[Yogi]

Cops & prison guards et al get locked up in separate wings, ala protective custody, or in militaty prisons. To do otherwise is almost a certain death sentence.

[Curtman]

http://stoptheviolencebc.org/2012/10/31/public-opinion-reaches-tipping-point/

$1:

Public Opinion Reaches Tipping Point

An Increasing Majority of British Columbians Support Ending Cannabis Prohibition
New poll shows 75% support taxation and regulation of cannabis; Public Health Association of BC latest to join Stop the Violence BC coalition

Vancouver, B.C. [November 1, 2012] — A new Angus Reid poll released today overwhelmingly shows that British Columbians favour moving away from cannabis prohibition toward a system of regulation and taxation, and that lawmakers continue to lag far behind public opinion on revamping cannabis laws in B.C.

The survey, conducted between October 22 and 24, found that 75% of B.C. respondents support the taxation and regulation of cannabis over chasing and arresting cannabis producers and sellers, a jump of six percentage points from just one year ago.

“These results reveal a quite remarkable and growing dissatisfaction among British Columbians with the status quo and an eagerness for policymakers to pursue an entirely new approach to cannabis policy,” said Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion. “These beliefs cut across political, social and regional lines. I can’t think of any other issue where the laws on the books are inconsistent with the wishes of three-quarters of British Columbians.”

[CanadianJeff]

Commenting a bit late here but I'm unsurprised at this story. The US has already proven that the more people you lock up for minor offenses the bigger the gangs get from prison recruitment.

If we would stop treating all criminals like equals and start using rehab or other methods on minor offenders we wouldn't have this kind of crazy result.

Part of the reason people also join gangs in prison is for protection which gets worse when you overcrowd a prison since people without space get a tad bit irritable.

One of those big things I vastly find myself in disagreement with most conservatives on.

[Zipperfish]

Gunnair Gunnair:

None of this would be happening if pot were legal.

Nonsense. This is clearly caused by global warming.

[Gunnair]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

Gunnair Gunnair:

None of this would be happening if pot were legal.

Nonsense. This is clearly caused by global warming.

That's some black and white thinking you have there.

[bootlegga]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

Gunnair Gunnair:

None of this would be happening if pot were legal.

Nonsense. This is clearly caused by global warming.

[Freakinoldguy]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

Gunnair Gunnair:

None of this would be happening if pot were legal.

Nonsense. This is clearly caused by global warming.

Finally someone figured it out.

[Curtman]

The Year in Review: The time for leadership is now

$1:

In October 2011, the Stop the Violence BC coalition – comprising researchers from B.C.’s four leading universities and some of the province’s foremost experts in law enforcement, medicine, public health, and the law – released its first report, “Breaking the Silence.” The report launched a public discussion regarding the failure of cannabis prohibition to suppress B.C.’s massive cannabis market and the role that existing cannabis policies play in threatening community health and safety in B.C. Since then, Stop the Violence BC has been advocating for a strictly regulated cannabis market for adult use under a public health model as a strategy to wage economic war on organized crime and to better control the province’s high rates of cannabis use.

...

The devastating impact of cannabis prohibition is clear. Over the span of a decade (1998 to 2008) the proportion of gang-related homicides increased by 48%, leaving a body count of 415. In 2009 alone, the RMCP reported 276 incidents of drive-by shootings. This bloodshed, and risk of further bloodshed, has not served as a deterrent for gang activity. Since 2003, the number of gangs in B.C. has more than doubled, with 188 gangs active across the province today.

...

Overall, 75% support the taxation and regulation of cannabis over chasing and arresting cannabis producers and sellers, an increase of six percentage points from 2011 (see Figure 1). Interestingly, 74% of residents would be comfortable living in a society where adult cannabis consumption was taxed and legally regulated under a public health framework, an increase of four percentage points from 2011. Although some politicians have been supportive of decriminalization rather than regulation and taxation, at 62%, fewer B.C. residents support decriminalizing marijuana use than the proportion that support outright taxation and regulation