On Tuesday, Americans headed to the polls to vote. And while the presidential election drew the largest headlines, the passing of Washington state's Initiative 502 and Colorado's Amendment 64, which both call for the legalization and taxation of the adult recreational use of marijuana, could have enormous implications in British Columbia.
British Columbians are affected by organized crime groups that control the massive marijuana industry. These gangs produce and export marijuana to American consumers, including residents of Washington state. In turn, hundreds of millions of dollars in cash, cocaine, and guns are brought back into the province, which fuels the growing gang activity and related violence threatening our communities.
Economists have estimated the local market to be worth up to $7 billion annually, and these gangs are viciously competing for the revenue they generate from the marijuana-export industry. As someone who has spent more than three decades in law enforcement, I have witnessed the futility of continuing with marijuana prohibition. It's an industry that gangs are more than willing to kill for control over.
By voting "Yes" for 502 and 64, these states have elected to take the production and distribution of marijuana out of the hands of these organized criminals. Instead, they will take control of a market that is estimated to represent millions of dollars in tax revenue. This is money taken directly from the hands of organized criminals, and instead put into health care, drug abuse treatment, and education.
The revenue expected from regulating and taxing marijuana use in these states doesn't even take into consideration the hundreds of millions of dollars that will be freed up in criminal justice costs, representing money and resources that can be redirected to law enforcement efforts that actually protect community health and safety.
British Columbians agree with this approach. According to a recent Angus Reid poll, 75 per cent of B.C. respondents support the taxation and regulation of cannabis over chasing and arresting cannabis producers and sellers.
Momentum for change is growing. Washington and Colorado voters have sent a clear message: treating marijuana use as a crime has failed. British Columbians also overwhelmingly recognize that marijuana prohibition has failed. Nevertheless, the question is: When will our politicians catch up?
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$13.7 Billion Saved On Prohibition Enforcement Costs
The government would save an estimated $13.7 billion on prohibition enforcement costs and tax revenue by legalizing marijuana, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/17/economists-marijuana-legalization_n_1431840.html" target="_hplink">according to a paper endorsed by 300 economists</a>.
Marijuana Inmates Cost Prisons $1 Billion A Year
Inmates incarcerated on marijuana-related charges cost U.S. prisons $1 billion annually, according to a 2007 study, <a href="http://www.alternet.org/rights/47815/" target="_hplink">AlterNet reports</a>.
Marijuana Prohibition Costs Taxpayers $41.8 Billion A Year
Including lost tax revenues, a 2007 study found that enforcing the marijuana prohibition costs tax payers $41.8 billion annually, <a href="http://www.forbes.com/2007/09/29/marijuana-laws-work-biz-cx_qh_1001pot.html" target="_hplink">Forbes</a> reports.
California Marijuana Crop Worth $14 Billion A Year
Marijuana growers account for <a href="http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1884956,00.html" target="_hplink">$14 billion a year in sales in California</a>, making it the state's most valuable cash crop, TIME reports.
Illegal Marijuana A $36 Billion A Year Industry
It's estimated that <a href="http://madamenoire.com/106691/capitalizing-on-the-billion-dollar-marijuana-industry/" target="_hplink">illegal marijuana is a $36 billion industry</a> in the U.S., MadameNoire reports.
One-Third Of Americans Think Legalization Would Boost The Economy
About one-third of Americans say they think <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/20/legalizing-pot-will-not-b_n_544526.html?" target="_hplink">legalizing marijuana would boost the economy</a>, according to a 2010 poll by Associated Press-CNBC.
Dispensary Ads Boost Newspapers' Revenue
The <em>Sacramento News and Review</em> saw a big boost in ad revenue when it offered advertising space for more than 60 medical marijuana dispensaries, enabling the publication to hire three additional employees, <a href="http://www.news10.net/news/local/article/144285/2/Marijuana-ads-mean-big-money-for-weekly-newspaper" target="_hplink">according to News 10</a>.
Mendocino Zip Tie Program Raised $600,000
Mendocino County, California's zip tie program aimed at regulating medical marijuana growing by charging permits for each plant raised <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/09/medical-marijuana-license-mendocino_n_1193198.html" target="_hplink">$600,000 in revenue in for the Sheriff's department</a> in 2011.
Oakland Raised More Than $1 Million In Marijuana Tax Revenue
The city of Oakland, California raised $1.3 million in tax revenue from medical marijuana dispensaries in 2011, 3 percent of the city's total business tax revenue, according to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/12/us/cities-turn-to-a-crop-for-cash-medical-marijuana.html?_r=1" target="_hplink"><em>The New York Times</em></a>.
Colorado Pulls In $5 Million From Pot Sales Tax
In 2011, Colorado pulled in $5 milllion in sales taxes from medical marijuana businesses, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/12/us/cities-turn-to-a-crop-for-cash-medical-marijuana.html?_r=1" target="_hplink"><em>The New York Times</em></a> reports.
Legal Marijuana Could Be $100 Billion Industry
Economist Stephen Easton estimated in 2010 that <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/debateroom/archives/2010/03/legalize_mariju.html" target="_hplink">legal marijuana could be a $45 to $100 billion industry</a>, <em>Bloomberg Businessweek</em> reports.
Each weGrow Center Creates 75 Jobs
When hydroponic marijuana growing supply chain weGrow opens a new store it <a href="http://aznow.biz/small-biz/wegrow-phoenix-opens-cultivates-opportunities-arizona)" target="_hplink">creates an estimated 75 jobs</a> indirectly, according to AZBusiness Magazine.
Majority Of States Support Taxing Marijuana
More than <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/20/legalizing-pot-will-not-b_n_544526.html?" target="_hplink">60 percent of states agree with taxing marijuana</a>, according to a poll by Associated Press-CNBC.
Marijuana Affects Workplace Motivation
A Norwegian study 25 years in the making came to the shocking conclusion that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/24/marijuana-use-has-adverse-affect-workplace-motivation_n_1300278.html?" target="_hplink">frequent marijuana use lowers employees' motivation at work</a>.
More Than 1,000 Dispensaries In California
There could be more than 1,000 medical marijuana dispensaries operating in California, <a href="http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/cms/story/detail/how_does_your_pot_grow/8070/" target="_hplink"><em>Pasadena Weekly</em></a> reported in 2009.
Denver Counts More Dispensaries Than Starbucks
As of July 2011, the city of Denver <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/06/medical-marijuana-denver-starbucks_n_891796.html" target="_hplink">counted more medical marijuana dispensaries than Starbucks franchises</a>.
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this is better for the average person than alcohol and the government can make a bundle off it.
even the nazi military dudes have to agree with this one.
How about the suffering you, yourself, and your enforcement cronies have inflict on marijuana users over the past thirty years? And NOW you want to just turn the corner and get on board with it?
Not so fast, thug boy. You and your vicious co-conspirators have some karmic debt to pay for your abuse of your fellow human beings by persecuting, torturing and jailing them.
All is NOT forgiven just 'cause you've seen the light at last.
You must do penance!
Your complaint should be made to the politicians , not a police officer who is only trying to do the job he was hired for .
Seems to me you are the one who thinks he can scoff at laws and then not face punishment for doing so . Get off your a-- and work at getting the laws changed .
Further evidence is his line "This is money taken directly from the hands of organized criminals, and instead put into health care, drug abuse treatment, and education." Regulating & Taxing alcohol's why illegal moonshine's & regular alcohal is still successfully distilled, bootlegged & sold just like cigarettes, Reality TV folks! Organized Crime's still acceptionaly interested in these last two, there not going to let go of a peice of 7 Billion a Year!
Heed & the involved States are just encouraging O.C.s when there kicking ass in Sate & Federal Lands on the west coast! The Municipal, State & Federal Law Enforcments using everything from night vision goggles to Black Hack Helicopters to satellite based plant identification to fight them.
Pots been counted as the American Drug Cartels biggest cross boarder (Mexican/US) cash crop! Financing the worlds 2nd largest Narco Terrorist (after Afghanistan) & most of the others running behind him isn't something I'd think someone with 30 years in Law Enforcement would sanction let alone suport at any level!
I do not smoke marijuana, but I recognize that it is a relatively harmless recreational drug with far fewer negative health effects than either alcohol or tobacco. Besides this, we live in a free society and as such, we should be permitted to take whatever drugs we wish since a person's usage of drugs does not infringe on anyone else's rights or security of person.
To think that the Americans, who were the first to criminalize drugs and instituted the global War on Drugs should be further ahead of Canada on the legalization issue is appalling. Canada has the highest proportion of marijuana smokers in the world among developed countries, and the second-highest among all countries (only being surpassed by Papua New Guinea and Swaziland).
Yeti our government chooses to ignore these facts and many others which support legalization, and stick to their ideologically-driven support of continued persecution of recreational drug users. Meanwhile, getting wasted on alcohol is totally acceptable and legal, and destroying your health with cigarette smoke is a massive tax windfall for the provinces.
First ther is a good deal of evidence that pot smoking , particularly at an early age , can do considerable damage to a person's ability to absorb and process information at the time of smoking and later in life .
Secondly , freedom to access " whatever drugs we we wish since a person's usage of drugs does not infringe on " anyone else's rights or security of person " is not factual . The news is full of incidents of crimes committed against individuals for the purpose of acquiring money to buy drugs , or injury to people because the perpetrator is in some kind o drug induced state .
I to agree withe legalization of cannabis for personal use , but I draw the line at other drugs which have been proven to be seriously detrimental and addictive . Furthermore , I am damn mad that tax money has to be spent to to try and repair the damage done by the use of addictive drugs . There has to be some personal responsibility involved .
Would you agree it is hypocritical for them to do that while heroin is illegal here?
Good for you Wash St... Unfortunately due to our own 1950's right wing federal Conservative Party gov't, it will be some time before Canada achieves the same. Apparently we are about 60 years behind you on this one; at least in the eyes of the Cons...
so big deal....its like ontario saying cocaine is legal when the federals will arrest you for it....
Sure they could go bust a couple people for having Cannabis, but do you really think that it makes any sense at all to spend $80,000+ to keep someone in federal prison for Cannabis possession? It didnt make sense before, it doesnt make sense now. And if the feds dont get help from the state and local cops, they're going to have a difficult time enforcing it at all.