Pubdate: Thu, 15 Nov 2012
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 The Vancouver Sun
Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Cited: Sensible BC: http://www.sensiblebc.ca

REFERENDUM NEEDED ON POLICING OF MARIJUANA IN B.C.

At this point, no one needs to be told that the war on marijuana has 
been a dismal failure. Or almost no one. After all, there is abundant 
evidence from around the world, and from right here in British 
Columbia, that marijuana prohibition has failed to achieve any of its 
stated objectives. Indeed, as governments spent trillions - yes, 
trillions - of dollars prosecuting the war on drugs, marijuana use 
rates increased, with the potency of the drug increasing and its 
price decreasing.

And while failing to solve any problems, marijuana prohibition 
generated entirely new ones.

British Columbians are all too familiar with one of those problems: 
Gang warfare, as gangs compete for control of the extraordinarily 
lucrative marijuana market.

The evidence of the failure of marijuana prohibition is therefore 
abundant and compelling. So compelling, in fact, that an amazing 
array of individuals and organizations has called for an end to this 
failed experiment.

Illustrious individuals who support ending the war on marijuana 
include former B. C. Attorneys General Geoff Plant, Ujjal Dosanjh, 
Graeme Bowbrick and Colin Gabelmann, and former Vancouver mayors Sam 
Sullivan, Larry Campbell, Philip Owen and Mike Harcourt, and current 
mayor Gregor Robertson.

And organizations that have registered their support for ending the 
war include the Union of BC Municipalities, the Health Officers 
Council of BC and Perry Kendall, B. C.' s Chief Medical Officer, the 
Canadian Public Health Association, academics and researchers with 
Stop the Violence BC, the law enforcement group Law Enforcement 
Against Prohibition, the federal Liberal and New Democratic parties, 
the B. C. New Democratic Party and many newspapers, including The 
Vancouver Sun.

Perhaps most important of all, the public has got the message: 
According to a survey conducted at the end of October, 75 per cent of 
B. C. respondents said they favour taxation and regulation of 
marijuana instead of prosecuting marijuana users. And only 14 per 
cent believe possession of marijuana should lead to a criminal record.

You could say, then, that ending marijuana prohibition is a no 
brainer. And yet, the very organization capable of doing so - the 
federal Conservative party - remains steadfast in its opposition to 
ending the war. In fact, the Conservatives favour mandatory prison 
sentences for non-violent marijuana offences - a move that will 
further play into the hands of organized crime, as it will scare away 
mom- and pop outfits and leave more business for the gangsters.

And B. C. Premier Christy Clark has endorsed the federal 
Conservatives plans, and yet has never explained how it is she plans 
to reduce the violence associated with the marijuana trade and 
marijuana prohibition.

Clearly, then, we can't expect our leaders to exercise leadership on 
this issue. Hence, much as Americans have been doing for some time - 
and as Washington state, our closest neighbour, just did last week by 
ending marijuana prohibition - we must take matters into our hands by 
holding a provincial referendum on the matter.

Although criminal law is a federal matter and therefore beyond the 
authority of the provinces, provinces are responsible for the 
administration of justice, including policing priorities. British 
Columbia can therefore amend its Police Act to direct police away 
from taking any action against individuals for marijuana possession, 
while treating underage marijuana possession the way we currently 
treat underage drinking.

In effect, this would amount to refusing to enforce the Controlled 
Drugs and Substances Act when it comes to adult possession of 
marijuana, much as B. C. (and seven other provinces) refused to 
enforce the federal Firearms Act due to opposition to the Long Gun Registry.

The organization Sensible BC has drafted the Sensible Policing Act, 
which would amend the Police Act in the aforementioned way, and is 
calling on the government to pass the act. But it is also hoping for 
a provincial referendum on the issue, which would be held at the next 
provincial election in September 2014.

Yet to have a provincial vote on the matter, Sensible BC must get the 
signed support of 10 per cent of registered voters in every riding. 
If you care about the violence that has wracked our province and wish 
to help make B. C. safer, all you have to do is visit, and register 
at www.sensiblebc.ca .
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom