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. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt