Pubdate: Tue, 08 May 2012
Source: Prince George Citizen (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Prince George Citizen
Contact:  http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/350
Author:  Neil Godbout

LIGHTEN UP

Pot is as widespread across Prince George as trees in Forests for the World.

If level of use is any indication, it's fair to say that local 
residents love their bud and we're not talking about the king of beers.

The fact that marijuana remains illegal in Canada has no bearing at 
all on its widespread availability and use. It's as easy to get as 
pizza - anyone in Prince George aged 13 and up could get their hands 
on a bag of weed in 30 minutes or less, using nothing but a cell 
phone. It's who you know and we all know someone who knows someone.

The demand for decriminalization is getting louder. Increasingly 
important community members are joining the chorus. The current 
mayors of seven B.C. municipalities, including Vancouver, Burnaby and 
North Vancouver, have put their request in writing.

If Colin Kinsley were still mayor of Prince George, there would be 
eight signatures on that letter.

"I wouldn't want to see it legalized, but decriminalized," Kinsley 
said. "You have to go after the grow-ops and go after organized 
crime. It's not serving any purpose to have the police chase after 
users and all the time it takes up in the courts."

Note the distinction between legal and decriminalized. Legalizing 
marijuana wouldn't actually change much of what we have now, except 
that police would no longer be able to bust grow-ops just because of 
the crop. The police and Crown lawyers would have to make a financial 
case, arguing that the proceeds from the sale of pot were being used 
to fund other illegal activity, such as gangs.

In other words, legalizing marijuana would still let gangs to control 
the pot-production business and make a fortune.

According to an Organized Crime Agency of B.C. report, 85 per cent of 
the province's pot trade is controlled by gangs. The value of that 
trade, according to a 2004 Fraser Institute study, is $7 billion 
annually. No doubt that has only climbed over the last eight years.

Decriminalizing pot means government could make it available to 
residents (as if it isn't already) but add all sorts of conditions 
and controls to its access.

Fortunately, we already have a well-monitored system in place to 
handle the distribution of illicit substances.

Bars, pubs, liquor stores and cold beer and wine stores follow strict 
rules regarding the sale of alcohol. Pot would be just another item 
on the menu.

Bars and pubs could have outdoor pot smoking areas. The joints bought 
there would have to be consumed on site. Establishments would be 
required to check identification to make sure the person is of legal 
age and would have the right to refuse service to anyone, especially 
if they've had too much.

The pubs would love this. Can you imagine how much food sales would 
increase as a result?

Meanwhile, liquor stores and cold beer and wine stores acould also 
sell pot in sealed packages, same as the booze.

Get caught with an open package in your car? Apply the liquor laws.

Get caught driving while stoned? Apply the drinking and driving rules.

Get caught providing minors with pot? Apply the liquor laws.

Organized gangs aren't in the moonshine business because there's no 
money to be made. Decriminalizing pot would not only take away a 
major source of gang revenue, it would divert those revenues to 
government coffers. Governments tax liquor sales heavily, so pot 
would be no different. The Fraser Institute study claimed that the 
B.C. government alone could haul in $2 billion a year on pot taxes.

It's disappointing that current mayor, Shari Green, is unwilling to 
give to take a stand on this, hiding behind the fact marijuana use is 
a federal issue, not a municipal one.

Coun. Garth Frizzell sits on the Federation of Canadian 
Municipalities, the group that exists for exactly this kind of 
concern - to lobby the federal government to pass laws that help, not 
hinder, municipalities.

Prince George has been victimized by organized crime, with lives lost 
and ruined by gangs fighting each other for turf.

Trying to stop gangs with another gang of armed men and women (better 
known as the RCMP) is fighting fire with fire. The lack of success 
means another approach is needed.

It would be smarter and more effective to take away the oxygen 
fuelling the gangs - the proceeds from pot sales.

Gangs would be weaker.

Streets would be safer.

Governments would be richer.

And adults could make their own choice about lighting up.

- -- Managing editor Neil Godbout
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom