Pubdate: Fri, 15 Jun 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
Cited: Stop the Violence BC: http://stoptheviolencebc.org/
Cited: transcript:
http://thenelsondaily.com/news/nelson-council-debates-legalization-pot-19460

MAYOR'S TACT QUESTIONABLE

Mayor John Dooley's emotive stand against a motion of support for the 
Stop the Violence BC campaign on Monday night came as a surprise. 
Yet, he completely stands behind his stance and tone.

According to its website, Stop the Violence is "an educational 
campaign seeking to improve community safety by broadening the 
public's understanding of the link between cannabis prohibition and 
gang violence." It's backed by former high ranking politicians and 
police officials, respected medical professionals, and current 
mayors. While the majority of council voted to support the initiative 
the mayor said he "would go to the wall" against having his name 
attached in support. And in a lengthy debate dominated by Dooley, the 
mayor managed to produce one of the most high octane and divisive 
meetings the city has witnessed in some time.

His stance and delivery of opposition to the motion has already 
spurred advocates for the legalization of marijuana to accuse Dooley 
of sabotaging democracy and failing the community. Though the mayor 
may have overstated his opposition to the motion put forward Monday 
night, he is entitled to his opinion.

Dooley told the Star on Wednesday that he's not against the idea of 
the decriminalization of marijuana or even many of the ideas 
contained in the Stop the Violence campaign. His main concern is 
signing his name to a document he has not had enough time to study 
and at this point does not feel comfortable with being associated with.

Council is asked many times each year for letters of support. Some 
pass, some fail. Few are as potentially explosive as the issue of 
marijuana legalization.

Stop the Violence campaign has eight BC mayors signed on with 
official support including Gregor Robertson of Vancouver and Robert 
Sawatzky of Vernon. At this point Dooley does not want his name waved 
as part of that relatively small group. Fair enough.

Where the mayor failed in his opposition was in his delivery. Many 
people have used the word "bully" to describe his tactics. 
Discrediting those who have signed onto the campaign was also a mistake.

Monday night was clearly not a high point for the mayor and this 
current council. And though Dooley deserves to be criticized, he 
doesn't deserve to be vilified. We can at least thank him for helping 
open up the debate even further and hope that eventually the right 
answer is found when it comes to how this country deals with the pot trade.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom