Pubdate: Wed, 02 May 2012
Source: Lake Country Calendar (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Black Press
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/uDzqLFOG
Website: http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/lakecountrycalendar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2229
Author: Bobbi-Sue Menard

IMMEDIATE INTEREST IN MAYORS' LETTER ENDORSING DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA

There was immediate province wide media interest in the April 26
letter signed by Mayor James Baker and the mayors of seven other
communities regarding a new approach to the marijuana industry in
British Columbia.

In a two-page missive, the mayors acknowledge the tremendous harm the
marijuana industry has on communities, the immense cost of the
continued criminalization and the public health implications of
current approaches.

The letter supports the Stop the Violence Campaign and calls for the
taxation and strict regulation of marijuana.

The letter is, "An attempt to get some type of control over the
situation," says Baker.

The mayor recognizes there is a jurisdictional issue, but he is hoping
the letter also signed by Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robinson, Burnaby
Mayor Derek Corrigan and Vernon Mayor Robert Sawatzky, among others
will help bring the issue front and centre with the provincial and
federal governments.

"There obscene amounts of money associated with marijuana and to try
and enforce the drug issue is not succeeding," says Baker.

The mayor's hope is that an approach similar to alcohol regulation
would be taken up by the province.

"The parallels are so similar to alcohol. They could bring in a drug
control act similar to the Alcohol Control Act. This isn't about
legalization as much as it is about regulation."

The letter states: "According to public health experts, strict
regulation of the marijuana market may also reduce marijuana use. In
fact, the success in reducing rates of tobacco use has been achieved
through public health regulation, not prohibition."

Stop the Violence BC is a coalition of academics, past/present members
of law enforcement, and the general public concerned about the links
between cannabis prohibition in BC and the growth of organized crime
and related violence in the province.

The organization worked closely with municipalities across B.C. to
raise the issue.

A representative of the organization made a persuasive case for
regulation at the April 17 District of Lake Country Council meeting.

Two district councillors were publicly concerned with the approach to
marijuana regulation, Penney Gambell wished for more information on
the expected benefits of the approach and Rob Geier was opposed to any
initiative in regards to marijuana that might make the drug more
available to young people. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D