Pubdate: Sat, 03 Nov 2012
Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Nanaimo Daily News
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608
Author: Darrell Bellaart

SUPPORT TO LEGALIZE POT STILL GROWING

Mayor's opinion remains unchanged

The call to legalize marijuana is getting louder, says a Nanaimo
criminologist.

Three-quarters of B.C. residents support the taxed sale of cannabis to
adults, similar to alcohol and tobacco, according to an Angus Reid
poll commissioned by Stop the Violence B.C., a pro-legalization group

Of almost 800 people polled, 75 per cent said they would choose
government regulation and taxation of the drug over maintaining pot's
outlaw status. Last year 64 per cent supported legalization.

Support for criminalizing simple possession fell six points, to 14 per
cent of respondents.

It shows the biggest swing yet in public opinion, away from
maintaining pot's outlawed status, in place since 1919.

"It's unprecedented," said John Anderson, a Vancouver Island
University criminology instructor and an SVBC member. "I'm surprised
how far British Columbians have come."

SVBC is a coalition of B.C. mayors, public health officers and others
who share the goal to legalize, not decriminalize cannabis.

"Simple decriminalization is a bad idea because what you do is give
the buyer carte blanche to buy cannabis," Anderson said. "That will
only increase the market for those growing it illegally."

That underground market is what generates profits that fuel organized
crime, legalization proponents say.

The poll hasn't changed Mayor John Ruttan's opposition to
decriminalization.

"If I was really able to believe it wasn't harmful in any way, through
addiction or any other way, and regard consumption of marijuana safe,
I might feel differently, but I just don't feel that's the case,"
Ruttan said.

The poll found support for giving criminal records to those caught
with small amounts of marijuana at just 14 per cent, down from 20 per
cent last year. Former Marijuana Party candidate Richard Payne is
"very encouraged," by the results.

"The word is finally getting out," Payne said.

Legalization is a federal government matter. The federal government
recently brought in mandatory prison sentences for possession of six
or more cannabis plants.

Asked for comment, Conservative MP for Nanaimo-Alberni James Lunney
issued a statement: "Legalization is not going to happen," the
statement said. "Would impossibly tangle up Canadian goods at U.S.
border putting tens of thousands of jobs at risk."

On Tuesday, Washington voters will choose whether to legalize pot for
recreational use, in a state initiative that opinion polls indicate
will pass by a majority.

Nanaimo-Cowichan NDP member Jean Crowder said she is "not surprised"
by the poll results.

In Canada, legalization will likely take a change of government,
Crowder said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt