Pubdate: Thu, 24 Nov 2011 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Copyright: 2011 The Vancouver Sun Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477 Author: Kim Bolan Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) EX- MAYORS CALL FOR END TO POT PROHIBITION Four former Vancouver mayors of varying political stripes have endorsed a coalition calling for an end to pot prohibition in Canada, which they blame for rampant gang violence. Larry Campbell, Mike Harcourt, Sam Sullivan and Philip Owen all signed an open letter to politicians in B. C. on Wednesday claiming a change in the law will reduce gang slayings on public streets. The former mayors support the position of the Stop the Violence B. C. coalition, which recently released a survey showing most B. C. residents favoured an end to the current marijuana laws. The letter says "marijuana prohibition is - without question - a failed policy." "It is creating violent, gang-related crime in our communities and fear among our citizens, and adding financial costs for all levels of government at a time when we can least afford them. Politicians cannot ignore the status quo any longer, and must develop and deliver alternative marijuana policies that avoid the social and criminal harms that stem directly from cannabis prohibition," the letter says. The letter was sent to MPS, MLAS and city councillors, and is designed to drive debate on changing marijuana laws. "It is unconscionable, unacceptable and unreasonable that the criminal element in B. C. is allowed to grow and thrive due to inaction on the part of the politicians," said Sullivan, who served 12 years as a city councillor before being elected mayor of Vancouver in 2005. "Politicians must play a key role in the development of new policies that can really provide safer, stronger communities." But a police expert on organized crime said Wednesday that gang violence is extremely complex and not directly linked to any one product marketed by crime groups. "It's not our place to argue whether marijuana is good for you or bad for you, or that it should or shouldn't be legalized. =80| But we do have expertise in gangs and organized crime," said Sgt. Bill Whalen, of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit. "What we know is, gang violence has many components to it - most importantly, organized crime is profit-motivated, and that is a huge contributor to gang violence. Secondly, the commodities change. In recent years, our investigations have shown that violence is tied to money, and more prevalent commodities like cocaine, methamphetamine, and ecstasy." He said legalizing marijuana "won't solve the problem of gang violence." The Stop the Violence coalition said that a September poll showed B. C. residents don't have faith that politicians can design policies to reduce criminal, health and social harms stemming from the illegal marijuana trade. The Angus Reid online survey of 800 people showed that only 32 per cent of British Columbians trust municipal politicians to develop effective marijuana policy. Trust in federal and provincial politicians was even lower - at 28 per cent and 27 per cent respectively. Harcourt, who was both mayor and B. C. premier, said politicians should be working on "developing an alternative to marijuana prohibition." "British Columbians clearly say that prohibition does not work and new policies have the potential to generate widespread public support," he said. Owen agreed, saying: "It's time politicians listened to their constituents and woke up to the possible benefits of a new legalization, regulation and taxation regime." Campbell, who is now a senator, challenged politicians to "prove the public wrong." "Politicians have tremendous access to information, expertise and the levers of power, and must use all of the tools at their disposal to fight gang violence by implementing rational marijuana policies," Campbell said. The poll was commissioned by the new coalition, made up of academic, legal, law enforcement and health experts. "These poll results reinforce the fact that British Columbians are way ahead of those they have elected in recognizing the destructive outcomes from marijuana prohibition," said Dr. Evan Wood, a coalition member and director of the Urban Health Research Initiative at the B. C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/ AIDS. "It's time politicians of all stripes consider the gang violence and criminal activity resulting from marijuana prohibition, and enact policies that reflect the desire of British Columbians for change." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom