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Canada: Gang violence fuelled by pot prohibition, report says Andrea Wood Vancouver Sun Thursday 27 Oct 2011 Stop the Violence B.C., which comprises dozens of police officials, doctors, university professors, legal experts and more, released a report today titled Breaking the Silence, which aims to show that marijuana prohibition, while well intentioned, has been ineffective — and, in fact, has adverse effects. "There's a huge problem that nobody, particularly political and other leaders in B.C., is talking about, and that is the link between cannabis prohibition and organized crime," said Dr. Evan Wood, a coalition member and director of urban health research initiative at the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS. "The gang warfare that's playing out on our streets is a natural consequence of cannabis prohibition." The report points out marijuana is locally produced and in large quantities, unlike cocaine or heroin, which must be imported. The report also cites a 2009 Health Canada survey which estimated there to be "well over 430,000 cannabis users" in B.C., while the number of heroin and cocaine users is only a fraction of the size. This accounts for the high profit margins for marijuana in B.C. and explains why prohibition "has made such a key financial contribution to the growth of organized crime in this province," the report notes. An Angus Reid poll commissioned by the coalition found: • 87 per cent of British Columbians polled attribute gang violence to drug trafficking over profits from the illegal marijuana trade. • 69 per cent think arresting marijuana producers and sellers is ineffective and B.C. would be better off taxing and regulating marijuana. • 75 per cent reject the notion that possession of marijuana should lead to a criminal records • Only 12 per cent support keeping current marijuana laws in place. The online poll, conducted Sept. 7 to 9, surveyed 800 B.C. adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. While legalizing and promoting the use of marijuana would also lead to social harms, legalizing and handling it under a strict regulatory framework would reduce them significantly, the report found. Such a framework could include restricting outlet density and operating hours, putting limits on marijuana potency, age restrictions and maximizing taxation, Wood said. Jodie Emery, outspoken marijuana advocate and wife of Canada's jailed "Prince of Pot" Marc Emery, has long called for legalization to reduce social harm. "When you consider at least half of all Canadians want it to be legal, but only about 10 per cent use marijuana regularly, [you see] it's not that all the pot smokers want it legal so they can get high," Emery said. "It's a huge number of people who say their money is being wasted, police resources are being wasted and people's lives are being destroyed." awoo@vancouversun.com Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Gang+violence+fuelled+prohibition+report+says/5613241/story.html#ixzz1bySenk3e
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