[release]Four of Vancouver's last five former mayors called this week for end of marijuana prohibition, saying anti-pot policies have failed to reduce marijuana's availability and that prohibition has fueled violence in British Columbia communities. Thursday evening, current Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson joined his predecessors, adding his voice to the call.
In an open letter released Wednesday, former mayors Mike Harcourt (1980-1986), Philip Owen (1993-2002), Larry Campbell (2002-2005), and Sam Sullivan (2005-2008) called on the province's politicians to legalize and regulate pot in BC. The letter was released by Stop the Violence BC, which just last month published a report outlining the links between pot prohibition and organized crime and violence and calling for a regulated, public health approach to marijuana.
"Marijuana prohibition is – without question – a failed policy," the former mayors wrote. "It is creating violent, gang-related crime in our communities and fear among our citizens, and adding financial costs for all levels of government at a time when we can least afford them. Politicians cannot ignore the status quo any longer; they must develop and deliver alternative marijuana policies that avoid the social and criminal harms that stem directly from cannabis prohibition."
The ex-mayors' intervention comes as the Canadian federal government of Conservative Prime Minister Steven Harper is attempting to push through a crime bill that would, among other things, impose mandatory minimum prison sentences for growing as few as five plants. But that's not a popular position in British Columbia, where a recent Angus Reid poll had support for taxing and regulating marijuana at 69%. It is past time for elected officials to get on board the marijuana reform bandwagon, the ex-mayor's said.
"Clearly, elected officials are out of step with their public on marijuana prohibition," they wrote. "It is time that elected officials enter the debate and deliver specific proposals to address the easy availability of cannabis to youth and the organized crime concerns stemming directly from cannabis prohibition."
One elected official who has heeded that call is current Vancouver Mayor Robertson. In a tweet sent out Thursday evening, Robertson said, "Good to see 4 Vancouver ex-mayors calling for end of cannabis prohibition. I agree, we need to be smart and tax/regulate."
In British Columbia, at least, the wall of silence by elected officials around legalizing marijuana has been breached. Whether that will lead to BC retaking its spot in the vanguard of pot law reform worldwide remains to be seen, but it's a good start.[/release]
This drug war is seriously getting ridiculous. Politicians are fools for keeping it illegal, drug dealers WANT it that way.
If I'm correct they have been wanting it to be legal for years. Apparently the cops don't even give a shit if people smoke weed at rallys, conventions, protests, etc.
[editline]27th November 2011[/editline]
and If I'm also correct the only reason why it hasn't been legal in Canada already is because of pressure from the U.S.
[QUOTE=Phycosymo;33461904]If I'm correct they have been wanting it to be legal for years. Apparently the cops don't even give a shit if people smoke weed at rallys, conventions, protests, etc.
[editline]27th November 2011[/editline]
and If I'm also correct the only reason why it hasn't been legal in Canada already is because of pressure from the U.S.[/QUOTE]
And yet in America cops treat weed like it's a gun you are carrying.
If Canada legalizes before America, I think that would look a little embarrassing.
this is good
[QUOTE=Shiftyze;33461938]And yet in America cops treat weed like it's a gun you are carrying.
If Canada legalizes before America, I think that would look a little embarrassing.[/QUOTE]
(walking down street with a blunt in hand) SIR! DROP THE WEAPON! "wha-" DROP THE WEAPON AND GET ON THE GROUND! "what weapo-" DON'T MAKE ME TASE YOU SIR! "but wh-" (tased).
[QUOTE=Phycosymo;33461904]and If I'm also correct the only reason why it hasn't been legal in Canada already is because of pressure from the U.S.[/QUOTE]
"We have a shit government and shitty ways of dealing with problems, you should listen to us."
but marijuana is the #1 cause of all crime in the history of forever
Weed: Doesn't harm anyone, makes you high and hungry.
Guns: Harms everyone. Cops treat it like nothing.
Weed = Illegal
Guns = Legal
Come on America, get your head out of your asses. Many cities in the US have legalized it, just go and legalize it for the whole country.
[editline]27th November 2011[/editline]
It would stop drug wars thats for sure.
[QUOTE=Rocko's;33463226]Come on America, get your head out of your asses. Many cities in the US have legalized it, just go and legalize it for the whole country.
[/QUOTE]
I didn't know that.
Did they actually legalize it, or did they decriminalize it?
[QUOTE=Phycosymo;33461904]
and If I'm also correct the only reason why it hasn't been legal in Canada already is because of pressure from the U.S.[/QUOTE]
[quote=wikipedia]On May 27, 2002, the Liberal government of Jean Chretien introduced a bill that would have decriminalized the possession for personal use of small amounts of cannabis... The bill looked likely to pass into law, but it died when Parliament prorogued. The bill's death was largely due to pressure from the American government's Drug Enforcement Administration, which had threatened to slow down border-crossings along the Canadian-American border so as to control the smuggling of cannabis.[/quote]
[QUOTE=Terminutter;33463289]I didn't know that.
Did they actually legalize it, or did they decriminalize it?[/QUOTE]
Decriminalization I think, because in California I believe you can carry a small amount.
Can it be legal in the UK please?
[QUOTE=Phycosymo;33461904]If I'm correct they have been wanting it to be legal for years. Apparently the cops don't even give a shit if people smoke weed at rallys, conventions, protests, etc.
[editline]27th November 2011[/editline]
and If I'm also correct the only reason why it hasn't been legal in Canada already is because of pressure from the U.S.[/QUOTE]
what this man said.
[QUOTE=Rocko's;33463226]Guns: Harms everyone[/QUOTE]
Not really. If a normal, non-psychotic man has a gun for hunting, self defense and whatever, his gun will likely never harm anyone in its lifetime.
Alcohol would have been a better comparison: it's legal, yet can make you a violent shithead, and mess up your brain and liver pretty badly.
[QUOTE=Phycosymo;33461904]If I'm correct they have been wanting it to be legal for years. Apparently the cops don't even give a shit if people smoke weed at rallys, conventions, protests, etc.
[/QUOTE]
They do care, they just go a lot lighter on you (take your weed and tell you not to be seen doing that again) if nobody else notices.
4:20 at the art gallery is a pretty good example of this.
[QUOTE=jimhowl33t;33463420]Not really. If a normal, non-psychotic man has a gun for hunting, self defense and whatever, his gun will likely never harm anyone in its lifetime.
Alcohol would have been a better comparison: it's legal, yet can make you a violent shithead, and mess up your brain and liver pretty badly.[/QUOTE]
are you kidding? alcohol makes you violent and messes up your brain, what kind of propaganda is this?!
support your economy and spend everything you've ever owned on alcohol now!
[QUOTE=skynrdfan3;33463167]but marijuana is the #1 cause of all crime in the history of forever[/QUOTE]
my brother overdosed on marijuana, pot is bad guys.
[QUOTE=Bobie;33464817]are you kidding? alcohol makes you violent and messes up your brain, what kind of propaganda is this?!
support your economy and spend everything you've ever owned on alcohol now![/QUOTE]
Alcohol doesn't make people violent, violent people are violent. I got drunk hundreds of times and i won't hurt a fly
[QUOTE=TheDestroyerOfall;33462359](walking down street with a blunt in hand) SIR! DROP THE WEAPON! "wha-" DROP THE WEAPON AND GET ON THE GROUND! "what weapo-" DON'T MAKE ME TASE YOU SIR! "but wh-" (tased).[/QUOTE]
Reminded me of this:
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=PL6MC6SXyNs&t=2m53s[/url]
Weed killed my dog and raped my sister. Watch out guys.
before all you fucking hippies get happy and shit, think about the fUCKING CONQUENCES OF WEED FOR EXAMPLE THE SIDE EFFECTS
- BRAIN DAMAGE
- SCHIZOPHRENIA
- STROKE
- HEART ATTACK
- AUTISM
SO PLEASE before you shitstorm this thread with "hell yEA NIGGA IM FUCKING HIGH ON THIS SHIT RIGHT NOW" consider what you're doing to your bodys
Stop treating it like it's some wonder drug with NO side effects whatsoever. It really isn't. I wouldn't call it dangerous but it's certainly not perfect.
[QUOTE=wakkydude;33467023]Stop treating it like it's some wonder drug with NO side effects whatsoever. It really isn't. I wouldn't call it dangerous but it's certainly not perfect.[/QUOTE]
well air isn't completely without side effects but I enjoy that on a regular basis too
[QUOTE=wakkydude;33467023]Stop treating it like it's some wonder drug with NO side effects whatsoever. It really isn't. I wouldn't call it dangerous but it's certainly not perfect.[/QUOTE]
It kinda is a wonder drug.
[QUOTE=Lurklet;33466841]before all you fucking hippies get happy and shit, think about the fUCKING CONQUENCES OF WEED FOR EXAMPLE THE SIDE EFFECTS
- BRAIN DAMAGE
- SCHIZOPHRENIA
- STROKE
- HEART ATTACK
- AUTISM
SO PLEASE before you shitstorm this thread with "hell yEA NIGGA IM FUCKING HIGH ON THIS SHIT RIGHT NOW" consider what you're doing to your bodys[/QUOTE] Alcohol and regular cigarettes are like, 3 times worse.
[url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/11/25/bc-science-world.html]Harper: No decriminalization of pot whatsoever on my watch[/url]
[release]Prime Minister Stephen Harper says his government will never agree to the decriminalization of marijuana.
Harper's comments came Friday in Vancouver in response to a question at a brief news conference following an event at a downtown science centre.
"No, it will not happen under our government," Harper said. “We're very concerned about the spread of drugs in the country and the damage it's doing and as you know we have legislation before the House [of Commons] to crack down."[/release]
In other words, "I don't care what polls show that the majority of Canadians want because only 25% of eligible voters voted for me"
[QUOTE=Zeke129;33468048][url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/11/25/bc-science-world.html]Harper: No decriminalization of pot whatsoever on my watch[/url]
[release]Prime Minister Stephen Harper says his government will never agree to the decriminalization of marijuana.
Harper's comments came Friday in Vancouver in response to a question at a brief news conference following an event at a downtown science centre.
"No, it will not happen under our government," Harper said. “We're very concerned about the spread of drugs in the country and the damage it's doing and as you know we have legislation before the House [of Commons] to crack down."[/release]
In other words, "I don't care what polls show that the majority of Canadians want because only 25% of eligible voters voted for me"[/QUOTE]
Canada, do the world a favor and get rid of this guy. You're so much better than this.
[QUOTE=Zeke129;33468048][URL="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/11/25/bc-science-world.html"]Harper: No decriminalization of pot whatsoever on my watch[/URL]
[release]Prime Minister Stephen Harper says his government will never agree to the decriminalization of marijuana.
Harper's comments came Friday in Vancouver in response to a question at a brief news conference following an event at a downtown science centre.
"No, it will not happen under our government," Harper said. “We're very concerned about the spread of drugs in the country and the damage it's doing and as you know we have legislation before the House [of Commons] to crack down."[/release]
In other words, "I don't care what polls show that the majority of Canadians want because only 25% of eligible voters voted for me"[/QUOTE]
Bring it to Supreme Court. No doubt Vancouver would will win, knowing how fantastic the supreme court is.
[QUOTE=toaster468;33463382]Decriminalization I think, because in California I believe you can carry a small amount.[/QUOTE]
In California it's a $100 fine for possessing any amount under an ounce, over that I forgot but I assume it's much worse
[QUOTE=Lurklet;33466841]before all you fucking hippies get happy and shit, think about the fUCKING CONQUENCES OF WEED FOR EXAMPLE THE SIDE EFFECTS
- BRAIN DAMAGE
- SCHIZOPHRENIA
- STROKE
- HEART ATTACK
- AUTISM
SO PLEASE before you shitstorm this thread with "hell yEA NIGGA IM FUCKING HIGH ON THIS SHIT RIGHT NOW" consider what you're doing to your bodys[/QUOTE]
Someone doesn't know the side effects of the either Alvohol or tobacco.
They're MUCH worse than non-laced marijuana.
And you can only get laced weed from shady dealers, and that wouldn't be a problem with state sanctioned and controlled dispensaries.
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