A City of Vancouver report backed by the mayor recommends Canada legalize and regulate marijuana as part of a comprehensive drug-abuse prevention strategy for everything from methamphetamine production to alcoholism among seniors.

The marijuana recommendation, one of two dozen in the report being released today, would allow people trying to prevent drug abuse to talk to teenagers about it realistically, the way they do with alcohol and cigarettes, and also limit dangerous use.

It's a strategy that Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell endorses wholeheartedly, saying it's preferable to decriminalization, which imposes a fine instead of a criminal charge for use, but doesn't address the issue of supply.

"I think the decriminalization doesn't do anybody any good. It sends the message that it's okay, but that it's a crime to obtain it." He says if marijuana were legalized, the community could benefit by being able to tax production.

Campbell, a one-time RCMP drug officer, acknowledges that Vancouver's stand won't produce immediate change.

"It's a talking point, but clearly it's something that has to be done in Canada."

The report goes to council June 14 and then out for public discussion, before final approval likely next January.

Others say that putting marijuana on the same level as alcohol and tobacco legally would allow teachers and prevention counsellors to talk about it strategically, rather than just avoiding the topic.

"All that teachers can do now is say it's illegal," says the city's drug policy coordinator Don MacPherson, who wrote the 67-page report.

If marijuana was treated like alcohol, he said, teachers could provide the same kind of advice they do when trying to prevent teenagers from risky drinking behaviour.

However, he also emphasized that Canada should learn from the mistakes it made with alcohol and tobacco, which have been turned into commercial products, heavily advertised and promoted, which has led to problems stemming from the abuse of those two substances that far exceeds those of illegal drugs.

The report notes that "even with the best prevention strategies anywhere in the world, we are limited in what we can do unless there are changes to the legal frameworks for psychoactive substances. The current system of prohibition for illegal drugs, this plan argues, has failed in its goal to reduce the availability of illegal substances and to prevent harm from their use."

It also argues that prohibition leaves governments unable to regulate the drug, ensures that it stays in the hands of organized crime, and makes it impossible to use the kinds of public-education strategies that have been so successful in reducing tobacco use and dangerous drinking.

The report's other recommendations include public education starting with young children and extending to seniors, whose problems with alcoholism and prescription-pill addiction are often ignored in discussions about drug abuse.

Campbell said he likes the recommendations in the report, which has been a couple of years in the making, because it is so comprehensive.

Do you think marijuana should be legalized?

"I think the decriminalization doesn't do anybody any good. It sends the message that it's okay, but that it's a crime to obtain it."

Yes I find that to be silly also, might aswell legalize it.

Why would anyone want to do such a stupid thing :no:

They shouldn't have even decriminalized it.

I think they should decriminilize it. I cannot justify someone having a criminal record for something as simple as smoking a joint. Fine them sure, but don't ruin an otherwise clean record for something so simple.

However, I am against full legalizing...well at least for now I should say. Two primary reasons.
One, the United States. They will hit us back big time. As much as I don't like USA bullying us into certain laws as much as anybody, reality is reality. It would be too much of a blow to the economy for it to be worth it. America is not backing down from there drug war anytime soon.

Second, I don't think Canada is mature enough for it. I remember years back I went to Amsterdam (guess what I did :nono: ). What I found there was that most Dutch barely smoked at all. All the tourists did. I was fortunate enough to be able to stay with a family as opposed to a hotel. They explained it's because it was legal, it was not as much of a rebel thing, and besides Europe was more mature about consumption of all narcotics (alchohol, drugs, cig's)
If Canada were to fully legalize it, our society is not mature enough YET to be able to deal with it. You would have a lot of pothead out there.

I think the best solution is to decriminilize it. Over time (maybe be a long time too), as Canadians get more mature about pot use, and the US perhaps becomes more lenient about it themselves, we can consider legalizing it.

Warning: I was smoking a big fat joint while typing the above. Ummm, no, I meant, um :jk:

I think they should decriminilize it. I cannot justify someone having a criminal record for something as simple as smoking a joint. Fine them sure, but don't ruin an otherwise clean record for something so simple.

However, I am against full legalizing...well at least for now I should say. Two primary reasons.
One, the United States. They will hit us back big time. As much as I don't like USA bullying us into certain laws as much as anybody, reality is reality. It would be too much of a blow to the economy for it to be worth it. America is not backing down from there drug war anytime soon.

Second, I don't think Canada is mature enough for it. I remember years back I went to Amsterdam (guess what I did :nono: ). What I found there was that most Dutch barely smoked at all. All the tourists did. I was fortunate enough to be able to stay with a family as opposed to a hotel. They explained it's because it was legal, it was not as much of a rebel thing, and besides Europe was more mature about consumption of all narcotics (alchohol, drugs, cig's)
If Canada were to fully legalize it, our society is not mature enough YET to be able to deal with it. You would have a lot of pothead out there.

I think the best solution is to decriminilize it. Over time (maybe be a long time too), as Canadians get more mature about pot use, and the US perhaps becomes more lenient about it themselves, we can consider legalizing it.
The States should have no influence. And you already hit the nail on the head, but missed it completely. Once it is legal, it isn't a rebel thing anymore. This is pivotal. A lot of people will suddenly lose interest once it is legal. I bet you anything that drinking among late teens would plummet if the drinking age were reduced to 16 (which it should be, if you are old enough to drive and have an alcohol restriction on your licence, you are obviously old enough to drink in order to have such a restriction on you). Legalizing is actually an amazing preventative strategy. There will still be a good chunk of people doing it, but you'll get a lot of people not doing it for the "fuck society!" attitude, and avoid many potential problems that way. Marajuana is also less harmful than tobacco anyway, so there is no justification in keeping it illegal.

i'm against legalization. has anybody counted in the economic costs of this, with America? and don't think that the billions spent on enforcing marijuana being illegal now will be spent elsewhere because when this thing is legalized, healthcare costs will skyrocket.

The problem with decriminalization is that it will drive demand and the number of pot growing operations will dramatically increase - and so will the gang crime associated with them. I think the mayor is right. Either legalize pot, or leave the law the way it is.

The US has its laws and we have ours. What the US thinks should count for zero. Their lax gun laws are a problem for Canada - but what do they care.

Marijuana users should be required to pay their own healthcare costs. Same for tobacco users and excessive drinkers. The average taxpayer should not have to subsidize their addiction.

What about people who are overweight?

^ yes. If it's not a heredity condition.

LOL. You're going to have a lot of people pay extra. Perhaps you should simply make anyone who gets sick pay for their health care.

^ Well, it should at least motivate a lot of coach potatoes to get fit ;) Preventive health-care, best way to save costs.

How can this be good for BC? Honestly, i can only see it as a road block in moving BC forward. Maybe if someone would tell me how this would not ruin our cities, schools (BC is around 5th in the world for our education, will this not be effected?) and our quality of life etc AND get more information on other areas that have encouraged this (The small part of Amsterdam is the only place that comes to mind) maybe i will change my decision.

I am definatly not one to judge but it has gone too far. Decriminalization was just a foot in the door for legalization. I know that we make more cash on our BC bud than exporting softwood lumber but lets leave it at that.

Think of all the money BC will make off American tourists coming here for a few smokes. ;)

You know, I don't smoke the stuff, I have... not at all anymore, but honestly, legalize it.
wtf...

Just treat it like booze! Can't do it in public, don't drive, ect...
People would accept that, and if they didn't they can go to hell.
What's the big deal with weed? 99% of Canadians do it anyways...

The biggest roadblock to legalizing it is indeed the US. That would create a lot of hardship, especially for transborder commerce.

But come on. Society is so hypocritical on this subject. We seem to accept alcoholism and ALL the problems that come with it like drug driving deaths, physical violence and abuse and eventually death because of alcohol. But marijuana is illegal? Alcohol is 10 times worst IMO. I've seen so many people and families destroyed by alcohol. But we all seem to accept that. But god forbid someone smoke something grown by nature :|

Pot isn't for everyone. If the government made it legal tomorrow - would you go out and smoke a fattie? Probably not. If your not into it, your not into it. I don't see why there would be this huge rush of people going out and getting high all of sudden [you make it sound like a Boxing Day sale].

Besides, the worst thing people can do on pot is run the closest Rabba for a microwaved Joe Louis :D

Rival councillors agree on legalizing pot
They say it's better than letting organized crime and dealers benefit

Frances Bula and Doug Ward, with files from Chad Skelton
Vancouver Sun

Thursday, June 09, 2005

VANCOUVER - Sam Sullivan and Peter Ladner may sit on the other side of the political fence from Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell, but when it comes to the city's recently proposed drug-abuse prevention strategy, the city councillors from the city's centre-right party express remarkably similar sentiments.

They agree it's better to legalize marijuana than to keep shovelling money into the pockets of organized crime or to let drug dealers monitor the sale and price.

However, the Non-Partisan Association councillors do have some caveats. Both are opposed to seeing a commercialized marijuana industry, like the alcohol or tobacco industries.

"I have concerns about the proliferation," says Ladner. "Look at what happened with gambling in B.C. when it went from being illegal to legal. Now that the government is relying on it for revenue, they're pushing it."

And Sullivan doesn't think marijuana should be as publicly available or used as tobacco.

"I would like to see the city have bylaws that prohibit smoking in public places," Sullivan said.

Those were their reactions to the most radical recommendation in a proposed 24-point drug-abuse prevention strategy announced Wednesday that recommends Canada legalize marijuana.

The Vancouver police department has traditionally opposed legalization, but took a neutral line Wednesday when asked about the city's report.

Acting Inspector Scott Thompson, the VPD's drug policy coordinator, said the VPD likes a lot of the recommendations in the report but is neutral on the question of drug legalization.

"The VPD is taking a neutral stand with respect to that issue," he said. "In this province and this country it's still illegal."

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Mayor Larry Campbell explained why he favours legalization and regulation over the proposed federal legislation to decriminalize the drug.

"From my point of view, decriminalization says this isn't a big deal, but at the same time says to the criminals ... we just gave you a licence to grow."

Decriminalization, he added, means that "we're saying to the criminals, 'Fill your boots -- we're not going to do anything about it.'"

Campbell said he doesn't think the Liberal government is going to legalize marijuana any time soon. "This is a talking point . . . I'm not fooling myself that if I pick up the phone and phone the prime minister, he's going to say: 'Great idea, Larry. We'll get right on board.' ''

The proposed marijuana decriminalization law, Bill C-10, would have removed possession of less than 15 grams of marijuana from the criminal law, but would have made it a ticketable offence, with fines ranging from $100 for a youth and $150 for an adult.

The bill has passed second reading but is stalled at the committee stage and is not expected to go to a vote before the next election.

"The Liberals are dragging their feet on it. They are afraid to deal with it," said Vancouver MP Libby Davies, the NDP's drug critic.

Randy White, the drug critic for the Conservative party, also says he believes the legislation is dead for now. "I think it's risky for them with a minority government because there are just as many people for it as against it," White said.

© The Vancouver Sun 2005

Marijuana users should be required to pay their own healthcare costs. Same for tobacco users and excessive drinkers. The average taxpayer should not have to subsidize their addiction.


While I see your point, just how do you propose this can be enforced. How do you know if someone is costing the healthcare system due to smoking and not something unrelated. What about the clogged up court system (which in itself costs money) trying to sort out who should pay. What about constitutional right challenges.

Not so simple to do.

The biggest roadblock to legalizing it is indeed the US. That would create a lot of hardship, especially for transborder commerce.

But come on. Society is so hypocritical on this subject. We seem to accept alcoholism and ALL the problems that come with it like drug driving deaths, physical violence and abuse and eventually death because of alcohol. But marijuana is illegal? Alcohol is 10 times worst IMO. I've seen so many people and families destroyed by alcohol. But we all seem to accept that. But god forbid someone smoke something grown by nature :|

Pot isn't for everyone. If the government made it legal tomorrow - would you go out and smoke a fattie? Probably not. If your not into it, your not into it. I don't see why there would be this huge rush of people going out and getting high all of sudden [you make it sound like a Boxing Day sale].

Besides, the worst thing people can do on pot is run the closest Rabba for a microwaved Joe Louis :D

The argument about the hypocracy of legal alcohol is a good one, but that should'nt mean legalizing pot. The reason alcohol is not illegal is because it would be impossible to do so. No government would ever survive if they attempted it. We all heard about the effects of prohibition. So while there may be a double standard, it's simply politics.
However if they legalize marijuana, it's like arguing that two bads (weed and booze) makes a good. That's why I think this line of thought can be flawed.

Either way,I say decriminilize it now, and we'll see down the road about legalizing it.
Now excuse me everyone while I stick a Joe Louis in the nuker!

I cannot vote in this thread as I believe that it should not be legalized and should not be illegal.

Decriminalization is what I'm for.

I cannot vote in this thread as I believe that it should not be legalized and should not be illegal.

Decriminalization is what I'm for.

I agree with you 100%, but for the sake of the poll I voted 'NO' as I don't want it legalized. Think the poll should've had 3 options. Too late now I guess