By Brian Lee
There’s been plenty of discussion about economic development on the Coast lately. Unfortunately, discussion is all it has been as local politicians debate how to move ahead.
Concurrently, we hear murmurs about the marijuana industry — its legalization in Washington State, municipal planning discussions to regulate medical marijuana growers and whether or not lifting prohibition here would be good or bad.
It’s a pity the two topics rarely combine in the same conversation. According to BC Business Magazine, the marijuana industry contributes $7.5 billion annually to BC’s economy. That wealth doesn’t only land in places where gangsters shoot each other like Abbotsford and Surrey. The fact is, for the past 20 years, marijuana prohibition has been very good to small resource towns like ours.
As our local economy faltered, growing dope picked up the slack. Even before the current medical marijuana rush where it seems every grower around here has suddenly found the legal means to cultivate, the plant has been responsible for more than a few local families making it through the lean times.
For obvious reasons, these contributions to Area A’s economy have been kept quiet but there is a surprisingly large proportion of the community who understand how much illicit cash is regularly injected into local stores, restaurants, services and property taxes each year. I’ve always thought it interesting how in such a small town, there’s a clear divide between those who are privy to the trade and those who are not. For the most part, those who are not are completely oblivous to its scale and the number of their acquaintances who take a cut from the marijuana industry.
Those acquaintances don’t always fit the common sterotype of the "pot grower." They might be a stay-at-home mom who hands off the kids for a few days a month to make $20 or $30 an hour trimming. They might be an electrician who specializes in keeping his mouth shut when asked to supply power to hidden spaces. They might be someone who flips a pound or two every year to pay for a trip to Mexico.
Recent estimates suggest that 5.6 per cent of BC’s population is involved in growing marijuana. I would guess our own percentage is higher but even at the provincial average, there are about 157 folks in Area A working the weed. The point is, our economy already relies on the industry so why not capitalize on its strengths?
In a 2004 report, SFU economics professor Stephen Easton suggests that, for a modest operation with 100 plants, the return on investment is approximately 55 per cent. The report goes on to say that figure drops to 40 per cent if you factor in the risk of getting busted. Still, try finding a mutual fund with that record of performance.
So, we have people here with the skills to grow and we also have people here with the capital to support large-scale production. Like Seagrams during alcohol prohibition, big fertilizer and seed companies are jostling to come out on top if and when marijuana is legalized. It’s time to consider the possibility that this type of agriculture may be a way to inject some vitality back into our anemic economy.
A first step might be to encourage elected officials to consider not only accepting the industry here on the Sunshine Coast, but actively promoting it. That might be as simple as looking ahead to tackle zoning issues that might hinder its development.
A second step?
Get growing.
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