RCMP Arrested Man Earlier This Month With Suspected Links To Red Scorpions The special enforcement unit that deals with organized crime across the province says the city of Nanaimo has emerged as a hub or thoroughfare for drug traffic serving Vancouver Island. The Nanaimo RCMP displayed a seizure of drugs and cash valued at over $180,000 on Jan. 16 after they arrested a man believed to be linked to the Red Scorpions gang in Nanaimo earlier this month. That find has led to a renewed call by local voices to end the "wasteful" drug war. [continues 651 words]
NANAIMO - The special enforcement unit that deals with organized crime across the province says the city of Nanaimo has become a hub or thoroughfare for drug traffic on Vancouver Island. The Nanaimo RCMP displayed seized drugs and cash valued at more than $180,000 Jan. 16 after they arrested a man believed to be linked to the Red Scorpions gang in Nanaimo this month. The haul, a result of a raid conducted on the suspect's residence, included a loaded .40-calibre handgun and about $120,000 worth of cocaine, in addition to heroin, methamphetamine and cash. The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C., which has an office on Vancouver Island, assisted in the seizure. [continues 406 words]
What is really at stake if B.C. follows Washington State and Colorado and successfully legalizes marijuana? Money, of course, that other green substance. Let's start with the estimated value of the illicit pot growing industry here in B.C. It's often claimed to be between $6 and $8 billion, a fairly rough estimate given that none of the principals are filling out any corporate tax forms or quarterly earning reports. Even if it's lower than the estimates, it's a huge industry. By contrast, in 2011 the entire forest industry had a value of just under $10 billion. [continues 551 words]
Re: Cannabis and the need for policy reform. I have enclosed an editorial from a national newspaper which outlines the case for legal regulation, taxation, and management under a public health model for cannabis. I also note that Minister Aglukkaq is bringing in legislation to tighten up on the production facilities for medical marijuana. This seems a very good step forward. It will be important to utilize the knowledge of those already producing for the medical market. A frequent complaint is that the government-produced product is not the strength needed for proper control, and the user then goes elsewhere to the illegal supplier. [continues 281 words]
Nelson City Council Debates Marijuana While Washington state voters approved decriminalizing marijuana this year, the idea of supporting a similar initiative in BC unleashed the greatest furor around the Nelson city council table in recent memory. In June, councillor Donna Macdonald introduced a motion asking the mayor to join eight of his counterparts in backing Stop the Violence BC - a coalition of academics, law enforcement officials, and others hoping to "starve organized crime of the profits they reap as a result of [marijuana] prohibition." [continues 429 words]
GREEKS: New details emerge about drug ring involved in B.C.'s longest criminal jury trial, cops say They were convicted in three drugrelated slayings, but police suspect they were also involved in four other murders. In November, five members or associates of the Greeks gang in Vernon were found guilty of three grisly deaths following the longest criminal jury trial in B.C. history. But what the jury didn't hear was the full extent of their crimes, police say. [continues 882 words]
The recent legalization of marijuana by the states of Colorado and Washington shows that attitudes towards the drug have been changing. A Canadian poll recently cited in the Toronto Star revealed that 65 per cent of Canadians support either legalization and taxation of the drug or decriminalizing it in small amounts. These aren't just the votes belonging to your campus college liberal meme or peacenik hippie. As a whole, Canada is tuning into the economic and societal benefits of legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana. [continues 440 words]
Experts: good message but questionable execution An Abbotsford Police initiative that involves sending Christmas cards featuring the chief in a Santa suit with a bullet-proof vest and assault rifle to prolific offenders is getting mixed reviews from experts. The APD Christmas card shows Chief Bob Rich in the traditional red suit and white beard as well as body armour and a rifle with the question: "Which list will you be on . . . naughty or nice?" The card then suggests that the recipient is "one choice away from changing your life," and encourages them to make a New Year's resolution to leave crime behind and provides an APD helpline number people can call. [continues 528 words]
Burnaby: Killing of Sukh Dhak and his bodyguard unlikely to stop violence, expert says The brazen daylight murder of Sukh Dhak and his bodyguard, Thomas Mantel, will lead to further power struggles in B.C.'s lucrative gang business, predicts a gang expert and author. "The public shouldn't mistake this gangland murder of Sukh Dhak as the end of this gang war," said Ranj Dhaliwal, the author of Daaku: The Gangster's Life. "Until we do something about the demand for hard drugs like cocaine and crack, we will never see an end to this." [continues 286 words]
If young people didn't have the message already, this has been an instructive week for anyone thinking it might be cool to join a drug gang. On Sunday, following what was described as B.C.'s longestrunning criminal jury trial, five members of the Greeks gang out of Vernon were convicted of three drug-linked murders. Then on Monday, Sukhveer Dhak, a "high-ranking member of the Dhak-Duhre crime group," and his bodyguard, Thomas Mantel, were shot to death in the lobby of a Burnaby hotel. [continues 130 words]
Chasing too much revenue may keep black market alive Taxing B.C. bud could generate hundreds of millions of dollars in provincial government revenue each year, but likely not billions, a new study suggests. The study, prepared by UBC and SFU researchers and published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, estimates B.C. marijuana users spend roughly $500 million a year on pot. The Stop The Violence BC campaign to legalize marijuana has used that figure to infer B.C. could reap $2.5 billion in revenue over five years by heavily taxing the drug. [continues 451 words]
What is really at stake if B.C. follows Washington state and Colorado and successfully legalizes marijuana? Money, of course, that other green substance. Let's start with the estimated value of the illicit pot growing industry here in B.C. It's often claimed to be between $6 billion and $8 billion, a fairly rough estimate given that none of the principals are filling out any corporate tax forms or quarterly earning reports. Even if it's lower than the estimates, it's a huge industry. By contrast, in 2011 the entire forest industry had a value of just under $10 billion. [continues 533 words]
What is really at stake if British Columbia follows Washington State and Colorado and successfully legalizes marijuana? Money, of course, that other green substance. Let's start with the estimated value of the illicit pot growing industry here in B.C. It's often claimed to be between $6 billion to $8 billion, a fairly rough estimate given that none of the principals are filling out any corporate tax forms or quarterly earning reports. Even if it's lower than the estimates, it's a huge industry. By contrast, in 2011 the entire forest industry had a value of just under $10 billion. [continues 534 words]
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. [continues 285 words]
British Columbians spend half-a-billion dollars a year on pot - and a new study says decriminalizing the drug could fill government coffers with $500 million a year in new tax revenue. Dr. Evan Wood, senior author of the study, said this is the first serious attempt to calculate the B.C. domestic market for pot - and may help convince B.C.ers that decriminalizing is better than the ineffective war on drugs. "Governments in North America have now spent $1 trillion on the war on drugs, but young people have easier access to marijuana than tobacco or alcohol," said Wood, who serves as the Canada Research Chair in Inner City Medicine at the University of B.C. "These laws have created marijuana grow-ops, hydro theft, home invasions and gang activity. [continues 249 words]
Legalization of marijuana-will it work? Much has been said about the benefits of legalizing marijuana. It will be controlled, taxable, no harm to the economy or personal health, and fewer deaths due to gang violence. All looks rosy. The media seem to have been caught up in the hype without looking at this topic with a more critical eye. From a drug dealer's perspective, legalization is a good thing. We are told that the marijuana trade in B.C. brings in roughly $6 billion per year. [continues 212 words]
What is really at stake if B.C. follows Washington State and Colorado and successfully legalizes marijuana? Money, of course, that other green substance. Let's start with the estimated value of the illicit pot growing industry here in B.C. It's often claimed to be between $6 to $8 billion, a fairly rough estimate given that none of the principals are filling out any corporate tax forms or quarterly earning reports. Even if it's lower than the estimates, it's a huge industry. By contrast, in 2011 the entire forest industry had a value of just under $10 billion. [continues 534 words]
As part of the U.S. election last week, two states - Washington and Colorado - on state-wide ballots voted in favour of the legalization of marijuana that would make recreational use of the drug legal (although it is only a matter of time before the U.S. federal government steps in). I have to shake my head at such short sighted thinking on the part of these two states. This September a majority of mayors here in B.C. voted to "decriminalize marijuana and research the regulation and taxation of marijuana." It might be helpful to look at the difference between decriminalization and legalization. [continues 968 words]
What is really at stake if B.C. follows Washington State and Colorado and successfully legalizes marijuana? Money, of course, that other green substance. Let's start with the estimated value of the illicit pot growing industry here in B.C. It's often claimed to be between $6-$8 billion, a fairly rough estimate given that none of the principals are filling out any corporate tax forms or quarterly earning reports. Even if it's lower than the estimates, it's a huge industry. By contrast, in 2011 the entire forest industry had a value of just under $10 billion. [continues 534 words]
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. [continues 627 words]
Activist behind decriminalization campaign to speak in Kamloops An impending province wide initiative campaign to decriminalize marijuana faces legal hurdles but may have merit as well, local lawyers say. Dana Larsen, pot activist and former NDP leadership candidate, has branded his province wide initiative petition drive "Sensible B.C." His campaign is modeled on the successful initiative brought about by ex-premier Bill Vander Zalm to quash the HST. The purpose of this one? To make B.C. safer from criminal gang activity, save taxpayer dollars spent on law enforcement and bring the law into line with the will of the majority, Larsen said, citing a recent poll suggesting 80 per cent public support for decriminalization. [continues 704 words]
Impact on $6-Billion-To-$8-Billion Pot Industry Is Difficult to Quantify (CP) - The future appears hazy for British Columbia's thriving underground pot industry, even as two U.S. states have voted to allow citizens to legally use the drug recreationally. Business consequences could range from mild to sending marijuana producers' livelihoods up in smoke, depending on how much of the estimated $6-billion-to-$8-billion annual economy is currently being exported south of the border, analysts say. [continues 297 words]
Much is being said in the media about legalizing marijuana. The focus seems always to be on reduction of revenue to gangs, thus reduction of gang violence. But little if anything is being said about the probable result of making it easier to purchase without a large growth in usage. Given that it is a "mind-altering" substance (if not so, why the big appetite for use of it?), this will result in a great increase of users driving cars, bikes and motorcycles with their minds in an altered condition. [continues 131 words]
Q&A with Mark Haskell Smith - - Heart of Dankness: Underground Botanists, Outlaw Farmers and the Race for the Cannabis Cup by Mark Haskell Smith published by Broadway Books (256 pages). WHILE Mark Haskell Smith was doing research for his novel Baked the Los Angeles Times made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Learning that he was going to be attending the Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam they asked him if he would consider covering the world championship of weed for them as well and they would put his findings in their Calendar section. [continues 1934 words]
Economic impact unclear as two U.S. states vote for legal use VANCOUVER - The future appears hazy for British Columbia's thriving underground pot industry, even as two U.S. states have voted to allow citizens to legally use the drug recreationally. Business consequences could range from mild to sending marijuana producers' livelihoods up in smoke, depending on how much of the estimated $6 billion to $8 billion annual economy is currently being exported south of the border, analysts say. Opinion on the impact varies considerably, but those advocating for Canada to adopt a more evidence-based policy on marijuana say this week's votes mean Canada is falling behind the U.S. in developing evidence-based policy. [continues 854 words]
The future appears hazy for B.C.'s thriving underground pot industry, even as two U.S. states - Washington and Colorado - have voted to allow citizens to legally use the drug recreationally. Business consequences could range from mild to sending marijuana producers' livelihoods up in smoke, depending on how much of the estimated $6 billion to $8 billion annual economy is currently being exported south of the border, analysts said. Opinion on the impact varies widely, but those advocating for Canada to adopt a more evidence-based policy on marijuana say Tuesday's votes mean Canada is falling behind the U.S. [continues 421 words]
A marijuana legalization activist was in Prince George on Friday to promote his campaign to hold a provincial referendum on the issue. Dana Larsen heads Sensible B.C., which has drafted a proposed amendment to B.C's Police Act that would direct all police in the province - both RCMP and municipal forces - to not take any action in cases of simple marijuana possession by adults. Although marijuana is prohibited under federal legislation, Larsen asserts the provinces can direct the use of police resources and noted eight provinces across Canada refused to enforce the long-gun registry. [continues 684 words]
Backed by a growing roster of politicians, health officers, and legal experts, a single beat cop blows the whistle on prohibition For all the hype, says Const. David Bratzer, the life of a downtown cop is about wordplay more often than gunplay. As the scores of drug offenders who've served jail time at his insistence will attest, his main weapon isn't his service revolver, it's polite, persistent persuasion. As he unrolls his six-foot frame from a floatplane in Vancouver harbour on a humid summer morning, that's a weapon he plans to level once again at the very drug laws he's charged with enforcing. "It's tough for a cop to admit," he says, heading down the wharf while buttoning his charcoal jacket, "but our laws just don't make sense." [continues 3114 words]
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. [continues 543 words]
An anti-gang initiative was kicked off Wednesday with a performance from a local theatre company that has made a name for itself helping youth learn the skills to avoid a gang's clutches. Members of Street Spirits took about 200 elementary school students through a scenario in which a girl is coaxed and bullied into selling drugs and then into recruiting others to do the dealing for her. There is also a fair amount of audience participation. "What we do is called 'form theatre,'" said Gwen Hall, one of the actors who took to the stage at the Civic Centre. "We do our play and then we ask the audience members to come up and fix it, change it, make it right." [continues 429 words]
WEST Vancouver MLA Joan McIntyre and former West Vancouver police chief Kash Heed have both come out in favour of legalizing marijuana. The two politicians - neither of whom are running in the next provincial election - both went public with their views in the past week. "As a society, I really think it's time we look at these issues in a different way," said McIntyre, who added she's been in favour of legalizing pot for some time. McIntyre said legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana would cut down on the gang violence fuelled by organized crime's control of and profit from illegal drugs. [continues 454 words]
Local MLA joins colleague Heed in calling for pot regulation Local MLA Joan McIntyre this week joined a growing list of politicians in endorsing the legalization and regulation of marijuana in British Columbia. McIntyre, a two-term MLA who a few weeks ago announced that she will not seek re-election in West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast during the May 2013 provincial election, announced her position in a statement issued on Thursday (Oct. 18). "I join my colleague MLA Kash Heed in support of the legalization of marijuana," McIntyre said. "Like MLA Heed I believe that ending the prohibition of marijuana will make our communities safer by taking the industry out of the hands of organized crime." [continues 252 words]
Editor: Re: Mayor opposed to legalizing pot, Oct. 12 At a recent Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Victoria, a majority of municipal leaders voted in favour of a resolution calling for the decriminalization and taxation of marijuana. Legalize pot and - presto - gang-related violent crime in our communities and fear among our citizens would disappear. But wait, that's not all! The collateral benefit of a "potted" Canada will be of having solved, virtually overnight, Canada's problem of declining tourism from south of the border and elsewhere. [continues 175 words]
Police Arrest Nine in Bust that may have Gand Connections Buyers may have spent $ 1,000 a month on coke Nine people suspected in a major dial- a-dope operation in Kamloops are out on strict conditions awaiting charges in a police bust that RCMP say has gang connections. Wiretaps, surveillance and undercover officers from other detachments were involved in the eight-month investigation, Insp. Yves Lacasse said Thursday. Police laid out some of the take from the five search warrants they used in their arrests last week: 1.3 kilograms of cocaine, $ 142,000 in cash, body armour, a 9- mm Ruger handgun, a .30- 06 rifle, a .22 rifle, a .300- calibre rifle, three sawed-off shotguns, a cutting agent, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a money-counting machine and a cocaine press. [continues 897 words]
Movement: 'War on drugs has been a failure' Ex-West Vancouver police chief and solicitor-general and current MLA Kash Heed added his voice to the call to legalize marijuana Thursday, saying British Columbians should make regulating the drug an election issue. Heed, a 30-year, law-enforcement veteran who led the Vancouver Police Department's anti-gang and drug squads, announced he was joining the Stop the Violence B.C. movement to decriminalize pot. He said he recognizes that trying to police the illegal drug trade and related gang violence has been "a failure." [continues 360 words]
Lois Jackson Calls UBCM Resolution 'Wrong-Headed' And Says It Would Create More Problems Than It Would Solve Mayor Lois Jackson believes her B.C. municipal colleagues made a terrible decision in calling for the decriminalization of marijuana. At the recent Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Victoria, a majority of municipal leaders voted in favour of a resolution calling for the decriminalization and taxation of the drug, although the power to change the laws rests with Ottawa. The motion, which was brought forward from the community of Metchosin on Vancouver Island, was a divisive one among the delegates. Those opposed maintain decriminalization will lead young people to more harmful drugs, while those in favour claim the current system helps organized crime reap big profits. [continues 182 words]
Whistler Mayor Supports UBMC Declaration on Marijuana Decriminalization The Union of British Columbia Municipalities has passed a resolution in support of the decriminalization of marijuana, and Sea to Sky politicians say it is time for the laws to change. The declaration was made at the conference in Victoria on Sept. 26. Sales of the drug top billions of dollars in Canada per year and, among other things, proponents say legalization would lead to better monitoring and controls for the industry, as well as taxation for government coffers. [continues 611 words]
LOCALLY elected officials are divided as to whether possessing, distributing, growing and selling marijuana should be decriminalized. The division showed in a resolution passed yesterday by elected officials from across BC at the Union of BC Municipalities convention in Victoria. The government organization will now ask the federal government to decriminalize marijuana and explore how it could be regulated and taxed instead. Terrace city councillor James Cordeiro, who voted against the resolution, said police forces already practise decriminalization when it comes to possessing small amounts of marijuana. [continues 767 words]
The group representing local governments throughout the province has become the latest to call for the end to a war that there is no hope of winning. "For too long our communities have borne the brunt of the harmful consequences of cannabis prohibition, from increased gang violence on our streets to enormous costs of enforcing a thoroughly discredited policy," said John Ranns, the mayor of Metchosin, which brought forward the resolution calling for the decriminalization of cannabis that was endorsed at last week's Union of B.C. Municipalities convention. [continues 220 words]
The mayor of Lake Country says he's pleased a resolution calling for the legalization of marijuana was adopted at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention last week. James Baker said the resolution was put to a show of hands on the convention floor, then subjected to an electronic vote count. "The vote was passed by a majority on the floor, and ended up with a 67 to 33 per cent vote in support," Baker said. He hopes the vote sends a message that the debate on the legalization of pot, and the whole idea of the so-called war on drugs, is given a review. [continues 221 words]
No, pot's not legal yet. With a raise of hands, B.C. local politicians passed a motion to ask the federal government to decriminalize marijuana. The motion passed at the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities convention, Sept. 26. Marijuana laws are held at the federal level. "It was about 70 per cent of hands in favour, it wasn't close. If it was close it would go to electric voting," said Metchosin Coun. Moralea Milne. "I would hope UBCM takes it to another level. We don't really have any jurisdiction." [continues 580 words]
The group representing local governments throughout the province has become the latest to call for the end to a war that there is no hope of winning. "For too long our communities have borne the brunt of the harmful consequences of cannabis prohibition, from increased gang violence on our streets to enormous costs of enforcing a thoroughly discredited policy," said John Ranns, the mayor of Metchosin, which brought forward the resolution calling for the decriminalization of cannabis that was endorsed at last week's Union of B.C. Municipalities convention. [continues 216 words]
Mainstream B.C. stood up in public Wednesday and moved the marijuana debate much closer to decriminalization than ever before. The resolution passed at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Victoria is the clearest indication yet of how far the "get tough with criminal pot smokers" stance has eroded. More than 500 delegates considered a motion that declared the status quo a failure and urged decriminalization of marijuana, coupled with research on regulation and taxation. After a passionate debate, they passed it by open show of hands. It was endorsed by such a clear margin - probably 60 per cent plus - they didn't even bother to count the votes. [continues 652 words]
UBCM decision to lobby feds on marijuana decriminalization misguided - Ferguson Township Councillor Steve Ferguson said he is surprised and disappointed that delegates at the Union of B.C. Municipalities passed a motion calling on the federal government to decriminalize marijuana. The vote passed narrowly by a show of hands, and Ferguson said that there may have been a different outcome had electronic voting been used. He and Al Siebring, a councillor from North Cowichan, challenged the method of voting, but were overruled. [continues 251 words]
VICTORIA - After a passionate debate and a close vote, delegates to the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention passed a motion Wednesday calling on the federal government to decriminalize marijuana. The UBCM placed major emphasis on the debate this year, staging a debate Monday featuring former B.C. attorney general Geoff Plant, in favour of loosening pot laws, and University of the Fraser Valley criminologist Darryl Plecas opposed. After a lineup of speakers on the impact of marijuana grow-ops on communities and crime impact, a show of hands by hundreds of delegates supported the call for decriminalization. [continues 373 words]
Re: "Decriminalization of pot will disarm gangs," Sept. 26 The authors of this article fail to mention that much, if not most of the marijuana grown in B.C., ends up being smuggled into the U.S. How will allowing the cultivation of pot here in B.C. stop gangs from profiting in the smuggling of it to the U.S.? I would expect that gang activity would be enhanced with the legalization of pot in B.C. The black market for marijuana would be rich with "no tax" illegal pot here in B.C. also. Bill Wilson Saanichton [end]
Marijuana laws will go up in smoke if B.C.'s civic leaders have their way. Delegates at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Victoria voted Wednesday to lobby the federal government to decriminalize marijuana. "We want to put control in the hands of regulators," said Kevin Acton, Lumby mayor, who raised his hand in favour of the resolution. "By being illegal, we keep activities underground." Acton is convinced decriminalizing marijuana will assist police by negatively impacting gangs. "It takes away dollars from the people doing other illegal activities," he said. [continues 272 words]
As this column is being written, mayors and councillors from across the province are at the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) convention debating a call for the decriminalization of marijuana. Don't take out your bongs and blunts in celebration just yet - it is only a debate, but it's at least getting the subject and arguments out in the open. The times are a-changing, to be sure, and to quote Bob Dylan - which is totally appropriate... and also because I couldn't find a way to work a Bob Marley song lyric in there. In the past, the pro-marijuana side consisted mainly of those in the counterculture (read: unwashed, long-haired stoners, students and the like) who led protests and demonstrations, but otherwise couldn't really affect change. [continues 338 words]
Whistler mayor supports UBMC declaration on marijuana decriminalization The Union of British Columbian Municipalities has passed a resolution in support of the decriminalization of marijuana, and Sea to Sky politicians say it is time for the laws to change. The declaration was made at the conference in Victoria on Wednesday, Sept. 26.. Sales of the drug top billions of dollars in Canada per year and, among other things, proponents say legalization would lead to better monitors and controls for the industry as well as taxation for government coffers. [continues 618 words]
B.C. civic leaders have voted to support the decriminalization of marijuana, at a gathering of provincial municipalities Wednesday. Delegates at the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM), a civic lobby group, voted in favour of a resolution calling for the decriminalization and taxation of marijuana. The resolution itself won't change any existing laws, but it will put pressure on senior levels of government, namely Ottawa, to make those changes. The delegates were divided amongst those who believe decriminalization will lead to more harmful drugs becoming more available on the street, while those in favour say current laws allow organized crime to make massive profits. [continues 249 words]
