Pubdate: Fri, 25 May 2012
Source: Nelson Star (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Black Press
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/4kNvY8sy
Website: http://www.bclocalnews.com/kootenay_rockies/nelsonstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4866
Author: Megan Cole
Cited: Stop the Violence BC: http://stoptheviolencebc.org/

COUNCIL PONDERS PROHIBITION STANCE

Nelson city council will be voting on whether to support the Stop the
Violence BC campaign in June following a notice of motion by
councillor Donna Macdonald.

The notice of motion was introduced earlier this month at a city
council meeting.

"It started with an email from a local resident saying, 'why isn't
Nelson supporting this?'" said Macdonald. "I really knew nothing about
it so I went to their website and looked to see what the Stop the
Violence BC group and campaign was about."

The group and campaign is a coalition of academics, past/present
members of law enforcement, and the general public concerned about the
links between cannabis prohibition in BC and the growth of organized
crime and related violence in the province.

Some of the supporters include former Vancouver mayors Larry Campbell
and Sam Sullivan, former Premier Ujjal Dosanjh and Vince Cain, retired
RCMP chief superintendent.

"The thing that moved me to action most was a recent letter from eight
mayors around the province to the provincial government," said
Macdonald. "In the letter they make a pretty clear and concise case
for regulation and taxation of this industry. Pointing out that our
attempts at investing oodles of taxpayer money in trying to prohibit
and police the industry has not worked."

The group is asking for a new approach after the continued presence of
marijuana associated crime such as gang activity and money from
marijuana growth and sales going towards organized crime.

"We need to look at a different approach and the one they are
suggesting is based on more a more public health approach like we did
with tobacco for example," said Macdonald. "I think if council agrees,
as many voices as possible need to come forward in support of this
campaign. Certainly we do hear from the police that there is organized
crime related marijuana production going on in this area and certainly
as taxpayers our money is going to this fairly unsuccessful campaign
to combat it."

The motion will formally be introduced as part of the June 11 city
council meeting.

"Before then I certainly intend to make an opportunity to speak with
the police chief about it and see how he feels, and do a bit more
research," said Macdonald. "It will come forward and council will
decide whether or not to support it, if not now I gather this will be
coming forward as part of the UBCM convention in the fall looking for
broader municipal support."
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MAP posted-by: Matt