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Conclusion
Marijuana is grown all over the world. In
British Columbia (as in other provinces,
notably Quebec and Ontario), it is a significant
crop that fuels organized crime. Marijuana production
appears to have been growing robustly
during the past decade. Like many illegal products
and services, it is difficult to measure the level
of marijuana production. This is particularly the
case when it is cheap to set up a grow operation
and the market is substantial. In this paper I have
reported a methodology for estimating the output
of illegal production. Using estimates of marijuana
growing in British Columbia based on this
methodology, I have developed an estimate about
the overall size of the local market and the implied
level of exports.
Appendix BCUC IR1 74.1
The analysis reveals how widespread is the use of
marijuana in Canada and how extensively it is
produced in British Columbia. Consequently, the
broader social question becomes less whether or
not we approve or disapprove of local production,
but rather who shall enjoy the spoils. As it
stands now, growers and distributors pay some
of the costs and reap all of the benefits of the
multi-billion dollar marijuana industry while the
non-marijuana-smoking taxpayer sees only costs.
Alcohol prohibition in the US expanded organized
crime in North America. Removing alcohol
prohibition generated many problems, but none
like those afflicting society in the days of Al Capone
and his ilk. Removing the prohibition on
marijuana production would permit society to replace
today’s gift of revenue to organized crime
with (at the very least) an additional source of
revenue for government coffers.
The Fraser Institute 29 Marijuana Growth in British Columbia