Belgium: A right-wing local councillor wants to form a Cannabis Social Club

Georges Louis Bouchez, a city council member for the Reformist Movement of Mons, would like to see the production and distribution of cannabis handled by a Cannabis Social Club in his town. With this in mind, he submitted a motion to his town’s municipal council on Wednesday, April 5, 2017.   »I’m taking a risk in a party—the MR—that’s labeled as right-wing, but avoiding problems isn’t my idea of politics, so I’m moving forward.».

A CSC to keep consumers away from the black market

To explain his idea, he wants to follow the example of the Flemish Cannabis Social Clubs. Each member pays a membership fee to the association. This fee is used primarily to cover the costs of maintaining the facilities and equipment needed to grow the precious plants. The Belgian Daily Le Soir echoes his remarks: »I’m acting based on conversations with doctors and lawyers, who observe that law enforcement has failed—because we don’t have the means to punish people as we claim to, because it doesn’t reduce consumption, because young people are getting their supplies from organized crime, and because the products sold to them are unreliable and sometimes dangerous. We need to change. Here, we’re somewhere between repression and liberalization—in the realm of regulation.»

«I'm not Bob Marley»

The elected official stated, «As for »peace and love’ drug use—I’m not Bob Marley; I don’t drink alcohol and I don’t smoke.” “The idea is to ensure responsible cannabis use, prevent young people from buying from criminals, and guarantee the quality of the product, which is essential for public health.”

On this issue, he agrees with his mayor, Elio Di Rupo. The former Belgian prime minister and current president of the Belgian Socialist Party advocates for state regulation of cannabis sales and production. Georges Louis Bouchez does not go that far and prefers to keep the matter at the community level. However, Mayor Di Rupo was not present at the city council meeting. »I haven’t received an official document, but in any case, I am personally in favor of establishing a Cannabis Social Club in Mons.».

To be continued.