Pubdate: Thu, 03 May 2012
Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Abbotsford News
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/BkAJKrUD
Website: http://www.abbynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155
Authors: Jeff Nagel and Kevin Mills

MAYORS CALL FOR POT REFORM

Abbotsford's Banman not among them

Eight B.C. mayors have joined a coordinated campaign to legalize,
regulate and tax marijuana to combat gang violence and other
drug-related crime. However, Abbotsford Mayor Bruce Banman is not among 
them.

"I was not invited. I don't recall that memo going across my desk,"
said Banman with a laugh.

None of the mayors involved is from the Fraser Valley. Three are from
the Lower Mainland - Vancouver's Gregor Robertson, Burnaby's Derek
Corrigan and North Vancouver City's Darrell Mussatto - while the other
cities represented are Vernon, Armstrong, Enderby, Lake Country and
the District of Metchosin.

"It is time to tax and strictly regulate marijuana under a public
health framework," the mayors said in a letter distributed Thursday by
the Stop The Violence BC campaign.

"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."

Banman said he understands the theory, calling it the "prohibition
argument," but doesn't necessarily agree with it.

He called it a highly controversial issue that should either go to the
Supreme Court of Canada, or to a nation-wide referendum.

"In this particular community, that wouldn't go very far if we were to
say, 'Hey, let's legalize this tomorrow.' I don't think I'll be
putting my name on that list (of mayors) anytime soon."

He said the Abbotsford community doesn't have any "appetite to fight
this fight."

Abbotsford Coun. John Smith said the topic has never come up at
council, at least not during his six-year run.

"It's never even been discussed. It's not on the agenda."

While he hasn't seen the letter sent by the eight B.C. mayors, Smith
said he could not support the legalization of pot for any reason.

"I'm against smoking, let alone marijuana."

The mayors' letter, which was addressed to Premier Christy Clark, NDP
leader Adrian Dix and BC Conservative leader John Cummins, notes pot
is more readily available to youth than tobacco, while smoking rates
have been cut through public health regulation, not
prohibition.

The mayors also express concern that their cities will face higher
policing costs due to "inflexible" federal policies like mandatory
minimum sentences for drug offences.

B.C.'s chief medical health officer Dr. Perry Kendall was one of the
latest to endorse a health-based approach to marijuana policy.
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