Bud Inc.: Inside Canada's Marijuana Industry [Hardcover]

 

 

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Ian Mulgrew's "Bud Inc: Inside Canada's Marijuana Industry" is a fascinating in-depth look at the lies behind cannabis prohibition. Originally intended as an analysis of the late 20s and early 30s era alcohol prohibition, the author uses Canada's flourishing marijuana industry as a modern-day comparison of wrongful and illegitimate prohibition and the associated social ills of organized crime associated with this illegal status.

While the book is difficult to categorize and describe in terms of genre or style, Mulgrew's journalistic touch is visible throughout and consists of a series of interviews and stories involving many of Canada's "marijuana celebrities", such as Marc Emery and Stephen T. Easton. The underlying elements in what seems like a series of otherwise anecdotal stories are a number of economic, political, social, legal and historical reasons for which marijuana should be legalized. In short, current cannabis laws are inefficient and based on lies. Governments have time and time again ignored well-funded research projects, such as the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs that have pushed for reform. Interestingly, laws are also biased against low-level cannabis users, as the maximum sentence for possession, five years less a day, is just short of the required sentence that constitutionally guarantees one to a jury trial (p.146).

Another undisputable fact revealed by the author is the economic importance and impact of the marijuana industry. On top of employing an unidentifiable number of otherwise unemployable people, cannabis production provides income and windfalls for communities that have suffered soft labour markets. Not only is the finished product a commodity like any other, there are a huge number of related products that are sub-industries in of their own, such as bongs, papers, fertilizers and growing lights which would also benefit from legalized cannabis.

The author's conclusions are a bit indecisive as to what marijuana legalization would look like in Canada, because of the wide divide in the perspective of his "characters." Some believe that the only tax revenues would be generated from tourists, as the majority of Canadians would opt to grow it on their own. Others believe that both medicinal and recreational marijuana could have profit potential and would be "taxed to hell."

This book is well worth a read for all those that wish to be in the know on the more sociological, political and economic aspects of the cannabis industry in Canada. While the author's academic credentials and use of scientific references might be a little light, a well-blended storyline along with interesting facts about the marijuana industry and the history of cannabis make it a must-read for the cannabis connoisseur.

This is a very readable overview of the marijuana industry in Canada, its players and how they got where they are today. A significant theme running throughout the book--appropriately, I believe--is the issue of legalization (not just decriminalization). Rather than being an 'agenda' or bias the writer has (what writer doesn't?), this talk of legalization and the implications of it for the marijuana industry and Canada's economy is a necessary part of the overall topic. Readers see the implications of the current prohibition for business and the implications of legalization and are left to draw their own conclusions, although it's pretty clear that Mulgrew is supportive of legalization. And it's not hard to see why he's supportive: when one reads about the extent that prohibition has created the environment of crime, funding organized criminals and hate-spouting extremists, and realizes that legalization would likely drastically reduce or eliminate that funding stream, the choice as to which is most appropriate shouldn't take much thought.

The author is a journalist and writes like one, sometimes changing from one topic or idea to a completely different one abruptly, but his friendly, conversational approach overcomes these 'flow' interruptions. Mulgrew reports his interactions with key players in the industry, and should not be blamed because he doesn't have an 'in' with the mafia or Hell's Angels to report that dirty side of the industry. There are plenty of other books on the Mafia or the Angels providing that information elsewhere. Anyone looking for an academic treatise or inside information on growing will be disappointed, but then, after all, this isn't the aim of the book. It gives what it says it will give on the jacket blurb, and it does a fine job in doing so.

If you enjoy cannabis, and want an up to date lok at what is going on in Canada with this drug, this is the book for you. This book is very well written, entertaining, and impossible to put down. It is current enough to cover the Marc Emery extradition arrest, and gave me some hope that these insane prohibition laws might soon come to an end. Assuming, of course, that Harper doesn't get into office, and turn this country into more of a police state than it already is. Buy this book, support NORML Canada (norml.ca), vote NDP in 2006, and help fight the Emery extradition (see cannabisculture.com for more info), unless you want to keep looking over your shoulder for cops every time you try to enjoy this benign herb.

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2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed
I had hoped by buying this book that I would have got an inside look at the marihuana industry in Canada. Read more

Published on Dec 17 2005

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