The "rookie" mayors of Campbell River and Courtenay are "disappointed" that their fellow Union of BC Municipalities delegates have voted in favour of the decriminalization marijuana.

Attending their first UBCM convention Campbell River Mayor Walter Jakeway and Courtenay Mayor Larry Jangula voted against the contentious resolution and marvelled that the delegates would waste their time on an issue over which they have no jurisdiction.

"I'm disappointed," Jakeway said, "it's going to make policing even tougher."

Jakeway said the vote was rushed before a lunch break and the show of hands was too close to a tie to be definitive. Delegates had electronic voting devices, but for some reason they weren't used. Resolution A5, brought forward by the municipality of Metchosin, called on the UBCM to lobby the appropriate level of government to decriminalize cannabis and research its regulation and taxation.

[continues 236 words]