cannabisnews.com: Legalize Marijuana, Conference Agrees Legalize Marijuana, Conference Agrees Posted by CN Staff on May 10, 2004 at 12:12:30 PT By Amy O'Brian - Vancouver Sun Source: Vancouver Sun Vancouver -- A senator, a former police officer and Vancouver's mayor were among those calling for the legalization of marijuana at a weekend conference.The diverse crowd at Beyond Prohibition, a conference put on by the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, gathered early Saturday morning to hear arguments for the legalization of marijuana, and to exchange ideas on how to make legalization successful. Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell started off the day with a personal disclaimer that he has never "inhaled," followed by a bold proposal for legalization."I would legalize this and tax the living hell out of it," Campbell said. "And I would ensure that every single dollar, every dollar of that tax went into the health care system."Similar sentiments were shared by the other speakers, who argued that lifting the marijuana prohibition would benefit the national economy, boost tax revenue, and free up police resources to target organized crime and others who profit from the current illegal drug trade.Walter McKay, a former Vancouver police officer who is now working on a PhD at the University of B.C., argued that all illegal drugs -- not just marijuana -- should be legalized and regulated."Far too much time, money and resources are being spent keeping a product away that the public wants," he said in an interview after his presentation."We tried this with prohibition 70 years ago and failed miserably. All we did was make Al Capone a multimillionaire. We just never learned." Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/legalize.htmSource: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)Author: Amy O'Brian - Vancouver SunPublished: Monday, May 10, 2004Copyright: 2004 Vancouver Sun Contact: sunletters png.canwest.comWebsite: http://www.vancouversun.com/ Related Articles & Web Sites:BCCLAhttp://www.bccla.org/Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmVancouver Mayor Touts Pot Legalizationhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18826.shtmlMayor To Spark Pot Talkhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18816.shtmlLegalize Pot, Says Mayor Campbellhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16423.shtmlLegalize Marijuana, Senate Committee Sayshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13989.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by Critto on May 11, 2004 at 15:56:28 PT 3 cheerz for Mr. McKay!!! He shows us, that there ARE the sensible, reasonable, thinking 'cops' on the Earth. http://libertaryzm.prv.pl [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by ekim on May 10, 2004 at 21:30:57 PT Blinded by the light--- delariand try mckay leap.cc please npr just on bbc said monsanto just folded in uk with its gmc -----wheatW is seeing the photos having to look at what hate manifests itself as. Please W see that these unspeakable darkest places are inflicted on us. taken away from our families and loved ones as we are striped of our jobs and forever marked see what the drug War is doing to the people. http://www.minorml.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on May 10, 2004 at 15:37:10 PT Related Article from The Associated Press Vancouver Mayor Proposes Marijuana Tax To Fund Drug TreatmentMay 10, 2004VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Mayor Larry Campbell has proposed legalizing and taxing marijuana sales -- but not total decriminalization -- to raise money for treatment of the effects of more dangerous drugs.Campbell voiced the idea Saturday at the annual meeting of the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association."Taxes levied on marijuana sales could add to the resources for treatment. Remember, the B.C. marijuana trade is estimated at $6 billion (US$4.4 billion) annually -- larger than construction or forestry," Campbell said. The mayor, a former Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer and coroner, also noted that the potential savings on law enforcement efforts from legalizing pot could further enhance treatment policing of other crimes.He said he opposes full decriminalization because of problems with "real criminals," such as dealers, and the crimes they commit and foster.Campbell said regulation should be similar to that of tobacco and alcohol, citing the example of Amsterdam, where cultivation and sales of marijuana are legal within certain regulations.Studies indicate fewer residents of the Netherlands than, for example, Americans, have tried marijuana, and cannabis use among Dutch schoolchildren has fallen, he said."The conclusion is pretty clear," he said. "Legal, regulated sale of marijuana may actually produce less consumption." Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by delariand on May 10, 2004 at 14:17:35 PT I'm impressed! I'd love to meet Walter McKay and shake his hand, it's rare to see someone this sensible who isn't afraid to stand up for what's right.-----Walter McKay, a former Vancouver police officer who is now working on a PhD at the University of B.C., argued that all illegal drugs -- not just marijuana -- should be legalized and regulated."Far too much time, money and resources are being spent keeping a product away that the public wants," he said in an interview after his presentation."We tried this with prohibition 70 years ago and failed miserably. All we did was make Al Capone a multimillionaire. We just never learned."I'd love to meet [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by mayan on May 10, 2004 at 12:53:10 PT Thurman Thomas Busted... Former NFL star arrested: http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/108418063955280.xml [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by lombar on May 10, 2004 at 12:41:33 PT We need more guys like this "Walter McKay, a former Vancouver police officer who is now working on a PhD at the University of B.C., argued that all illegal drugs -- not just marijuana -- should be legalized and regulated."People like this (and leap.cc) remind me that it is not the police that are the enemy but the policy. It is too easy for people to hate the cops but they are victims of prohibition as surely as we are. It is a lot harder to think this if they are clubbing your head and dragging you to jail however. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by mayan on May 10, 2004 at 12:14:54 PT Fed Judge Rips Drug War! Federal Judge Sees Little Progress in Drug War: http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=1434C281-104D-4DC2-8E70-1BE81ED55E37The way out is the way in...Gagging Michael Moore: http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=16912"The Great Deception" - What really happened on 9/11: http://www.visiontv.ca/Archive/Archives_fr.html9/11 International Inquiry - Toronto, May 25-30: http://www.911inquiry.org/ [ Post Comment ] Post Comment