Pubdate: Thu, 22 Dec 2011
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2011 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html
Website: http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Cassidy Olivier, The Province

PLENTY OF PROMINENT POT SUPPORTERS IN B.C.

In B.C., several prominent political figures have called for the 
legalization of marijuana, arguing that criminalization has not 
reduced crime, violence or substance abuse.

Last month, four former Vancouver mayors, Larry Campbell, Michael 
Harcourt, Sam Sullivan and Philip Owen, endorsed the Stop the Violence 
B.C. coalition and voiced their strong support for legalization and regulation.

In an open letter to the provincial and municipal government, they 
stated that prohibition has only led to more gang-related violence and 
has increased costs for governments. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson 
tweeted his support soon after, saying, "Good to see 4 Vancouver 
ex-mayors calling for end of cannabis prohibition. I agree, we need to 
be smart and tax/regulate."

New Democrat MP for Vancouver East Lib-by Davies also wrote a letter 
last month to support Stop the Violence. "It's easier to hide behind 
the "prohibition is working" approach, but in the long run we are only 
fooling people, while spending massive amounts of money that don't 
improve health and safety," she wrote.

Former Liberal MP for Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca Keith Martin had called 
for the decriminalization of marijuana since 2001. He had introduced a 
private member's bill many times in Parliament, but it was never 
passed. He had argued that by fining those who are found possessing 
small amounts of marijuana, it will cut the connection between gangs 
involved in commercial grow-ops and casual pot users.
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