Pubdate: Fri, 28 Sep 2012
Source: Morning Star, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 The Morning Star
Contact:  http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1352
Author: Richard Rolke

LOCAL POLITICIANS JOIN THE CALL TO DECRIMINALIZE POT

Marijuana laws will go up in smoke if B.C.'s civic leaders have their
way.

Delegates at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Victoria
voted Wednesday to lobby the federal government to decriminalize marijuana.

"We want to put control in the hands of regulators," said Kevin Acton,
Lumby mayor, who raised his hand in favour of the resolution.

"By being illegal, we keep activities underground."

Acton is convinced decriminalizing marijuana will assist police by
negatively impacting gangs.

"It takes away dollars from the people doing other illegal
activities," he said.

"Let's use the money to fight real crime. Figures show that
one-quarter of people in B.C. are using marijuana recreationally so if
that many people are using it, maybe the law has to change."

Acton hopes the federal government will consider the proposal from
mayors and councillors.

"You'd think with this many local governments involved, this would
carry some weight," he said.

Also voting for the resolution was Chris Pieper, Armstrong
mayor.

"It provides an opportunity to get into a conversations on how we do
this," said Pieper.

"We're trying to rationalize how we deal with this serious
problem."

Vernon Mayor Rob Sawatzky wasn't at Wednesday's vote but he backs
decriminalization.

"It's nice to see evidence and rationality applied to public policy,"
he said.

Sawatzky believes it's reasonable for municipalities to apply pressure
on Ottawa.

"We're responsible for crime and policing and this results from
federal policy," he said.

A strong push for decriminalization has also come from
Enderby.

"If we can reduce crime, it's worth looking at," said Coun. Brad
Case.

The resolution approved by UBCM delegates was brought forward by the
District of Metchosin.

"For too long, our communities have borne the brunt of the harmful
consequences of cannabis prohibition, from increased gang violence on
our streets to enormous costs of enforcing a thoroughly discredited
policy," said John Ranns, Metchosin's mayor.

"This vote result signals that it is time for our senior levels of
government to listen to what the public and now our municipal leaders
are saying: cannabis prohibition has been a failure."
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