Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
In November 2001, Kash Heed stood before the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs and outlined why his police department had essentially stopped arresting people for marijuana possession.
"It was de facto decriminalization," the retired commanding officer of the Vancouver police drug squad told the Straight. "I took a lot of heat from the RCMP for doing that."
Published in September 2002, the committee's final report is a serious document more than 800 pages long.
"In our opinion, Canadian society is ready for a responsible policy of cannabis regulation," it concludes. "A regulatory system for cannabis should permit, specifically: more effective targeting of illegal traffic and a reduction in the role played by organized crime."
Thirteen years later, the committee's recommendations remain ignored and the report is all but forgotten.
As for Heed, who also served as B.C. solicitor general, he said he's come to see problems with the position he took back then in favour of decriminalization; mainly, that it doesn't go far enough.
Heed explained decriminalization would put an end to police busting people for smoking a joint. But he quickly added the illegal supply of marijuana would remain unaddressed.
"We'll continue to have the murders, the kidnappings, the home invasions," he said. "All of the violence that's related to that black market will continue."
"Decriminalization will do nothing to deal with that aspect of it," Heed concluded. "Decriminalization is good business for organized crime."
Ahead of this October's federal election, two out of three leading political parties have pledged to reform laws concerning the prohibition of recreational marijuana. The New Democrats' Thomas Mulcair has promised to pursue that policy criticized by Heed, arguing decriminalization is the best first step for marijuana reform and one that can occur while the issue receives further study. Meanwhile, the Liberal party led by Justin Trudeau has said it wants to fully legalize and regulate the drug.
In separate interviews, a number of prominent advocates for marijuana reform told the Straight they have nearly as many concerns about decriminalization as they do about the current system of prohibition.
While some aspects of decriminalization are similar to legalization, activists called attention to the most obvious difference between the two: the space it leaves for organized crime and the violence that follows.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Advocates Warn Plans For Decriminalization Would Leave Organized Crime Intact
Author: Travis Lupick
Contact: Email The Straight
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: The Straight
"It was de facto decriminalization," the retired commanding officer of the Vancouver police drug squad told the Straight. "I took a lot of heat from the RCMP for doing that."
Published in September 2002, the committee's final report is a serious document more than 800 pages long.
"In our opinion, Canadian society is ready for a responsible policy of cannabis regulation," it concludes. "A regulatory system for cannabis should permit, specifically: more effective targeting of illegal traffic and a reduction in the role played by organized crime."
Thirteen years later, the committee's recommendations remain ignored and the report is all but forgotten.
As for Heed, who also served as B.C. solicitor general, he said he's come to see problems with the position he took back then in favour of decriminalization; mainly, that it doesn't go far enough.
Heed explained decriminalization would put an end to police busting people for smoking a joint. But he quickly added the illegal supply of marijuana would remain unaddressed.
"We'll continue to have the murders, the kidnappings, the home invasions," he said. "All of the violence that's related to that black market will continue."
"Decriminalization will do nothing to deal with that aspect of it," Heed concluded. "Decriminalization is good business for organized crime."
Ahead of this October's federal election, two out of three leading political parties have pledged to reform laws concerning the prohibition of recreational marijuana. The New Democrats' Thomas Mulcair has promised to pursue that policy criticized by Heed, arguing decriminalization is the best first step for marijuana reform and one that can occur while the issue receives further study. Meanwhile, the Liberal party led by Justin Trudeau has said it wants to fully legalize and regulate the drug.
In separate interviews, a number of prominent advocates for marijuana reform told the Straight they have nearly as many concerns about decriminalization as they do about the current system of prohibition.
While some aspects of decriminalization are similar to legalization, activists called attention to the most obvious difference between the two: the space it leaves for organized crime and the violence that follows.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Advocates Warn Plans For Decriminalization Would Leave Organized Crime Intact
Author: Travis Lupick
Contact: Email The Straight
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: The Straight
