Pubdate: Thu, 08 Nov 2012 Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC) Copyright: 2012 Nanaimo Daily News Contact: http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608 Author: Krista Bryce DOCTOR SAYS POT USE SHOULD BE HEALTH ISSUE Advocates buoyed by U.S. vote Marijuana use should be a health issue, not a legal issue, says a Nanaimo doctor and addictions expert. Voters in Washington and Colorado passed ballot initiatives Tuesday to legalize marijuana for recreational use. It legalizes possession of up to one ounce of marijuana for anyone over 21 and farmers can be issued state licences to grow it and sell products in standalone stores. Nanaimo residents who support the legalization of marijuana hope this decision will have ramifications across the border, boosting the bid to legalize the drug in Canada. Richard Payne of Nanaimo has called on provincial and federal politicians to endorse legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana for seven years. Not only would it "stop the persecution of the nice, pot-smoking hippies," but it could create a boost for Nanaimo's tourism industry. Nanaimo mayor John Ruttan has said he does not support the decriminalization of marijuana because of its addictive and harmful nature. But supporters claim if the criminal aspect was taken away the focus could shift to the "bigger picture" - the health issues surrounding the use of the drug. Three-quarters of B.C. residents support the taxed sale of cannabis to adults, similar to alcohol and tobacco, according to an Angus Reid poll commissioned by Stop the Violence B.C., a pro-legalization group. Of almost 800 people polled, 75 per cent said they would choose government regulation and taxation of the drug over maintaining pot's outlaw status. Last year, 64 per cent supported legalization. Dr. Paul Hasselback, a public health physician, said there needs to be a change in Canada's policy around the use of cannabis. He compares cannabis to tobacco and alcohol, "which are all substances that have health impacts." Studies on health issues and cannabis use are limited, but Hasselback says the health effects of marijuana fall somewhere around the same range as alcohol use, but are probably better than the hazards of tobacco use. "The position the public health community is taking is the harms caused by criminalization are currently worse than the harms caused by the use of cannabis." As part of the federal government's Safe Streets and Communities Act, introduced in March 2012, trafficking marijuana in Canada carries a minimum sentence of one year. Possession for the purpose of trafficking also carries the same minimum sentence. Prices for marijuana have dropped two-thirds from the prices seen in 2009, which has slowed peoples' desire to grow pot, according to Payne. Buying a pound of pot, in bulk, costs $700 compared to a high of roughly $2,000 seen only a couple years ago. Payne is encouraged that posi-ive change is finally coming. "We know when the States sneezes, Canada catches cold," said Payne. "The only reason Canada hasn't legalized it is because of pressure from the United States. If the U.S. legalizes it, Canada will follow for sure." France Tellier, director of programs for the John Howard Society, supports the legalization of marijuana, but said there still needs to be concern about the health issues drugs create, including "legal drugs" like cigarettes and alcohol. "Legalizing it doesn't solve the problem of addiction," said Tellier. "But when we quit transporting and making a lot of money on the illegal sale of these items, then as a society we benefit." Tali Campbell, a Grade 12 John Barsby Community School student, would never endorse the use of marijuana. But he would like to see Canada decriminalize the drug and take control of the multibillion-dollar industry. "I don't support smoking marijuana, just like I don't support smoking cigarettes," said Campbell. "It's not good for your body. But legalize it, tax it and regulate it and maybe the money made from it can be used for prevention programs for youth or anyone, for that matter." - --- MAP posted-by: Matt