They didnB次元官网网址檛 serve pot brownies at the event, but Metchosin councilB次元官网网址檚 drive to decriminalize marijuana gained clear support at an annual Vancouver Island local government conference this month.
Coun. Moralea Milne presented MetchosinB次元官网网址檚 resolution to decriminalize marijuana at the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities annual convention in Ucluelet. She argued to the crowd of more than 200 mayors, councillors and regional directors, that crime problems stem from marijuana being illegal, not the drug itself.
B次元官网网址淚t was quite a lively discussion, and they all discussed the pros and the cons,B次元官网网址� Moralea said. The discussion was cut off due to time constraints at the meeting over April 13 to 15.
The resolution stated that B次元官网网址淢arijuana prohibition is a failed policy which has cost millions of dollars in police, court, jail and social costs.B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淎bout 65 to 75 per cent were in favour ... they just do a visual count,B次元官网网址� Milne said. B次元官网网址淚t was a resounding approval.B次元官网网址�
The Metchosin councillor argues the illegality of marijuana is responsible for criminal behaviour and health risks, such as mouldy, unsafe grow-op houses, theft of electricity, and violence involving B次元官网网址渄rug rips.B次元官网网址�
Langford Coun. Lillian Szpak was at the conference and was one of the many politicians who voted in favour of the motion.
Szpak said it was interesting to see the AVICC vote reflect a recent national poll by Toronto-based Forum Research Inc., where 73 per cent of British Colombians wanted to see the drug decriminalized.
B次元官网网址淲e all fear organized crime more than anything, and that came out at the conference,B次元官网网址� Szpak said. B次元官网网址淭here is evidence that there are massive profits from marijuana for organized crime. There is easy access to marijuana and reduced public safety.B次元官网网址�
Sooke Mayor Wendal Milne, no relation to Moralea Milne, was another supporter of the motion. A retired RCMP officer, he worked with a drug squad in Victoria.
B次元官网网址淭he war on drugs has failed,B次元官网网址� Wendal said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think they should legalize it, but they should decriminalize it.B次元官网网址�
In his experience, he has seen people face charges for possessing small amounts of marijuana and others allowed to go free. Wendal said decriminalizing the drug would allow it to be regulated more consistently.
The Sooke mayor suggests the law should be changed to allow police to issue $175 tickets for smoking pot in public, similar to drinking alcohol. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e got to have some type of control.B次元官网网址�
Another issue brought up at the convention is that recreational marijuana users are receiving jail time and criminal records.
B次元官网网址淧rohibition hasnB次元官网网址檛 achieved it goal. These are people in our communities that we donB次元官网网址檛 see as criminals,B次元官网网址� Szpak said. B次元官网网址淒ecriminalization doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean legalization, it means you wonB次元官网网址檛 have a criminal record for having a small amount of marijuana.B次元官网网址�
With the support of AVICC, the motion will be carried to the annual meeting of the Union of B.C. Municipalities in September.
AVICCB次元官网网址檚 call to decriminialize pot come alongside similar calls by high-profile British Columbians, including former B.C. attorneys-general Geoff Plant, Colin Gabelmann, Ujjal Dosanjh and Graeme Bowbrick, who signed a letter to Premier Christy Clark and Opposition leader Adrian Dix calling for the regulation and taxation of cannabis to combat organized crime.
B.C.'s chief medical health officer Dr. Perry Kendall has also endorsed a health-based approach to marijuana policy.
B次元官网网址�(Drugs are) federal jurisdiction, but it would be good if the province supported it too,B次元官网网址� Moralea Milne said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a small but significant step forward.B次元官网网址�
--with files from Jeff Nagel
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com
