Pubdate: Wed, 06 Mar 2013
Source: Morning Star, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 The Morning Star
Contact:  http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1352
Author: David M. Kennedy

ACTION REQUIRED

Cities and municipalities struggle to pay wages and benefits for
needed policing services.

Detox and treatment centres, such as Crossroads, which provides
essential residential services for the whole of the Okanagan, struggle
to exist.

Is there a common cause here?

Because of our policy that criminalizes the use of substances like
marijuana we keep police costs up as they struggle to enforce what is
unenforceable. Because current drug policy sets up a black market and
gang warfare that drives up enforcement costs, we do not have enough
funds for prevention, harm reduction and treatment of addictions, i.e.
Crossroads in Kelowna.

If we change the policy and put cannabis under a legally regulated,
taxed, and public health control model, we decrease the need for
police staffing, and we have a source of income to pay for needed
treatment centres like Crossroads.

Police themselves admit that about 50 per cent of their work is
drug-related. A gang-related murder costs us $1 million.

Richard Rolke, in his column, says, "Broader societal issues of drugs,
mental health and housing rest with senior government. As long as
Ottawa and Victoria sit on their hands, there will always be gaps to
service."

We here in our community are the ones who are paying for policy that
is failing. If you want your taxes lowered, and you want adequate drug
and alcohol treatment services in the Okanagan, send letters to your
MP and MLA and complain about what you are having to pay because of
misguided drug policy.

Just because it is a federal issue does not mean we are
helpless.

We are also being let down by our provincial government, which chooses
to turn a blind eye to the problem, and does not push Ottawa towards
change.

Please check out www.stoptheviolencebc.org

David M. Kennedy

Vernon
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MAP posted-by: Matt