Pubdate: Tue, 25 Sep 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: Charelle Evelyn

POLITICIANS BEGIN POT DEBATE

VICTORIA -- Local governments are not doing enough to stop 
marijuana-related crimes and an upcoming vote on whether or not to 
support the legalization of pot is not the action needed, according 
to a decorated criminologist.

Dr. Darryl Plecas, who holds the RCMP University Research Chair in 
Crime Reduction at the University of the Fraser Valley, told a packed 
Monday morning Union of B.C. Municipalities study session that he 
would stake his life on there not being any changes made to illegal 
grow ops if the federal government decriminalized marijuana.

On Wednesday morning, UBCM delegates will vote on a resolution 
calling on the "appropriate government to decriminalize marijuana and 
research the regulation and taxation" of the drug.

Plecas, one of five speakers arguing the pros and cons of supporting 
the resolution, said issues with marijuana producers would remain 
unless municipalities took action.

"You need to start using your regulatory powers and bylaws to make it 
incredibly difficult for people to have these grow ops," he said, 
adding the lack of municipal regulation is a "thorn in the side of 
law enforcement."

"It comes back to the failure of municipalities to do their part," said Plecas.

But supporting the fight for decriminalization is taking action, said 
police officer David Bratzer.

"The federal and provincial governments are not going to take this 
first step," said Bratzer, speaking on behalf of Stop the Violence BC 
- - a coalition of law enforcement officials, legal experts and public 
health officials focused on the links between organized crime and pot 
prohibition.

He said a lack of a legal dispute mechanism when it comes to the 
marijuana trade has led to his police colleagues getting injured or 
killed and creates a financial strain on police, and subsequently

municipal, budgets.

"It's a very polarizing issue," said Kamloops councillor Ken 
Christian, who said the opportunity to learn more about the pros and 
cons was extremely valuable. "It's something civic government needs 
to look at."

Earlier this year, Prince George Mayor Shari Green said that the 
reform of marijuana laws was a federal issue and not one she was focused on.

"There's no question we have a gang issue and drug trade and 
organized crime go hand in hand, and it's an expensive battle to 
fight. But until the federal level makes a change, we have what we 
have and we do what we need to do to combat it," Green said in a May interview.

Similarly, the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George has not taken 
a position on whether pot should be legalized, said district chair Art Kaehn.

Valemount councillors Christine Latimer and Sandy Salt said they were 
intrigued by the prospect of having a say in the regulation and 
taxation of marijuana and reaping potential financial benefits, but 
understood the less glamorous realities of the situation.

"We're never going to be able to eliminate the crime aspect," said Salt.

"It's blowing up to a point where a decision needs to be made," Latimer added.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom