Pubdate: Wed, 03 Feb 2016
Source: Whitby This Week (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 Metroland Media Group
Contact:  http://www.durhamregion.com/whitby-on/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3823
Note: Please specify Whitby This Week as source in LTE

DURHAM SHOULD BE COMPENSATED IF LEGALIZED MARIJUANA USE MEANS MORE 
PUBLIC HEALTH COSTS

If legalizing marijuana use syphons money away from Durham, the 
Region should receive compensation from the federal and provincial governments.

One of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's more eye-catching promises 
during the last federal election campaign was to legalize marijuana. 
He has appointed former Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair to take the 
lead on the portfolio.

The move would likely mean cash, maybe a lot of cash, for upper 
levels of government. And given the very expensive agenda the federal 
Liberals have embarked upon, they need all the money they can get.

However few have looked at the other side of the coin, namely, what 
effect this would have on municipalities such as Durham.

At Durham Region Council last week, members supported a position 
taken by the Sudbury and District Board of Health, calling for a 
'public health approach' to be used to legalize, regulate and 
restrict access to marijuana.

However Clarington Councillor Joe Neal went further, adding that if 
the legalized use of marijuana leads to higher social housing costs, 
the federal and provincial governments need to pony up some cash. He 
said "there's no doubt in my mind there will be higher social housing costs."

Whether there will or will not be is open to debate, as are many of 
the claims around the controversial issue. Weed was legalized in 
Colorado in 2013. The following year, the state collected an 
additional $44 million in new taxes, far less than was predicted. In 
the same state, the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking 
Area, part of the US government, claims that in 2014, when retail 
marijuana businesses set up shop, marijuana-related traffic deaths 
increased by 32 per cent over the previous year. It also states that 
marijuana-related emergency department visits increased by 29 per 
cent and marijuana-related hospitalizations increased by 38 per cent. 
On the other hand, some marijuana advocates counter road fatalities 
have dropped in Colorado since legalization.

The issue represents uncharted waters in Canada. Opponents of 
legalized marijuana often seem to be using a fear-mongering approach, 
like the "reefer madness" hysteria of early in the last century. But, 
soft or not, marijuana is a drug and legalizing it could create 
unforeseen problems -- and costs.

Municipalities should track the before and after effects on their 
bottom line if and when marijuana use is legalized. If it is found 
that some of the costs borne by municipalities have gone up as a 
result, then it's only fair for upper levels of government to share 
the revenue they are receiving.

- -- Metroland Media Group Ltd., Durham Region Division
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom