A former top U.S. attorney, B.C.´s former Attorney General and the wife of Canadian pot activist Marc Emery joined forces in Vancouver today to call for an end to the prohibition of marijuana.
John McKay, who helped send Emery to jail in the U.S. when he was a prosecutor, is now an outspoken voice in a growing battle to change how governments deal with marijuana production and use.
“Marijuana prohibition is a complete failure. It’s a failure in the US, and it’s a failure here in Canada as well. The problem posed by the black market is a threat to public safety in both the US and Canada,” said McKay.
McKay adds marijuana produced in B.C. is being exchanged for weapons, cocaine and money, and is directly contributing to the finances of Mexican drug cartels.
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He says that if we regulated and taxed marijuana like we do alcohol and tobacco, governments on both sides of the border would be able to improve public safety and generate significant tax revenue.
Washington State is currently considering initiative 502, which would legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana and regulate its sale. If the initiative passes this summer, it’s estimated to bring in $500 million in the state of Washington alone during the first year.
McKay says he still doesn’t regret sending Emery to jail, as he believes Emery should have advocated for change instead of breaking the law.
Former B.C. Attorney General Geoff Plant says he has changed his perspective on the issue since he was AG almost 10 years ago.
“With cannabis the effect of law enforcement is to make the problem worse, in every effect.”
Dr. Evan Wood, founder of Stop the Violence BC and a professor of medicine at UBC says the average British Columbian doesn´t realize what the prohibition of marijuana is doing to our communities.
“Most don´t realize that all of the grow ops and organized crime concerns are a direct result of marijuana prohibition,” said Wood.
A poll by Stop the Violence BC shows that 78 per cent of B.C. residents are dissatisfied at the provincial government´s response to problems stemming from the illegal marijuana industry.
The call for changes to how governments approach marijuana will grow even louder this Friday at the annual 4:20 marijuana rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
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