed. Clones are easy to make and easier to come by at about $5.00 around here in Nor-Cal. Not to mention you have a history to judge expected yield.
Despite what people say, growing is not cheap, unless you do it entirely outdoors, and then your window is limited and you have to worry about getting your plants ripped off. It happened to me once before I got smart and installed some video surveillance equipment, so I could see the neighbors kid and friends hopping my fence. Little bastards.
I now grow several cycles of smaller plants indoors to keep me supplied year round, but the cost for lights and other infrastructure is quit a bit higher.
For the NSA : Explosives, guns, assassination, conspiracy, primers, detonators, initiators, main charge, nuclear charge
(Score: 2) by richtopia on Wednesday March 16 2016, @10:22AM
I'm curious, what is the cost to grow outdoors?
With legality, I would expect the need to steal the plant being reduced. People grow tobacco in their gardens and they don't get nicked.
(Score: 2) by deimtee on Wednesday March 16 2016, @11:02AM
I would guess that most smokers would not recognize a tobacco plant, and even if they did the hassle of properly preparing and drying it would not be worthwhile. Also, commercial cigarettes have so many additives that home-made ones are never going to taste the same.
Weed on the other hand is quite recognizable, and the people who use it are used to preparing it themselves.
200 million years is actually quite a long time.
(Score: 2) by archfeld on Thursday March 17 2016, @12:00AM
Outdoor costs include the plants(clones) themselves. Pots, likely several sizes as your plants mature, growing them in the ground causes root constriction and likely drainage issues. Soil as regular potting soil is not likely to meet the high nitrogen requirements, http://www.growweedeasy.com/marijuana-symptoms-pictures [growweedeasy.com] as well as water testing equipment, most tap water will not meet the specialized PH needs for 'good' buds, http://www.growweedeasy.com/marijuana-symptoms [growweedeasy.com] , you can get by with a testing kit like pool owners use but a digital tester is much more efficient and worth the investment, and then the chem's needed to adjust the PH, plant food, generally you'll want something wholly organic because you WILL taste any thing that isn't in the final product, and without a proper balance you'll get white flies or mites, and finally plenty of time to trim and care for the plants, buds only come from certain points on the branches which you'll want to maximize, and keep topping off the plant to ensure maximum branches vs height growth. The more branches the more bud nodes, the taller the plants you'll get fewer branches.
For the NSA : Explosives, guns, assassination, conspiracy, primers, detonators, initiators, main charge, nuclear charge
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Tuesday March 15 2016, @07:57PM
Hoping the guy mailing them knows what he is doing, 'cause i sure don't, lol.
Just doing it to help the cause...
---
Possum Lodge Word Game
Red: This is what normal people drink.
Ranger Gord: Beer.
Red: Um, OK, but this has no taste to it.
Ranger Gord: American beer?
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. I have always been here. ---Gaaark 2.0 --
(Score: 2) by RedGreen on Tuesday March 15 2016, @08:27PM
The guy mailing them has no idea unless he has done what is called feminizing (a total BS money grab in my humble opinion) them which I highly doubt. You have 50/50 chance of male plants coming from seeds, clones you have 100% chance of getting the exact same plant you cloned from.
"I modded down, down, down, and the flames went higher." -- Sven Olsen
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Tuesday March 15 2016, @09:41PM
Do they have flowers that attract/feed/help bees?
I ordered the low THC kind (bad munchie experience), but the whole thing is just a screw the man kind of thing... May just plant them in a local wooded area, lol.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. I have always been here. ---Gaaark 2.0 --
(Score: 3, Informative) by RedGreen on Tuesday March 15 2016, @11:10PM
Of course they have flowers all plants do that is where you get the bud from is in the flowers once they form and firm up. If you want to help the bees plant some clover on your lawn or lots of plants that flower at all different times of the summer. If you are going to plant in the woods go for area with pine trees a 30-40 foot clearing among reasonable sized trees will do nicely something that will get a good 8 or so hours of direct sun a day. The pine needles on the ground will keep down the slugs them little mother fuckers will not cross the needles. Best if you have brought in a few 70l bags of soil and 15kg bags of sheep shit one pair for each plant planted. The soil in these areas is usually too poor to give good result. A couple of 5 gallon/20l water jugs is handy to have to get your water needed to the plants. On watering at least once a week two jugs for six plants in a patch if you see the plants getting a little wilted more water is needed a couple of times a week if you see them start to turn yellow on the leaves then you are giving them too much so cut back. Optional some garden fencing around the patch to keep out the rabbits, deer, bears anything that may want to chew up your plants and fertilizer. If going to fertilize some 20/20/20 off the start once the plants are a foot or so high every couple of weeks until they get chest high or so and are ready to go into bud then you go with 10/52/10 every couple of weeks again, stopping about at least a month before harvest to allow it to be used up, if your weed snaps, crackles and pops when smoked you left it too late to stop fertilizing before the harvest. You could also do this in containers the bigger the better obviously something along the lines of a storage tote 4x2x3 the larger size or 50 gallon plastic/wooden barrel cut in half for two containers one plant per. With bag of the sheep shit in each the rest soil then continue on with proper watering and fertilizer if desired. Ah few holes drilled in the containers 3-4 inches from bottom in case you over water for it to seep out.
"I modded down, down, down, and the flames went higher." -- Sven Olsen
(Score: 2) by takyon on Wednesday March 16 2016, @02:20AM
*All angiosperms do.
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(Score: 2) by archfeld on Thursday March 17 2016, @12:04AM
Plants can and will hermaphrodite, or can be shocked into from female into male.
https://www.alchimiaweb.com/blogen/marijuana-hermaphroditism/ [alchimiaweb.com]
For the NSA : Explosives, guns, assassination, conspiracy, primers, detonators, initiators, main charge, nuclear charge
(Score: 3, Funny) by Joe Desertrat on Wednesday March 16 2016, @01:21AM
I asked a friend of mine (an old veteran of San Francisco in the sixties) why pot smokers did not just toss their seeds everywhere so eventually prohibition of marijuana became impossible. He said they used to talk about doing that all the time, but no one ever did it. I guess once they started smoking any such initiative was lost...
(Score: 2) by takyon on Wednesday March 16 2016, @02:32AM
Maybe it's not that simple.
Cannabis needs a lot of water to grow, and might not fare well outside:
http://weedfarmer.com/growing_guide/guerrilla_farming.php [weedfarmer.com]
But there are in fact cannabis plants discovered all over the place:
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/12/urban-forager-cannabis-grows-in-brooklyn/ [nytimes.com]
News items like the above are hard to find because they are mixed in with news of deliberate large-scale outdoor growth operations:
http://www.dailynews.com/article/ZZ/20111017/NEWS/111019650 [dailynews.com]
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/sep/25/cannabis-forest-discovered-in-south-west-london-kingston-upon-thames [theguardian.com]
But wait, there's a recent example of what you were talking about occurring, not by accident:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/pro-marijuana-protest-group-sows-cannabis-seeds-across-goettingen-a-910750.html [spiegel.de]
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(Score: 2) by Joe Desertrat on Thursday March 17 2016, @12:57PM
The trouble with all those examples (except perhaps the Brooklyn one) is they are about relatively limited areas where it is still possible for authorities to track down and remove them. There are pot smokers everywhere now, if they all tossed all their seeds outside in every unkempt lot, in woodlot and park, into every hedgerow and ditch, the stuff would be growing everywhere. Maybe most would sprout and die, but enough would survive. If nothing else, maybe we would spur the economy as authorities hired more people to work ridding us of the "scourge".
(Score: 3, Insightful) by takyon on Thursday March 17 2016, @06:52PM
Well there are probably more examples. I tried to find older articles I had read about weed growing in urban areas like those planter boxes for street beautification rather than parks, but it was hard to search for.
In any case, somebody should spread zillions of seeds, although I question whether it is ecologically sound. Mushrooms might be better.
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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 17 2016, @10:23AM
I asked a friend of mine (an old veteran of San Francisco in the sixties) why pot smokers did not just toss their seeds everywhere so eventually prohibition of marijuana became impossible. He said they used to talk about doing that all the time, but no one ever did it. I guess once they started smoking any such initiative was lost...
Yeah, I used to think this was a good idea. Than I noticed that the gubment sends work crews to trim the grass and remove weeds on most public land, such as that running along highways, in urban and suburban areas, etc. I have now come to the conclusion that they do it to prevent weed from growing.
If you think about, it is actually pretty daft. Usually they are using petrol powered weed wackers. Basically the government is spending money and burning fossil fuels to cut-down potential carbon sinks several times per year.
(Score: 4, Informative) by pogostix on Tuesday March 15 2016, @07:43PM
Last I checked 5 plants is a slap on the wrist and 6 can invoke asset forfeiture. (Your house)
Safer and wiser to have thousands of people grow 5 plants to start.....