Pubdate: Mon, 28 Jan 2013
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 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: Peter O'Neil
Referenced: Legalization of Marijuana - Policy Paper 2013 - Liberal Party of
Canada in BC: http://drugsense.org/url/LWy8jmo9

LIBERALS PAINT A ROSY PICTURE OF LEGALIZED AND TAXED POT

British Columbia's economy would benefit from an influx of toking 
tourists if marijuana is legalized in Canada, the Liberal Party of 
Canada's B.C. branch says in a new analysis.

And Canada's health care system and law enforcement agencies would 
gain from billions in new tax revenues - money now going to organized 
crime - as a result of domestic sales of high-quality, low-priced and 
government-regulated Canadian weed, according to the 38-page paper.

It was prepared by a party committee in response to the overwhelming 
vote a year ago in Ottawa by party members in favour of legalizing, 
regulating and taxing marijuana sales.

One of the paper's co-authors, citing evidence from countries with 
liberal pot laws, said tokers from the U.S. and elsewhere will be 
drawn to Canada if they can enjoy a hassle-free high.

And B.C.'s reputation will make it a particularly attractive 
destination, said Sangeeta Lalli. "We're known around the world for 
having good cannabis."

The paper, while citing various concerns ranging from health issues 
to expected opposition from the U.S. government, presents an 
overwhelmingly positive scenario.

"Thousands of Canadians will ... find direct and indirect 
employment," the paper says, citing work in agriculture, an estimated 
2,700 specialty retail stores, manufacturing and distribution 
outlets, inspection and quality control, health research, legal and 
accounting services, marketing and tourism.

Pot tourism is viewed as an important, though controversial, economic 
engine in some jurisdictions with liberal drug laws.

It has been estimated that up to a third of Amsterdam's seven million 
annual tourists enjoy lighting up at one of the city's ubiquitous 
cannabis cafes.

The Dutch government, concerned about criminals and other unsavory 
characters from countries such as Belgium and Germany showing up in 
border cities, announced earlier this year a "weed pass" that would 
allow only Dutch nationals, but not visitors, to smoke up in a cafe.

But resistance from Amsterdam merchants concerned about a tourism 
drop-off resulted in the government backing down last month on strict 
enforcement of the law.

The authors object to the option of decriminalization of possession, 
something advocated by apparent leadership front-runner Justin 
Trudeau, since that would still leave production and distribution in 
the hands of organized-crime gangs.

Instead, it proposes full legalization for what it estimates to be 
roughly three million users in Canada.

Among the recommendations: . The regulatory regime should be 
established by the federal government, in close cooperation with the 
provinces. A federal-provincial revenue-sharing agreement will be 
based on models established for alcohol and tobacco.

. The legal age would be the same as it is for alcohol in each 
province, and people would be allowed to grow their own pot as long 
as it was in small quantities for personal use.

. In order to combat black-market sales, people will be limited to 
buying or possessing no more than four ounces.

. Citing statistics from a number of studies, including RAND 
Corporation and the Fraser Institute, it says Canada's market is $3 
billion to $4 billion annually to a market of roughly three million consumers.

. The private sector would take the lead in producing and marketing 
pot, and would have to find a way to produce top-quality pot but sell 
it at a price well below the current black market rate, despite a 
recommended 35-per-cent tax rate.

. Penalties and law enforcement measures should be toughened up to 
prevent exports and sales to minors.

. On impaired driving - a major concern given pot's increased potency 
- - the study advocated tougher penalties as well as more research into 
how Washington state, which recently had a referendum vote in favour 
of legalization, will handle stoned drivers.

. The paper asserts legalization wouldn't necessarily lead to 
increased usage, citing the Netherlands as having a significantly 
lower rate than that in the U.S. and several European countries.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom