Pubdate: Wed, 21 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
Author: Bruce Constantineau

LEGALIZING POT COULD EARN BILLIONS FOR B. C., STUDY SUGGESTS

UBC and SFU researchers find decriminalization would reduce organized 
crime and lower the rate of cannabis use

Legalizing marijuana in B. C. could generate $ 2.5 billion in 
government tax and licensing revenues over the next five years, 
according to a study published this month in the International 
Journal of Drug Policy.

The information comes after Washington state and Colorado passed 
measures two weeks ago approving the legalization of marijuana for 
adult use under a strictly regulated system.

The study - conducted by a coalition of University of B. C. and Simon 
Fraser University researchers - used surveillance data from the 
Centre for Addictions Research to estimate the annual value of the B. 
C. retail cannabis market at between $ 443 million and $ 564 million.

Provincial policing agencies estimate that 85 per cent of the 
cannabis market in B. C. is controlled by organized crime, with the 
number of grow ops throughout the province nearly doubling between 
2003 and 2010.

"This isn't just a problem because of all the grow ops and home 
invasions and hydro theft and gang activity," said the study's senior 
author Evan Wood in an interview. "It's also what fuels the 
importation of cocaine and guns into Canada."

He said the study's findings refute the notion that since B. C.' s 
marijuana industry is largely an export market, there'd be little tax 
revenue derived from legalizing and regulating the domestic market.

Wood also said evidence from other jurisdictions that have legalized 
marijuana, including the Netherlands, shows that rates of cannabis 
use can be lowered.

"By moving from a violent, unregulated market whose motive is profit 
to a strictly regulated market whose goals are public health, the 
evidence from tobacco and alcohol research is that we can actually 
reduce rates of use," he said.

A recent Angus Reid poll showed 31 per cent of British Columbians 
would want cannabis tax revenue used for drug prevention and 
addiction treatment, while another 31 per cent would direct the funds 
to health care and 12 per cent would use the money for drug law enforcement.

Former B. C. premier Ujjal Dosanjh said B. C.' s marijuana law 
enforcement efforts have been "completely ineffective."

"When you look at the enormous potential to save on policing costs, 
raise government revenue and wage economic war on organized crime, 
you understand why U. S. states have recently taken the taxation and 
regulation approach," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom