Pubdate: Sat, 03 Nov 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: Mark Nielsen LOCAL MPS REMAIN OPPOSED TO LEGALIZING MARIJUANA A recent poll may be indicating a vast majority of B.C. Northern Interior residents are in favour of legalizing marijuana, but it's not enough to sway local Conservative MPs. Both Prince George-Peace River MP Bob Zimmer and Cariboo-Prince George MP Dick Harris say they remain opposed to lifting the prohibition on pot in the face of a poll in which 92 per cent of respondents in this region expressed support for legalizing, regulating and taxing marijuana. Polling company Angus Reid conducted the poll on behalf of Stop the Violence B.C., which asserts that, similar to lifting the prohibition on alcohol in the early 1900s, legalizing marijuana will reduce the prevalence of gang violence and lessen the burden on police, courts and prisons. "My position has been clear from day one, I do not support legalization of marijuana, period," Zimmer said Friday. "I still see it as a gateway drug and to legalize it is just going to put it into the hands of more young people. "Even though what they [Stop the Violence B.C.] called for is only in adult hands, but I think we know where that would go." By gateway, Zimmer said he meant to both harsher drugs and criminal activity. Before becoming an MP, Zimmer was a high school teacher in Fort St. John where he saw the effects of marijuana on young users. "It just really took the wind out of their sails and they seemed to just exist," Zimmer said. "That all they had when this stuff was in their system, so I wouldn't ever be one to support it." In answer to the argument that legalization will reduce crime, Zimmer said criminals will just move on to other things. "They'll still be involved in criminal activity, it'll be just a different form of drugs that they choose," he said. "I'm certainly not willing to give up this ground yet." Harris limited his comments to saying in an e-mail he has been very clear in his opposition to the legalization of marijuana. Although changes to the Criminal Code are a federal responsibility, Stop the Violence B.C. is trying to convince provincial politicians to get the ball rolling by urging Ottawa to establish a pilot program in B.C. to work out the kinks. However, Justice Minister Shirley Bond, also the Liberal MLA for Prince George-Valemount, is steering clear of the debate. "Drug regulation is the jurisdiction of the federal government, which has responsibility for the prosecution of marijuana offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act," Bond said in an e-mail. "It is appropriate that they be the ones to respond to this debate." NDP Justice Critic Leonard Krog had much the same comment. "We can talk but we have no legal authority in this area," he said. "The fact this falls to the federal government." - - Marijuana legalization advocate Dana Larsen will be in Prince George on Fri., Nov. 9 where he will be speaking at UNBC in the library room 5-171 from noon to 2 p.m. and at the Aquatic Centre meeting room, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Larsen is seeking signatures to hold a referendum during the next provincial election on a so-called Sensible Policing Act that he claims would effectively decriminalize marijuana possession in the province. Even though the issue is a federal responsibility, Larsen claimed the Act would give the province authority to direct all police in B.C. "to stop spending any time or resources on searching, seizing or arresting anyone for simple cannabis possession." "In 2003, B.C. joined seven other provinces in refusing to enforce the long gun registry," Larsen said. "At that time, Attorneys General said they didn't want to bother with otherwise law-abiding citizens who were in possession of an unregistered long gun. We're asking for the same sensible perspective when it comes to people in possession of cannabis." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom