Pubdate: Wed, 02 May 2012
Source: Lake Country Calendar (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 James Baker
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/uDzqLFOG
Website: http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/lakecountrycalendar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2229
Authors: James Baker, Mayor of Lake Country; Chris Pieper, Mayor of
Armstrong; Gregor Robertson, Mayor of Vancouver; Howie Cyr, Mayor of 
Enderby; Darrell Mussatto, Mayor of the City of North Vancouver; 
Robert Sawatzky, Mayor of Vernon; Derek Corrigan, Mayor of Burnaby; 
John Ranns, Mayor of the District of Metchosin

LETTER SOME B.C. MAYORS, INCLUDING JAMES BAKER, SENT THE
PROVINCE

Open letter to Premier Clark, Mr. Dix and Mr. Cummins:

Re: Discussion required on marijuana policy.

As mayors of B.C. municipalities, we are fully aware of the harms
stemming from the province's large illegal marijuana industry. Our
communities have been deeply affected by the consequences of marijuana
prohibition including large scale grow ops, increased organized crime
and ongoing gang violence. Increasing law enforcement costs also
significantly impact municipal budgets.

We see a seemingly endless stream of anti marijuana law enforcement
initiatives in our communities, yet marijuana remains widely and
easily available to our youth. Based on the evidence before us, we
know that laws that aim to control the marijuana industry are
ineffective and, like alcohol prohibition in the U.S. in the 1920s,
have led to violent unintended consequences.

The case against current marijuana laws is compelling. Despite major
taxpayer investments in law enforcement activities, the marijuana
market has not been suppressed. Furthermore, the province's massive
illegal marijuana trade drives organized crime in B.C. and throughout
the Pacific Northwest. The Organized Crime Agency of B.C. estimates
that organized crime groups control 85% of B.C.'s marijuana trade,
which the Fraser Institute estimates is worth up to $7 billion
annually. U.S. federal prosecutors have identified B.C. based drug
gangs that control the marijuana trade as "the dominant organized
crime threat in the Northwest." Even though anti marijuana law
enforcement is active and growing, marijuana potency is increasing
while price is decreasing. Rates of use remain high. Youth report
easier access to marijuana than to tobacco while organized crime reaps
massive marijuana related profits. Given these facts, we conclude that
a more effective, evidence based approach to co! ntrolling marijuana
is urgently needed.

As B.C. mayors, we support the Stop the Violence BC campaign. It is
time to tax and strictly regulate marijuana under a public health
framework; regulating marijuana would allow the government to
rationally address the health concerns of marijuana, raise government
tax revenue and eliminate the huge profits from the marijuana industry
that flow directly to organized crime. 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.

We are also concerned about the policing and related law enforcement
costs that will be placed upon municipalities due to proposed federal
mandatory minimum sentencing legislation related to marijuana. Such
prescribed and inflexible policies have proven costly and ineffective
in the U.S.

We ask you to instead consider how a public health framework that
calls for strict marijuana regulation and taxation can help address
the intractable problems of gangs and gang violence in B.C.

Stop the Violence BC is not alone in its call for a regulated, public
health approach to adult marijuana use. The Fraser Institute and the
Health Officers Council of B.C., among others, have made similar
recommendations and your B.C. public is onside. According to a recent
Angus Reid poll, only 12 per cent of British Columbians support the
current approach of marijuana prohibition, with the vast majority
supporting taxation and regulation.

We recognize and fully understand public dissatisfaction with today's
marijuana laws. Therefore, we will be recommending that the Union of
B.C. Municipalities support a motion in favour of taxation and
regulation of marijuana. We also encourage politicians to speak their
conscience, even if their views go beyond the silence coming from the
political parties themselves.

Given the ongoing gang activity, widespread availability of marijuana
and high costs associated with enforcement, leaders at all levels of
government must take responsibility for marijuana policy. We are
asking you as provincial leaders to take a new approach to marijuana
regulation. Our communities, our youth and our public finances will
benefit from an evidence based, public health approach to marijuana.

Signed:

James Baker, Mayor of Lake Country; Chris Pieper, Mayor of Armstrong;
Gregor Robertson, Mayor of Vancouver; Howie Cyr, Mayor of Enderby;
Darrell Mussatto, Mayor of the City of North Vancouver; Robert
Sawatzky, Mayor of Vernon; Derek Corrigan, Mayor of Burnaby; John
Ranns, Mayor of the District of Metchosin. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D