Login / RegisterMunicipal politicians endorse marijuana decriminalization at UBCM convention
Delegates at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities' 2012 convention in Victoria have passed a resolution calling for the decriminalization of marijuana.
The resolution, put forward by the District of Metchosin and approved by a majority of the municipal politicians in attendance today (September 26), also urges the "appropriate government" to study the regulation and taxation of weed.
The preamble to the successful motion describes marijuana prohibition as a "failed policy which has cost millions of dollars in police, court, jail and social costs".
According to the UBCM resolutions committee's note on the motion to delegates, "BC is responsible for 40% of the marijuana produced in Canada, and 80-95% of marijuana produced in BC is exported illegally into the United States. Based on police information, the marijuana industry in BC is currently operated by criminal gangs who sell or exchange the marijuana produced in BC with criminal gangs in the United States for cocaine and guns."
In fall 2013, a campaign called Sensible B.C. plans to kick off an initiative seeking a referendum on the decriminalization of marijuana in the province
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I constantly read the statements above and have to question the legitimacy given the source of the information.
Am I to believe that as much as $4 billion of marijuana from BC is traded for guns and cocaine?
Am I to believe that 80 - 95% of marijuana grown in BC is exported to the US?
I read this summer in a West Kootenay publication that growers in that region are finding it hard to sell their product and the main reason is the US is able to supply much of its own needs now that 26 states out of 50 have decriminalized the possession of marijuana for non-medical use and 19 states now allow the use of medical marijuana without any penalties.
Another reason cited for the reduced demand for BC bud in the US is the value of the Canadian dollar. At par or better the current dollar value places BC bud at a premium compared to locally grown.
Then there is the issue of the US economy not being in the best shape and many out of work which makes for a perfect climate for marijuana entrepreneurship.
Now to think that billions of dollars of guns are being illegally imported into Canada stretches anyone's rational mind. To take the police statement at face value would mean that each year gangsters are arming themselves better than all the Canadian forces and police forces put together. In fact, it would mean that Canada has enough weapons to arm the entire nation many times over.
I would suggest that most of the money earned by gangs in BC was laundered through 'legitimate' means like real estate, cars and gambling casinos. And then there's the recent news that one large multinational bank, HBSC, has allegedly been laundering money through its Mexico banks for years due to a lack of controls.
Last thought, I doubt that Harper and Co. are eager to decriminalize or legalize marijuana given their desire to build prisons. But Harper's love for everything US should make him see that the criminalization of marijuana and imprisonment of marijuana consumers even in the US has peaked and declined rapidly. Only 105 people in the US were sent to jail for simple possession last year. Hardly enough to fill Harper's prisons.
Millions smoke the stuff now untouched by the law. The gangs will merely offer pot at lower blackmarket prices. Gangs will not be touched by this as human trafficking and their other crimes to make money will increase. Overall let these pols spent their time dealing with the serious problems of our society not who can smoke what freely.