More B.C. mayors join campaign to regulate and tax marijuana

The Stop the Violence BC coalition released a letter Thursday from Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan and six others from the Interior and Vancouver Island to Premier Christy Clark, NDP leader Adrian Dix and Conservative leader John Cummins.

"Given the ongoing gang activity, widespread availability of marijuana and high costs associated with enforcement, leaders at all levels of government must take responsibility for marijuana policy," the letter said. "We are asking you as provincial leaders to take a new approach to marijuana regulation."

Several municipal councils in the province have passed motions supporting the decriminalization of marijuana.

Robertson said Thursday that a motion to endorse the Stop the Violence BC campaign will be on the agenda of Vancouver city council next week.

"This is not a partisan issue," Robertson said in a news release. "Widespread access to marijuana for our youth, grow ops that provide funds for organized crime, and significant costs to taxpayers for enforcement are all compelling reasons to re-examine our failed approach to prohibition."

Corrigan, the longtime Burnaby mayor, said the detrimental effects of marijuana prohibition are visible across the Lower Mainland on a daily basis.

"Huge profits for organized crime and widespread gang violence in our cities are the result of this failed policy. We put our citizens and communities at risk by not taking action now," he said.

North Vancouver Mayor Darrell Mussatto also signed the letter, saying: "We stand together as B.C. mayors because we think our communities will be safer and our children better protected from criminal elements if we overturn marijuana prohibition and implement policies that strictly regulate the adult use of cannabis."

The others who signed the letter are Vernon Mayor Robert Sawatzky, Armstrong Mayor Chris Pieper, Metchosin Mayor John Ranns, Enderby Mayor Howie Cyr and Lake Country Mayor James Baker.

The coalition has released polls in recent months showing a majority of British Columbians support regulation and taxation over the current marijuana laws. The group also has garnered the public endorsement of four former Vancouver mayors and four former B.C. attorneys-general for its position.

Coalition founder, Dr. Evan Wood, said there is growing support among municipal politicians to overturn pot prohibition.

"We are seeing community leaders around the province take charge and decisively call for action from senior levels of government to change the status quo regarding marijuana policy," Wood said. "It is time for our provincial and federal leaders to listen to what the public is saying, engage in discussion, and come to a resolution that better reflects the wishes of their constituents."

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