Pubdate: Wed, 03 Oct 2012
Source: Terrace Standard (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Terrace Standard
Contact:  http://www.terracestandard.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1329

LOCALS DIVIDED ON POT DECRIMINALIZATION

LOCALLY elected officials are divided as to whether possessing, 
distributing, growing and selling marijuana should be decriminalized.

The division showed in a resolution passed yesterday by elected 
officials from across BC at the Union of BC Municipalities convention 
in Victoria.

The government organization will now ask the federal government to 
decriminalize marijuana and explore how it could be regulated and 
taxed instead.

Terrace city councillor James Cordeiro, who voted against the 
resolution, said police forces already practise decriminalization 
when it comes to possessing small amounts of marijuana.

"We're not talking about decriminalizing growing 500 plants," said 
Cordeiro. "Growing would still be criminal, distributing would still 
be criminal."

He dismissed arguments that decriminalization would reduce gang 
violence, saying the vast majority of pot grown in BC is smuggled 
into the United States.

Cordeiro added that governments won't be able to tax marijuana at a 
high enough rate to generate a substantial amount of revenue, and 
that even still "criminal elements will still be able to undercut" pricing.

Alcohol bootlegging and cigarette smuggling still happen, he pointed out.

"Last, the tax will be funneled into the province's general revenue 
account," said Cordeiro, adding that municipalities have long since 
petitioned for a cut of liquor tax revenue to deal with the social 
costs to a municipality resulting from alcohol consumption.

"We'll never see it," he said about a cut of hypothetical marijuana 
tax revenues, and liquor sales tax.

City councillor Bruce Bidgood, on the other hand, voted in favour of 
decriminalization.

"The legal treatment of people who possess a small amount of 
marijuana is uncalled for," he said, adding he thinks government 
production, distribution and taxation of the substance is another 
debate entirely. "I believe that the possession of small amounts of 
marijuana should be decriminalized."

Bidgood added he is not talking about legalizing the substance, but 
that as a result of criminalization, there are people who are marginalized.

"Has it resulted in diminished use? No," said Bidgood. "Or has it 
just produced an underground culture making a lot of people feel 
uncomfortable?"

Councillor Marylin Davies, who attended a seminar on the topic two 
days before the vote, said she opposed decriminalization.

"It is a health issue, not a legal issue," said Davies, adding 
various health concerns were cited at the session.

"Many medical studies were cited about the relationship (pot has) to 
schizophrenia (and the) shrinking capacity of the brain when use 
begins at a young age. The price to pay is simply too big," she said.

Mayor Dave Pernarowski said he was opposed to the actual resolution 
"which in my opinion did not provide enough detail to support. I was 
also opposed to the concept of decriminalization."

"Decriminalization on its own would not stop grow ops from being set 
up inour community, it wouldn't stop drug trafficking, and it 
wouldn't stop the violence and other illegal activity that is 
associated with marijuana," he said.

"I'm disappointed this resolution passed. I also feel this resolution 
neededan electronic vote since the raised voting cards by the 
delegates for or against seemed too close to call in my opinion," the 
mayor added.

City councillor Brian Downie also voted against the resolution.

"I have the feeling we need to improve the tools for policing, I saw 
this as complicating the enforcement aspect," said Downie of the resolution.

Councillor Stacey Tyers said she voted in favour of decriminalization 
and should the vote have been to legalize she probably would have as well.

"I just don't think it's criminal behaviour and I think we spend an 
awful amount of policing money on minor infractions," said Tyers. 
"Law abiding decent citizens have been smoking marijuana for decades."

Thornhill regional district director Ted Ramsey voted in favour even 
though he's not a fan of drugs.

"I don't think young kids should get criminal records because they 
smoke pot or get caught with pot," he said.

"I think it's the first step down the long road of being realistic 
about pot and I just think it's appropriate."

Ramsey doesn't smoke pot and said he doesn't necessarily agree with 
it as it can start young people on the road to drugs but it shouldn't 
have the importance in the criminal system that is attached to it currently.

Nass Valley director and regional district chair Harry Nyce wasn't 
there for the vote but did say afterward, if he had been, he would've 
voted in favour of decriminalization.

Regional district director Doug McLeod, who represents the rural area 
north of Terrace and south to Lakelse Lake was not at the convention.

For the record, here is the decriminalization resolution as prepared 
by the District of Metchosin on southern Vancouver Island:

WHEREAS marijuana prohibition is a failed policy which has cost 
millions of dollars in police, court, jail and social costs;

AND WHEREAS the decriminalization and regulation of marijuana would 
provide tax revenues:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM call on the appropriate government 
to decriminalize marijuana and research the regulation and taxation 
of marijuana.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom