COPE candidate Sid Chow Tan calls on Vancouver residents to grow marijuana at home

Veteran activist Sid Chow Tan believes Vancouver residents should all do their part to resist the wrongheaded "war on drugs".

Tan, who is running for city council with COPE in the November election, posted an interesting proposal in the comment section of Travis Lupick's September 10 article, "FOI request reveals Vancouver city hall perplexed by medicinal marijuana".

Here's what Tan wrote:

I propose all residents of Vancouver do their duty in the so-called war on drugs and grow eight marijuana plants in their home. Growers could enjoy the harvest in personal use, gifts to family and friends or contributions to worthwhile causes. The Compassionate Club comes to mind.

An eight-plant immunity would eliminate the electrical dangers of illegal grow-ops, the result of oppressive laws that many Canadians oppose. If enough citizens do their duty, we could soon be rid of the criminals who profit from the market-driven prices of marijuana as the so-called war ensues.

What is needed is clarification about the city's intentions. It is clear the enforcement strategy is aimed at those tearing up interiors, stealing power and causing problems for their neighbours. What is the threshold limit of plants Vancouver citizens can grow?

Eight plants is an auspicious number. It would be enough for personal use and a small surplus. This grassroots action would restore the financial profit as common wealth and allows the industrious opportunities.

The downside? A market in grow-options will develop, prompting the for demand a higher plant limits. Also, Canadians, particularly those in Vancouver, could then lay claim to the best marijuana in the world, courtesy of our enlightened Mayor and police department.

And in the context of free trade, wouldn’t it drive the Americans more nuts!

Over to you, folks: will you take up the cause (and maybe even send a few buds to Premier Christy Clark while you're at it)?