Pubdate: Fri, 02 Dec 2011
Source: Delta Optimist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2011 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc
Contact:  http://www.delta-optimist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1265
Page: A14
Author: Ian Robertson

MAYORS COME UP WITH WAY TO INCREASE TAXES, REDUCE CRIME

Rumour has it that many decades ago the inlets and waterways 
surrounding Westham Island were useful to more than just ducks and 
migratory birds. During prohibition, rumour is that fast speedboats 
were able to make runs between Canada and alcohol-free U.S., eluding 
the RCMP and American police. Prohibition proved to be a flawed 
policy and we now see alcohol available in a wide variety of retail 
stores and in almost every restaurant.

Much more recently five former and current mayors of Vancouver have 
declared it's time to reconsider the laws against marijuana. They 
state that organized crime has accumulated billions of dollars from 
running an underground economy supplying marijuana to many in our 
society who see it as "no big deal" to consume.

They declare that if the billions we now spend trying to chase and 
stop this trade were redirected to reducing the damage from hard 
drugs, and marijuana was taxed and sold like alcohol, we would be 
better off - economically and as a society.

All five mayors, including Philip Owen, have called for the 
legalization. He cites the failure of the 1906 Opium Act that was 
designed to stop drug importation and consumption. Today 65,000 die 
from alcohol and tobacco poisoning in Canada yet the government 
allows both substances and taxes them heavily. In Mexico, last year 
15,000 people were killed in gang wars over who would control the drug trade.

Why is this concerning us just now? The Harper government is in the 
process of spending $2.3 billion to expand prison capacity in Canada 
and send more people to prison. Right now cells meant for one are 
being used by two and sometimes three people due to overcrowding.

More prisons plus tougher sentences resulting in more convicts are 
the Harper government's answer to fighting crime, including marijuana 
trafficking.

The mayors argue we need to stop prohibiting and start to learn how 
to manage/control marijuana, a non-toxic substance compared to either 
tobacco or alcohol. If we do we will reduce crime and gangs by a very 
significant proportion.

We can then tax the marijuana sold and use the billions from those 
taxes for fighting crime. With marijuana being controlled there would 
be are fewer gangs and less crime, so we won't need all those prisons.

Texas, that rough and ready state that chooses to execute prisoners 
frequently, has discovered that prisons are not the answer to crime. 
They are emptying their prisons and sending the convicts on programs 
designed to prepare them to become law-abiding citizens again. Texans 
learned the hard way - just ask them.

One continuing problem is the mentally ill who are in prison. One in 
five inmates is ill and treatments are way below standard - and 
getting worse. Canada has a miserable record of dealing with this challenge.

So what's to lose from treating marijuana like tobacco or alcohol? 
Our local MP, Kerry-Lynne Findlay, has landed the job of secretary to 
minister of justice and has the portfolio of guiding the Harper 
"Tough on Crime" plan through Parliament. It's time to ask her!
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart