B.C. pot sellers could get a small boost in business after U.S. legalization votes

British Columbia's marijuana industry is estimated to be worth about $7 million a year but votes by citizens in Colorado and Washington to legalize possession of small amounts for recreational use have observers wondering whether demand for B.C. Bud might shrink.

But at least one B.C. pot entrepreneur thinks there's still time to cash in while those states work out how to regulate and tax pot sales, the Globe and Mail reports.

The B.C. man, who sells marijuana seeds into the U.S. market, says Washington and Colorado could see a short-term spike in demand until licensed sales get underway because while the drug is legal, there's nowhere to legally buy it.

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The man, who doesn't want to be publicly identified for obvious reasons, told the Globe via email he's been operating his mail-order seed business for a decade.

He said he was inspired by Marc Emery, Canada's self-proclaimed "Prince of Pot," now serving time in a federal prison in Mississippi after pleading guilty to a conspiracy charge for exporting seeds to the U.S. after a years-long fight against extradition from Canada.

In a statement from prison, Emery said the votes in Washington and Colorado will have a major impact on the B.C. movement to decriminalize pot possession.

"I think marijuana legalization will be a main election discussion policy in the British Columbia May 2013 election," Emery said.

"Members of the legislature like Liberals Kash Heed and Joan McIntyre, and the NDP's Nicholas Simons, have recently made public statements recommending a completely legal, regulated and taxed marijuana distribution regime. It's getting to be a bi-partisan policy these days."

The man the Globe talked with said he's not interested in the kind of profile of his crusading hero, Emery. He tries to stay under the radar to cultivate his lucrative business.

"I'm still pretty cautious and careful not to get too greedy," he said.

He has noticed an increase in business from Washington and Colorado since the state referendums but said it's too early to tell if that's connected to the legalization victory.

A spokeswoman for New Approach Washington, the group behind the state's referendum, said she did not expect a surge of sales of seeds or other forms of marijuana, the Globe said.

"Where people are going to be getting their marijuana in that year interim is where they're getting their marijuana now," said Tonia Winchester. "There's a very profitable and highly functioning black market in Washington state where people are getting that marijuana."

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Washington is set to formally decriminalize pot possession of up to one ounce by adults 21 and older on Dec. 6. Seattle police have already stopped making possession arrests and the local prosecutor is dismissing 175 outstanding misdemeanour possession cases, the Globe said.