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OACP Propaganda (taken directly from their Green Tide Report), and our logical interpretation:


"The number of indoor marihuana grow operations (grow ops) have increased dramatically over the past three to five years (approximately 250%); In 2002, there were as many as 15,000 active grow ops in Ontario;"

There is no evidence backing up this claim. There is, however, lots of evidence showing that garden RAIDS have increased dramatically, and this fact has been used to suggest that there are more gardens. And of course, even if there are more gardens, so what? Our government is telling sick Canadians to grow their own medicine, while the police are breaking down their doors. Further, if there is any increase in the number of commercial cannabis gardens, this is a direct result of the drug-war-caused value of the herb. Prohibition is clearly the cause of any increase in 'grow-ops' in residential neighbourhoods.


"Grow ops are a serious threat to both the public and to Police Officers (fire, explosions, related violence, health risks ie. chemicals, mould, high concentrations of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide)"

This is absolute nonsense. In fact, some of it is even an admitted lie. In fine print in the OACP document they state clearly that there has never been a garden-related "explosion" in Ontario. 15,000 "grow-ops" (what a scary term - almost as frightening as "grow labs," another distasteful strategic term in a war of words) and not a single explosion - and yet explosions are a "serious threat." All of these sensationally suggested dangers are not at all applicable to the average cannabis garden, are easily mitigated with a little common sense, and are in fact caused by the prohibition forcing people who want to grow this benign plant to do so in a clandestine manner. If we're worried about fire, for instance, we'd be far better off to battle candles, cigarettes, cooking oil, electrical wiring/appliances and fireplaces! Worried about chemicals? Better ban bleach and nail polish remover. Gases? Better ban furnaces! There is no risk inherent in cannabis gardening, as there is no risk inherent in growing rose bushes in your backyard or culinary herbs on your windowsill. PROHIBITION is "a serious threat to both the public and Police Officers." It's that simple.


"On December 17, 2003, the OACP released “Green Tide – Indoor Marihuana Cultivation and Its Impact on Ontario”. The report contained the following facts: In 2002, approximately 17% of grow ops were located within 500 meters of a primary/secondary school;"

This is such a blatantly ridiculous fear tactic. Total misinformation. I would bet that approximately 17% of ALL residences are within 500 meters of a primary/secondary school. And what exactly is the point? Is there any danger posed to school children caused by an herb garden a few hundred meters away?


"Children are directly exposed to hazards related to grow ops; For every four grow ops, one child will reside in a grow op dwelling. The number of children residing in grow op dwellings is estimated to be between 995 and 10,000 for the 2000-2003 period. In 2002 alone, approximately 3,700 children may have resided in these dwellings."

There is no harm to children caused specifically by marijuana gardens. In fact, there is usually benefit (financially, family health and otherwise) to children living with parents who choose to grow a few plants. The greatest harm done to children is perpetuated when the masked, shotgun-wielding cops bust in and tear apart families for harmless behaviour in their own homes. Further, prohibition creates a situation where it is easier for kids to get drugs than for adults, and creates an enticing means of making easy money for our youth. Sensational claims such as those regarding children sleeping on "urine-soaked mattresses" are just absurd - you'll find more of that happening in houses without the supplementary income (or savings on medication expenses) associated with a cannabis garden.


"In 2002, Ontario's already strained electricity sector may have lost $85 million to illegal electricity theft associated with commercial grow ops - 85 per cent of the estimated $100 million economic cost to the provincial economy."

Another piece of ridiculous propaganda. A tiny minority of cannabis gardens involves theft of electricity, and this theft is only necessary because our idiotic prohibitory policies force gardeners to have to hide their garden and their electricity consumption.


"Grow ops cost the province of Ontario hundreds of millions of dollars;"

And yet the point of this propaganda is to request that we spend millions more fighting an impossible war. What nonsense. Obviously, "grow ops" generate a lot of money and should be making our province and nation income rather than this ridiculous waste of resources.


"Current lenient sentences do not accurately reflect the severity of the crime; the lucrative business of organized crime can likely easily absorb current penalties and continue to expand the number of grow ops."

Nonsense. The sentences allowed in our Criminal Code for cannabis cultivation are among the most severe around. Cannabis gardeners can receive far more jail time than perpetrators of many very serious violent crimes. Judges simply acknowledge that those permitted cannabis related sentences are extremely unrealistic and that the punishment should fit the crime. More severe sentencing would only serve to further drive up the value of this medicinal herb and bring more criminals and more violence into what should simply be a farming market. Drug-war sentencing has clearly not been effective.



"Ontario's police leaders will use the Green Tide report as the basis for working with government and Industry groups such as electric utility companies, insurance companies and real estate associations on a provincial strategy for combating commercial marihuana grow operations ;"

And will cause even more suffering, violence and chaos as a result. That's a proven fact.


"Increased resources are required to be allocated to police investigations/organized crime units/MGO Coordination personnel;"

Surprise, surprise. So they'd like us to throw even more of our much-needed resources into a losing battle, when so many other issues are desperately needing attention and our governments at every level are virtually bankrupt and constantly trying to scrape together funds for desperately important problems. We commend the OACP for at least coming right out with this ridiculously self-serving suggestion. The millions spent fighting gardeners should obviously be put to better use within our police forces. Only then should we even consider increasing funding for policing. Police budgets should be spent on the crimes and activities that Canadians actually want cops to take care of and perform. Repealing the counter-productive prohibition will automatically remove the criminal element, the violence, etc., etc. and free up police resources for much more important things. The OACP apparently does not represent police officers or Canadians, they are clearly self-serving politicians and lobbyists. The majority of police officers will tell you that they don't want to be busting joint-smokers and that they want to enforce reasonable laws so that they can nobly serve the public and receive the respect that they deserve. The average cop is neither stupid nor evil. And everyone knows that Canadians don't want to be a part of the drug war any longer. We're better than that.


"Education and training of Officers and Judicial system personnel;"

Why waste huge amounts of resources and man-hours misinforming officers and judicial system personnel? Education is obviously important, but that has nothing to do with the Police. DARE and other programs involving police "educating" people about drugs are dismal failures. And we don't need any more bureaucrats and court employees, or more ignorance among them - we already have too many, and too much. We desperately need to stop wasting our resources on this issue at the expense of all others. Too many cases are being thrown out of courts, too many real criminals being released or otherwise going unpunished for real crimes while we're clogging the courts with this nonsense.


"The OACP urges the Government of Canada to enact immediate legislative reform to provide for minimum sentences of 2 years as a deterrent for the cultivation of marihuana;

Judicial system must implement tougher sentences – assurance that Judges will impose these stiffer penalties;"

What obviously asinine suggestions, considering all that we know about the ineffectiveness of the deterrent effect of such policies, the fortifying impact they have on the black market, and the incredible damage caused by the horrible prison-state situation enjoyed in the USA. Have our Chiefs and Minister researched this topic at all? None of their claims and suggestions seem to make any sense.


"The OACP Organized Crime Committee is working on public awareness, development of a summit for community stakeholders (Banks, Real Estate Firms, Utility Companies, Insurance Companies, etc.) impacted by grow ops."

Wouldn't it be nice if they thought more about the people they are mandated to Protect and Serve, rather than the interests of financial conglomerates?!?


Community Safety and Corrections Minister Kwinter has recently been quoted spewing other nonsense about cannabis - propaganda that has been disproven without a shadow of a doubt. How can someone in such a position of authority with control over such a wide spectrum of issues in our society be so misinformed?


Bottom Line: The OACP Reports, Summit, and suggestions are ridiculous. Anybody with any real insight into this issue will tell you categorically that the more we believe these lies and self-serving requests, the more we'll suffer as a society. I'm disgusted that our leaders and representatives can be so blind and ignorant and resort to such blatant dishonesty and fear-mongering. Every claim in the Report that is even remotely factual actually clearly highlights the unavoidable failure of such policies as those they recommend in the same document, and obviously supports the need to repeal our cannabis prohibition.


Other Unbelievable Details From the Green Tide Report:

"First, a high volume of oxygen sometimes exists because operators will artificially increase the amount of this gas in order to maximize plant growth."

Do you remember back in grade school when you learned about how plants 'breathe' Carbon Dioxide and 'exhale' Oxygen? One has to wonder; what is the education level of the employees of the PR firm hired (and surely handsomely rewarded) to produce this bogus report?



And the frightening proposals and propaganda continue now that the Green Tide Summit is over:

From the Toronto Star:
"This product (from grow-ops) is not being used in Canada," Kwinter told reporters. "There is marijuana grown in the fields. That growth is being used for domestic use."

This statement is so ridiculously inaccurate, a totally imaginary fabrication. It is also very sadly representative of the amount of actual knowledge about this topic among those involved with the Green Tide Summit and other acts of drug-war conspiracy.

And by the way, our leaders really have to remember to question American "blame-Canada" propaganda:
"according to the UN, DEAland produces 10,000 tons of cannabis per year, which would make it the world’s largest producer of herbal cannabis, and ten times bigger than Canada. (That would make it roughly the same amount per capita, however. Canada has a population of approximately 31 million, the US a little less than 300 million. DEAland exports only a small amount of cannabis to Canada, so it consumes virtually all of its own production, plus another 5,000 tons imported primarily from Mexico.)" - from www.marijuananews.com


From the Globe and Mail:
"Ian Smith, a representative from the Ontario Real Estate Association, said he would like to see privacy legislation changed so that police can tell real-estate agents whether a house used to be a marijuana grow operation -- a practice prohibited under current law."
"Officials from the insurance industry also indicated their desire to see privacy legislation changed so that they can get more information from police and fire officials when determining whether a fire or explosion was the result of growing operation. Many insurers refuse to cover damages that result directly from illegal drug operations.

So what, for instance, does all of this imply for the cancer patient who is unable to obtain MMAR exemption because doctors have been told not to sign the forms? Can't you just feel your constitutional rights slipping away? Do we really want to live in a society that prides itself on being "True, North Strong and Free" but in which Truth, our Strengths and our Freedoms mean less and less every day?! Enough is enough. Let's see some Canadian pride and let's make this great Nation, and the world, a better place.


From the National Post:
"Algar said grow houses in Canada are fuelling a "sinister cross-border exchange" between organized crime in Canada and in the United States.
"That's fuelling the importing of cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and other dangerous drugs into Ontario."
"The pot trade in Canada is also to blame in part for the growing problem of guns in Toronto and other parts of the province," he added.
"They also bring in guns that are at the root of escalating violence that we are seeing on the streets of Toronto and other cities throughout this province."

What ridiculously fictional fear-mongering. If you want to blame something for the "importing of cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and other dangerous drugs" and "the growing problem of guns," you have to possess a special brand of ignorance to choose cannabis gardens as your scapegoat. PROHIBITION and its resulting violence are a much more reasonable (and obvious) target for this blame!