BC Bud

Taxobox
name = BC Bud


image_width = frameless
image_caption = "No available photo"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Rosales
familia = Cannabaceae
genus = "Cannabis"
genus_authority = L'Hér.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "Unknown"

BC Bud is a generic term for several varieties of potent cannabis grown in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The term has almost become a brand name, especially in California, Oregon, Alaska and Washington, to where most of the province's cannabis is exported. It is also known as "Beasters", on the west coast, and the quality is low. The United States Drug Enforcement Administration considers BC production to be a major problem, given the porous United States-Canada border [cite news |title=BC Bud: Growth Of The Canadian Marijuana Trade |url=http://www.hawaii.edu/hivandaids/BC_Bud__Growth_Of_The_Canadian_Marijuana_Trade.pdf |publisher=DEA Intelligence Division |date=December 2000 |accessdate=2008-06-11 ] , and has launched several major initiatives to cut down on its flow, including collaborative operations targeting marijuana activists such as Marc Emery. [cite news |title=Plea deal means jail time for marijuana activist |url=http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/293941 |publisher=Toronto Star |date=2008-01-14 |accessdate=2008-06-11 ]

A study released on October 4, 2006 by the University of Victoria Centre for Addictions Research of BC and Simon Fraser University Applied Research on Mental Health and Addictions indicated Cannabis use is more widespread among British Columbians than the rest of Canadians. [cite news|url=http://communications.uvic.ca/releases/release.php?display=release&id=758|title=Cannabis Use Highest in BC|publisher=University of Victoria|date=2006-10-04]

However, a high tolerance for cannabis use in BC and an awareness of the role of it as an export cash crop (worth an estimated $6 billion annually [cite book | author=Canada Parliament, Senate | coauthors=Colin Kenny, Pierre Claude Nolin | year=2003 | title=Cannabis: Report of the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs | publisher=University of Toronto Press | location=Canada | isbn=0802086306 | pages=pg. 35 | url=http://books.google.ie/books?id=L_5gu-eUfE8C ] ) has tended to make it difficult for Canadian or American authorities to interfere effectively. This remains a significant point of contention between the US and Canada, and is one of many US-Canada border problems driving changes to both nations' policies. [cite news |title=Senators Blast Canadian Border Security |url=http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3660302&page=1 |publisher=ABC News |date=2007-09-27 |accessdate=2008-06-11 ]

The early history of cannabis production was centered in hippie communities in the Gulf Islands and Kootenay area, in climate conditions perfect for outdoor growing. It is believed that much of the cannabis currently sold for export originates from hydroponic grow-ops in the Lower Mainland, with significant amounts still added by outdoor growers throughout the province. [cite book | author=Canada Parliament, Senate | coauthors=Colin Kenny, Pierre Claude Nolin | year=2003 | title=Cannabis: Report of the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs | publisher=University of Toronto Press | location=Canada | isbn=0802086306 | pages=pp. 36-37 | url=http://books.google.ie/books?id=L_5gu-eUfE8C ]

BC has many compassion clubs, head shops and activists challenging the current legal and social views on cannabis. Larry Campbell, a Canadian senator and Vancouver's former Mayor, has called for the decriminalization [cite web |author=Campbell, Larry |title=Pot Users Do Not Fit the Criminal Profile |date=2007-07-16 |work=Larry Campbell's Weblog |url=http://larrycampbell.ca/blog/?p=27 |accessdate=2008-06-11 ] , and even legalization [cite news |title='Legalize it, control it and tax the livin' hell out of it' |url=http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=cdf9aed6-718c-4991-8328-2475bfda76e6 |publisher=The Province |date=2007-11-11 |accessdate=2008-06-11 ] , of cannabis in British Columbia.

From a commercial point of view, the fact that many growers in BC informally cooperate to keep quality high, while competing fiercely in an illegal business, is of interest to some in the agricultural economics community, as well as students of trademarks, agricultural policy, black markets, and agorism. Like Bordeaux, France, a region synonymous worldwide with an intoxicating export, in this case Bordeaux wine, British Columbia is increasingly known for the premium quality of its marijuana. [cite news |title='This Bud's For The U.S.' |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101040823-682290,00.html?promoid=rss_world |publisher=Time Magazine |date=2004-08-14|accessdate=2008-06-11 ]

ee also

*Illegal drug trade

References