Pubdate: Sat, 21 Jan 2012
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2012 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Nathan Vadeboncoeur

LEGALIZE CANNABIS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY

Re: Poll shows Liberal rebound, Jan. 19

The Liberals believe our country will be better off if marijuana is 
legalized. They're not alone. On the West Coast a campaign called 
"Stop the Violence B.C.," led by law enforcement officers, former 
prosecutors, university professors, doctors and lawyers, argues that 
we can make our communities safer by reducing the crime associated 
with illegal cannabis production and distribution.

As a doctoral researcher I agree with Stop the Violence B.C. when they 
say that research has consistently demonstrated a relationship between 
prohibitions of widely used substances, such as marijuana, and violent 
crime. Much of the headline-grabbing violence we see in British 
Columbia is associated with efforts to control the right to supply an 
enormous illegal market estimated at 430,000 users in B.C. alone.

This widespread use of cannabis makes it an ideal candidate for 
regulation. Research suggests that proactive regulation and taxation 
of this substance will very likely reduce related violence and 
criminal activity, decreasing policing costs while generating revenue 
for the government. These studies also suggest that regulation would 
lead to an eventual decrease in the number of people toking up.

I would like to be clear that I am not advocating cannabis use. 
Rather, I am arguing for its legalization and regulation because at 
least two decades of research tell us that such an approach can reduce 
the negative effects this drug has on our society.

Nathan Vadeboncoeur

Vancouver
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