Pubdate: Tue, 02 Oct 2012
Source: Merritt Herald (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Merritt Herald
Contact:  http://www.merrittherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1446
Author: Tom Fletcher

UBCM VOTES TO DECRIMINALIZE POT

VICTORIA - After a passionate debate and a close vote, delegates to
the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention passed a motion Wednesday
calling on the federal government to decriminalize marijuana.

The UBCM placed major emphasis on the debate this year, staging a
debate Monday featuring former B.C. attorney general Geoff Plant, in
favour of loosening pot laws, and University of the Fraser Valley
criminologist Darryl Plecas opposed. After a lineup of speakers on the
impact of marijuana grow-ops on communities and crime impact, a show
of hands by hundreds of delegates supported the call for
decriminalization.

Metchosin councillor Moralea Milne reminded delegates that Plant
termed pot prohibition "a disastrous and expensive failure of public
policy." She said more than 500,000 B.C. residents have smoked
marijuana, but she doesn't support its use.

"Personally, I'd rather have a martini, and I'm allowed to because we
changed that very wrong prohibition stance that we had," Milne said.

Okanagan-Similkameen area director Tom Siddon, a former federal
cabinet minister, said his local police reject decriminalization.

"I think we've been frying too many brains," Siddon said. "It's going
to aggravate the temptation of young people to move from marijuana,
which may well be more harmless than a few bottles of beer, to being
hooked on heroin, cocaine and the chemical designer drugs."

Prince George city councillor Brian Skakun drew laughter with his
comment: "I tried it when I was younger, I turned out OK." Turning
serious, he said the costs extend to police and courts weighed down
with marijuana cases rather than "real criminals."

Abbotsford councillor Henry Braun agreed with Siddon.

"We produce about 1.5 million pounds of marijuana in British
Columbia," Braun said. "We consume about 185,000 pounds, so the vast
majority of marijuana is being exported to the U.S. and other places."

Port Moody councillor Bob Elliott said his "quaint, safe city" has
seen three gang-related murders in the past six months. He pleaded for
support for decriminalization.

Coquitlam councillor Terry O'Neill called decriminalization "the worst
of all worlds," protecting people from simple possession charges while
leaving large-scale growing and sales in the hands of criminals.

Nelson councillor Robin Cherbo said sparing young recreational users
from prosecution is worth it, and even outright legalization won't
stop the criminal trade as long as pot remains illegal in the U.S.

Cariboo Regional District director Joan Sorley reminded delegates that
grow-ops are destructive to communities and dangerous to police and
fire departments.

"They're huge operations," Sorley said. "If we decriminalize it, we
take away the tool that the RCMP has to try and shut them down and
help keep our neighbourhood safe."

Merritt Mayor Susan Roline wasn't available for comment by press time.
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