British Columbia municipal leaders vote to work toward decriminalizing marijuana

Source: Canadian Press

British Columbia’s municipal politicians, sensing shifting emotional attitudes towards marijuana and a possible major new revenue source, voted Wednesday to lobby Ottawa to decriminalize pot and study the benefits of taxing and regulating cannabis.

The mayors and councillors from across the province clapped and cheered after voting to support marijuana decriminalization during a stirring debate in a crowded hall at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention.

The vote sends a strong message to provincial and federal politicians that British Columbians believe current marijuana prohibition laws are not working and they want change, said Dr. Evan Wood, a noted HIV/AIDS expert who is spearheading a coalition of prominent B.C. health, legal and political officials calling for marijuana decriminalization.

“If I was a politician in this day and age, it would be with great reluctance that I wouldn’t take a position of leadership on this and be willing to advance this cause, because at the end of the day, what we’re really talking about is trying to improve public health and safety,” Dr. Wood said in an interview.

Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-municipal-leaders-vote-to-work-toward-decriminalizing-marijuana/article4569789/