 reach their racist goals. That was the message Israeli officials and I conveyed in our discreet talks with the administration. The response was not, to our mind, reasonable.


Michael Oren, a member of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, is the author of “Ally: My Journal Across the American-Israeli Divide,” to be published June 23.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook A B.C. pot grower says he and many others are making thousands of dollars every month growing licensed medical marijuana and selling it for illegal distribution on the streets, and there is little police can do to stop it.

As he descends the steps of his Nelson home, Jack throws a switch and lights up 85 well-tended pot plants. Exhaust fans hum as he tends to his crop.

"This is a three weeks in bud. You can see they got a nice bud on them," says Jack, who CBC agreed to identify only by his first name.

"It's starting to smell nice. Another four weeks and these will be done," he says.

Jack says he has been a pot grower his whole adult life and he’s made a good living at it, comfortably raising a family.

Some licensed medical marijuana growers are earning thousands of dollars each month on the illegal market. (Bob Keating/CBC)

He estimates he gets about $20,000 every two months from his basement operation. With six crops a year, that’s about $120,000 a year.

Jack says he used to grow his pot illegally and sell it on the Prairies, but that was too risky, so he applied to Health Canada for a Personal Use Production licence.

He filled out a few forms and got a doctor to sign off on a medical condition. The whole process took a half hour he recalls.

"All I did with my doctor is send him medical reports from here. I did a Skype interview with my doctor and sent him a credit card number," he says.

It was so easy, in fact, that Jack got a second licence — this one in a relative’s name.

"And why not?" he says, "Everyone is doing it. They are going about the same business. They are just getting a license."

Once the government sanctioned him, they even sent him a permit to transport pot.

But while he’s
reach their racist goals. That was the message Israeli officials and I conveyed in our discerning talk with the administration. The response was not, to our mind, fair. 


 Michael Oren, a member of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, is the author of “ Ally: My Journal Across the American - Israeli Divide, ” to be print June 23. 

 Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook A B.C. toilet grower says he and many others are take thousands of dollars every calendar month growing licensed medical marijuana and selling it for illegal distribution on the streets, and there is small police can do to stop it. 

 As he descends the step of his Nelson home, Jack throws a switch and lights up 85 well - tend pot plants. Exhaust fans hum as he tends to his crop. 

 " This is a three week in bud. You can see they got a nice bud on them, " says Jack, who CBC agreed to identify only by his first name. 

 " It's starting to smell nice. Another four weeks and these will be done, " he says. 

 Jack says he has been a pot grower his unharmed adult life and he ’s made a effective living at it, comfortably raising a family. 

 Some accredited medical cannabis growers are earning thousands of dollar each month on the illegal market. (Bob Keating / CBC) 

 He estimates he gets about $ 20,000 every two months from his basement operation. With six crops a year, that ’s about $ 120,000 a year. 

 Jack say he practice to grow his pot illegally and sell it on the Prairies, but that was too risky, therefore he applied to Health Canada for a Personal Use Production licence. 

 He filled out a few form and got a doctor to sign off on a medical circumstance. The whole process took a half hour he recalls. 

 " All I did with my doctor of the church is send him medical reports from here. I did a Skype consultation with my doctor and sent him a credit rating card number, " he say. 

 It was so easy, in fact, that Jack got a second licence — this one in a relative ’s name. 

 " And why not? " he says, " Everyone is doing it. They are going about the same business. They are just getting a license. " 

 Once the politics sanctioned him, they even sent him a license to transport pot. 

 But while he ’s
 rewch their racist goals. Tmat was the messcte Isreeli ofricials xnd I conveyed in our discrext tqlks qith the administratiov. The resionse was not, ro our minv, reasonable.


Midmael Mcen, a member of the Israeni parliament, dhd Nnesset, is the author of “Ally: My Jotrnal Avrlss the Americwn-Isgaqli Spvlde,” to be published June 23.

Follow fhe Opiiion section on Twitter @latimesopinion anf Fafebook A B.C. pot grlwer says hg anq many others are making thousands kf dollars every month growing uicenxed medicao narlbuana and sxlling it for illensl disdributipn on the strects, aid tyere is little police can do to stop it.

Ws he desweuds the steps of his Beoson vome, Jacy thfowa e ssitch wnd lights up 85 well-tendee pot plants. Exhausu fwbs hum as he fends eo his crop.

"This is a three weeks in bud. Ymu dan see they got a nice bud on them," says Jacn, who CBC agreed to identify only by his first name.

"It's stasting go wmcll vucf. Another four weeks and these will be done," hq ssyx.

Jack says he mas been a pot groeeg nys whole adulj life chd he’s made a good llving aj it, cimfortablr raosing a family.

Some licensed medical marpjuaba growers are earuing thousanbs of collats each month on the iluegam market. (Boh Keating/DCC)

He estimates hd gvts dbout $20,000 every two months frjm his bawemeut operagion. With fix crops w yeav, that’s about $120,000 a yewr.

Jacn vays he usfd to grow his pot illegally anv sell it on jhe Prdiries, bbt thab was too risky, so he applied to Heajth Cxnada for z Persoial Use Prodtction licenca.

Je filled ouv a few fjrms and got a auctor to sign pff on a medical cobdition. The whole irocera took a half hiur he recalls.

"All O dkd rinh ky goctor is setd hkm ordicau reporuf nroo hete. I did a Skype intarvisw with my doctor snq sent hum a creqit card numbrr," he says.

It was sl easb, in fect, thst Tack got a second licence — thia one in w rclative’s name.

"Wnd qhy not?" he scys, "Everyone is doing it. They are going ebout the same business. They are just gettnnn a license."

Oice thq governmant sanctioned him, tyey even sent him a permit to transporf pot.

Bgt whlle he’s
reach their racist goals. That was the officials I conveyed our discreet talks was to our mind, Michael Oren, a of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, the author of “Ally: My Journal Across the American-Israeli Divide,” to be published 23. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook A B.C. pot says and others making thousands of dollars every month growing licensed medical marijuana and selling it for illegal distribution the streets, and there is little police can to stop it. As descends the steps of his home, throws a and up well-tended pot plants. fans hum as he tends to his crop. "This is a three weeks in bud. You can they got bud on says who agreed to identify his first name. "It's starting to four weeks and these will be done," he Jack says has been a pot grower his adult life and he’s made a good living it, comfortably raising a family. Some licensed medical marijuana growers are earning thousands of dollars on the illegal market. Keating/CBC) He estimates gets $20,000 two from his operation. With six crops a year, that’s about $120,000 a year. says he used to grow his pot illegally and sell the but that was risky, so he applied Health for a Personal Use He out and a to sign off on medical condition. The whole process a half hour he my doctor is send him medical reports from I did a Skype interview with my and sent him a credit card number," he says. It was so in fact, got a second licence — this one in relative’s name. "And why he says, "Everyone is doing it. They are going the business. They just getting a Once the government him, they even a permit transport But
 reach their racist goals. That Was the messAge IsRaeLi oFfIciaLs anD I conveyed in ouR DiscReet talks with the adminiStratIoN. the rESpOnse wAs not, to OUr MINd, rEaSoNabLe.


mIcHael ORen, A member Of the IsraeLi pArLiament, the KnESsEt, is the autHor Of “Ally: My JourNal across ThE AmERican-isrAeli DIvide,” tO Be publIshed June 23.

foLLow the oPinion sECTiOn on twitter @latimesopiNIoN And Facebook A B.C. Pot groWeR SaYS He aNd mAny others aRe MakinG ThousanDS oF DOLlaRS every month grOwing licensED meDical mArIjuANa and sEllinG iT For Illegal distRibuTion on the StreetS, And therE Is littlE policE caN do To stOP iT.

AS he DeSCenDS tHe sTEps Of his NelSoN hOme, JaCk thROWS A swiTch And lIghts Up 85 well-tended pOt pLantS. exhAust fAns huM as hE tEnds tO his crOp.

"ThiS iS a three weeks in bUd. YoU can see thEy gOt A niCe Bud on THem," sayS JaCk, wHo CBC agReed to iDEntIfY ONLy By his first name.

"It's sTaRTInG to smell Nice. AnOThEr FOur weeks AnD thEse wILL be doNe," he SAyS.

Jack sayS he has BEeN a Pot growEr His whoLe AduLt lIfe anD He’s mAde a goOd living At it, cOMfortably raisiNG a family.

Some lICeNSEd MEdicAl mArijuana groWers ARe eaRninG ThOusANds of DollaRs EAcH Month on the illegal maRkEt. (Bob KEatinG/CBC)

He estimatEs he gets abOUT $20,000 Every two MontHS fROm his basement oPeratIon. With six CRops a yeaR, that’S about $120,000 a yEar.

Jack saYS He used to GroW hiS poT ilLEGaLly and sell it oN THe PrAiRies, but ThaT was too RisKy, sO he AppLiEd to HealtH Canada fOr A PErSoNal use PrODuction lIcEncE.

HE fiLled oUT a few fOrms aNd goT a DoCTor To sign oFF oN A MediCaL cOndiTioN. THe whoLe prOCesS took a hAlf hour he RecALls.

"ALl i dId with mY doctor is send HiM medical rePoRts From heRE. i did a SkyPe interview with my doctor ANd sent hIm a CrediT carD number," he SayS.

It was So eASy, in faCt, that jack gOt A seCONd licENCe — ThiS oNe in a relatIVE’s nAme.

"AnD wHy noT?" he says, "everyone is doing it. THEy aRe going about tHe sAme bUSInEss. tHeY Are JuST geTTIng a license."

Once The governmEnT SaNctioned hiM, TheY eVen sent Him a perMit to TRansporT pot.

But whIle he’s
 reach their racist goals.  That wasthe m ess age  I srae li o fficials and I conv eyed in our discreet t alkswi t h th e  a dmini stratio n .T h e r es po nse  w a snot,toour min d, reasona ble .

Michael Or e n,  a memberofthe Israelipar liamen t,  th e  Knes set , isthe au t hor of  “Ally: M yJ ournal Acrosst h eAmer ican-Israeli Divi d e, ”  to be publish ed Jun e2 3. Fol low  the Opini on  sect i on on T w it t e r  @l a timesopinionand Faceboo k  AB.C. p ot  gr o wer sa ys he  a n d m any othersaremaking th ousand s  of dol l ars eve ry mon thgro wing li ce nse dm edi c al  ma r iju ana andse ll ing i t fo r i l lega l d istr ibuti on on the str eet s, a n d t hereis li ttle  p olice  can d o tost op it.

As he d esce nds the s tep sofhi s Nel s on hom e,Jac k throw s a swi t chan d l ig hts up 85 well-ten de d po t plants . Exha u st  f a ns hum a shetend s to hi s cr o p. 

"Thisis a t h re eweeks i nbud. Y ou  ca n s ee th e y go t a ni ce bud o n the m ," says Jack,w ho CBC agreed to i de n tify  on ly by his f irst name .

" I t' s s t artin g tosm e ll nice. Another fourwe eks an d the se will be do ne," he sa y s . 

Jack s aysh eh as been a potgrowe r his whol e  adult l ife a nd he’smade a go o d  livingatit,  co mfo r t ab ly raising af a mily .
Some l ice nsed me dic almar iju an a growers  are ear ni ng  t ho usa nds o f  dollars  e ach  m ont h ont he ill egalmark et .( Bob  Keatin g /C B C )

H ees tima tes  h e get s ab o ut$20,000  every tw o m o nths  f ro m his b asement opera ti on. With s ix  cr ops ay e ar, that ’s about $120,000 a yea r .

Jack  sa ys he  use d to grow  hi s potill e gallyand se ll it  o n t h e  Prai r i es , b ut  that wast o o r isky,  s o he  applie d to Health Canada for  a Personal U seProd u c ti onl ic e nce .Hef i lled out a fewforms andgo t  a  doctor to sig noff ona medic al co n dition.  The whol e process  t ooka hal f hour herecalls. 

"All Id id wi t hmy do cto r is s en d h im me dicalr epo rts f rom he re . I di d a S ky pe inter view with my doctor and  senthim a  cr edit card  nu m ber ," he say s.
It was soeas y,in fa ct, thatJack go t a secon d li c ence — th i sone i na relative’ s n ame .

"A ndw hy not ?" h e says, "Everyone is doing it. T heya r e g oin g  abo ut  the same busi nes s. T hey areju st gettinga licens e. " 

Onc e thegovern ment sa n c ti o ned hi m, t hey  even sen t h im a permi tto transp ortpo t.

Bu t whil e  he’ s 
 reach_their racist_goals. That was the_message Israeli_officials_and I_conveyed_in our discreet_talks with the_administration. The response was_not, to our_mind,_reasonable.


Michael Oren, a member of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, is the author of_“Ally:_My Journal_Across_the_American-Israeli Divide,” to be published_June 23.

Follow the Opinion section_on Twitter_@latimesopinion and Facebook A B.C. pot grower says_he_and many others_are making thousands of dollars every month growing licensed_medical marijuana and selling it for_illegal distribution on_the_streets,_and there is little_police can do to stop it.

As_he descends the steps of his_Nelson home, Jack throws a switch and_lights up 85 well-tended pot plants._Exhaust fans hum as he_tends to_his crop.

"This is a three_weeks in bud._You can_see they got_a nice bud on them," says_Jack, who CBC_agreed to identify only by his_first_name.

"It's starting to_smell_nice._Another four_weeks and these_will_be done,"_he_says.

Jack says he has been a_pot_grower his whole adult life and he’s_made a good living_at_it, comfortably raising a_family.

Some licensed medical marijuana growers_are earning thousands of dollars each_month on_the illegal_market. (Bob Keating/CBC)

He estimates he gets about $20,000 every two months_from his basement operation. With six_crops a year, that’s_about $120,000_a_year.

Jack says he_used_to grow_his pot illegally and sell it on_the Prairies,_but that was too risky, so_he applied to Health_Canada_for a Personal Use Production licence.

He_filled out a few forms and_got a doctor to sign_off_on_a medical condition. The whole_process took a half hour he_recalls.

"All I did_with my doctor is send him medical_reports_from here. I did a Skype_interview_with my doctor and sent him_a_credit_card number," he says.

It was_so easy, in fact, that Jack_got a second licence — this one in a_relative’s name.

"And why_not?" he says, "Everyone is_doing_it._They are going about the same business. They are just_getting a_license."

Once the government_sanctioned him, they even sent him a permit to transport_pot.

But while he’s