Pubdate: Wed, 03 Oct 2012
Source: Penticton Western (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Penticton Western
Contact:  http://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1310

MUNICIPAL LEADERS JOIN GROWING CHORUS ON DRUG LAW

The group representing local governments throughout the province has 
become the latest to call for the end to a war that there is no hope 
of winning.

"For too long our communities have borne the brunt of the harmful 
consequences of cannabis prohibition, from increased gang violence on 
our streets to enormous costs of enforcing a thoroughly discredited 
policy," said John Ranns, the mayor of Metchosin, which brought 
forward the resolution calling for the decriminalization of cannabis 
that was endorsed at last week's Union of B.C. Municipalities convention.

At first glance, you could be forgiven for asking yourself: What have 
these guys been smoking? The issue of marijuana decriminalization is 
clearly something that falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government.

But on further reflection it becomes apparent that it is communities, 
both large and small, that feel the sting of the rising bloodshed and 
squandered resources caused by Canada's failed drug policies.

And B.C.'s municipal leaders are not alone. Dr. Evan Wood, professor 
of medicine at the University of B.C., called the UBCM resolution a 
"symbolic gesture" in the bid to stop a trade in which $2.7 billion 
annually goes to organized crime.

"Prohibition has not achieved its stated objectives to reduce the 
demand for and supply of cannabis. Instead, current laws have 
resulted in negative social and economic consequences at the 
municipal and provincial level," said Wood, the founder of Stop the 
Violence B.C., a coalition of academic, legal, law enforcement and 
health experts campaigning to reform cannabis laws.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made it abundantly clear that no 
amount of bloodshed and wasted resources will change his mind on 
marijuana laws. But that can't stop B.C.'s civic leaders from doing 
what they believe is best for the communities they serve.
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