As the debate over cannabis’ legal status continues, and is poised to be a federal election issue this year, I’d like to recommend a film to anyone who feels that the status quo is working.
The Culture High is a documentary produced by B.C. filmmaker Adam Scorgie, a follow-up to “The Union: The Business Behind Getting High” (available on Netflix). It’s been listed for Oscar consideration and it delves into North American cannabis laws, featuring Vancouver addiction specialist Dr. Gabor Maté and others. It’s a hard-hitting exposé that everyone opposed to cannabis legalization should watch if they want to know who benefits from prohibition and who is hurt by it. The opening scene is pretty shocking, but it gets better as the film goes on to explain how we got here.
Sensible B.C. organizers collected more than 4,500 signatures in Parksville-Qualicum last fall in our campaign to change cannabis laws. We’re most concerned with allowing patients to access low-cost, high-quality cannabis medicines, but we’re aware of the heavy toll paid by recreational users who are caught using cannabis instead of alcohol or other drugs.
We advocate for a “wine model” to regulate cannabis, where adults are allowed to grow some of their own cannabis or buy it like they can buy alcohol now, with proper ID. The benefits of this model are many, including increased safety, reduced youth access, increased tax revenues (Colorado has raised over $15 million for schools), and reduced enforcement costs. Visit www.sensiblebc.ca to get involved.
Cory PahlParksville
