Pubdate: Mon, 23 Apr 2012
Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Canoe Inc
Contact:  http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837
Author: David Eby

In The Duel, 24 hours columnists David Eby and Kathryn Marshall battle
over the issues of the day. Who's the winner this week? Fire us an
email at van24feedback The pot prohibition debate: To legalize it or not to legalize
it?

GOING PRO-POT BETTER THAN NOT

If John McKay understands that the pot prohibition is enriching
violent criminal gangs, facilitating cocaine trafficking in Canada and
making it easier for school kids to buy the drug easily, perhaps,
Kathryn, it's time for you to have another look at the issue, too.

McKay is the Republican former-U.S. Prosecutor who spent years
battling the cross-border cannabis trade. He extradited Canada's "Pot
King" Marc Emery to the United States to five years in jail.

Last week, McKay came to town to ask Canadians to consider taxation
and regulation of cannabis as a strategy to protect young people and
to cut off a significant source of revenue for violent criminal
organizations.

"Marijuana prohibition in British Columbia and Washington State has
fuelled a massive illegal industry that is profitable, exceptionally
violent, and a proven threat to public safety and security on both
sides of the border," said McKay.

He was in town to support the proposal from B.C.'s Stop the Violence
campaign to replace the criminal prohibition on marijuana with a very
strict regulatory regime. The proposal is to prohibit advertising;
include health warnings, age restrictions and driving restrictions;
and collect significant taxes to fund public programs. The plan is
also supported by the Health Officers Council, a group of public
health experts whose only goal is to promote the public health of
British Columbians.

Money would be redirected from violent gangs to drug treatment and
prevention programs. Removing the distribution of cannabis from
organized crime would reduce access to the drug for children in our
schools.

Former Liberal Attorney General Geoff Plant wants reform: "Cannabis
prohibition is ineffective, expensive and, without question,
contributes to the growth of organized crime. Widespread gang
violence, easy access to illegal cannabis, significant costs to
taxpayers and cross-border organized crime concerns all result from
our failed approach to drug policy."

The Economist Magazine echoed the sentiment: "Prohibition has failed;
legalization is the least bad solution".

And former-city councillor Peter Ladner: "The current economic crisis 
adds financial punch to the already-strong arguments for ending this 
harmful charade and spending our scarce public dollars on creating 
benefits, not breeding crime."

But it's not just conservative prosecutors, politicians and magazines
driving this issue. According to pollster Angus Reid, approximately
80% of British Columbians agree cannabis laws must be reformed. Let's
stop funding violent criminals, and instead find the least bad
solution for public health and safety. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D