Shaker shock Metchosin earthquake house opens new dialogue Page A6
NEWS: No shortage of bacon here /A3 MARATHON: Part three in a series /A7 BUSINESS: A few words from the chamber /A11
GOLDSTREAM Wednesday, October 3, 2012
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Politicians stir the pot Charla Huber and Tom Fletcher News staff
No, pot’s not legal yet. But with a raise of hands, B.C. local politicians passed a motion to ask the federal government to decriminalize marijuana. The motion passed at the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities convention, Sept. 26. Marijuana laws are held at the federal level. “It was about 70 per cent of hands in favour, it wasn’t close. If it was close it would go to electronic voting,” said Metchosin Coun. Moralea Milne. “I would hope UBCM takes it to another level. We don’t really have any jurisdiction.” At last year’s UBCM convention Milne spoke up on her support of decriminalization and after overwhelming support, she brought the motion to Metchosin council and to the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities. “The war on drugs hasn’t been a success,” Milne said. “A lot of things we enjoy cause harm … We don’t throw people in jail for eating potato chips.” If marijuana was decriminalized Milne said the drug could be regulated similar to alcohol. “Marijuana does lead children to come in contact with a criminal element, they have to buy it from them,” Milne said. “There will still be organized crime, but this is the first way to deal with it instead of sticking our heads in the sand.” Milne, 62, said she hasn’t smoked marijuana in 40 years and if it’s decriminalized she wouldn’t start smoking again. “What I really enjoy is a walk in the woods or a martini. I can have a martini because it is legal,” Milne said. “When alcohol was illegal the crime rate jumped, when it became legal it dropped. You don’t see Labatt and Molson having a turf war over market share.” After the motion was read and Milne spoke on the subject the floor was opened to the politicians to speak both for and against the issue before voting. Okanagan-Similkameen area director Tom Siddon, a former federal cabinet minister, said his local police reject decriminalization. PLEASE SEE: UBCM delegates debate merits of legal marijuana, Page A5
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Bulldog battle Belmont Bulldog Taylor Spenner takes down Griffins’ (Eric Hambers secondary) quarterback during a 49-6 victory on Friday, Sept. 28. Sam Varao led touchdowns in the first quarter. Others touchdowns came from Jordan Worth, Cody Wist, Darcy O’Conner, Torin Keoughan and Derien Hunchak. With five more varsity regular season games this year, the Bulldogs play the Ballenas Whalers this Friday at Goudy Field, with junior varsity kicking off at 2 p.m. and varsity at 5 p.m.
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