Pubdate: Tue, 25 Sep 2012
Source: Chilliwack Progress (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 The Chilliwack Progress
Contact: http://www.theprogress.com/contact_us/
Website: http://www.theprogress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/562
Author: Jennifer Feinberg

DECRIMINALIZING POT ON UBCM PRE-CONFERENCE AGENDA

The idea of decriminalizing marijuana is being tossed around today by 
some of the 1500 mayors and municipal reps from across B.C. 
converging in Victoria.

As chair of the UBCM Resolutions Committee, Chilliwack Mayor Sharon 
Gaetz confirmed it was up for discussion Monday morning in a 
pre-conference session at the 2012 Union of B.C. Municipalities 
annual convention.

"It's going to be an incredibly exciting and busy week with a total 
of over 200 resolutions coming forth," she said.

"Monday will see discussion about decriminalization, as well as 
tanker traffic and pipelines."

Former B.C. attorney general Geoff Plant was set to weigh in as a 
member of Stop the Violence coalition of experts pushing for an end 
to criminalization of marijuana.

The proposed resolution, which calls for the regulation and taxation 
of pot, from the District of Metchosin is:

"Whereas marijuana prohibition is a failed policy which has cost 
millions of dollars in police, court, jail and social costs; and 
whereas the decriminalization and regulation of marijuana would 
provide tax revenue, therefore be it resolved that UBCM call on the 
appropriate government to decriminalize marijuana and research the 
regulation and taxation of marijuana."

Gaetz said it's the first time the UBCM membership has been asked to 
consider a resolution calling for decriminalization of pot specifically.

Wednesday will see the actual vote of membership take place on that same issue.

Chilliwack councillors, Jason Lum, Ken Popove, Susan Attrill and 
Stewart McLean will be in attendance, along with Mayor Gaetz, in 
various roles and times during the week-long conference.

The whole debate over decriminalization comes as UBCM is also set to 
consider another cannabis-related resolution, to ensure medical 
marijuana production requires a permit, and is in compliance with all 
municipal safety and building regulations.

It originally was submitted in 2011 as a late resolution, "but did 
not meet the criteria to be admitted for debate as an emergency 
resolution," according to 2012 UBCB Conference documents, and now 
it's being proposed amidst the federal proposals to overhaul the 
Medical Marijuana Access Regulations.

A resolution tackling the scourge of contaminated sites, or 
"brownfields" is being offered by the communities of Vanderhoof, 
Mackenzie and Burns Lake, suggesting the owners should be obligated 
to clean up their underground messes.

It notes that these vacant, or "orphaned" properties, often along 
transportation corridors and in downtown areas, are "eyesores" that 
have real or suspected contamination which "negatively impacts" 
economic development.

UBCM has been trying since 2007 to urge the provincial government to 
take decisive action on this, to no avail, so the resolution asks 
that the Ministry of Environment be authorized to legislate that 
owners of all contaminated brownfield sites, regardless of their 
hazard rating, be required to remediate these sites by request of 
local government.

"It would be a huge change," said Gaetz.

The infrastructure funding deficit is also on the conference agenda, 
in the context of allowing the UBCM to negotiate a wider range of 
infrastructure programs in the future.

"The focus is so narrow in that we have to put the gas tax revenues 
into green energy projects. But the people are saying our communities 
need roads," said Gaetz.

The debates on Coast Guard services and policing in rural communities 
are sure to attract strong interest as well, she said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom