The District of North Vancouver Council has invited a number of Stop the Violence BC Coalition members to present to council and the public regarding implications of cannabis policy reform on Thursday, March 7th, 2013 at 6:30pm.
Cannabis regulation and our communities: A look at what policy reform means for BC
From Mayor Richard Walton: All British Columbia communities have been concerned about the community health and safety consequences resulting from the illegal cannabis industry. Various levels of government, including at the municipal level, have made successive investments in enforcing anti-cannabis laws and yet illegal grow operations have continued to proliferate and studies suggest young people have easier access to cannabis than alcohol and cigarettes. Recently, there have been high-level calls from legal, law enforcement and public health experts that alternative approaches may better protect community health and safety.
In light of these on-going discussions, a recent Union of BC Municipalities call to cannabis policy reform, and two successful legalization initiatives in the United States in 2012, Mayor Richard Walton and Councillor Lisa Muri invite you to attend a public panel discussion regarding the illegal cannabis industry in British Columbia and why many experts are calling for a new approach.
As public servants and citizens we are united in our concern for public health and safety in the region and across the province. We hope you will join us in considering options for how we may address these issues as they relate to cannabis policy on Thursday, March 7th at 6:30pm in the District of North Vancouver Council Chambers.
Speakers include:
- Professor Werner Antweiller, Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business
- Hon. Kash Heed, Member of the Legislative Assembly of B.C. and long-time law enforcement official
- Geoff Plant Q.C., lawyer and former Attorney-General of B.C.
- Dr. Evan Wood, Professor of Medicine and Canadian Research Chair in Inner City Medicine at the University of British Columbia
Time, date, and location:
When: Thursday March 7, 2013 at 6:30pm
Where: District of North Vancouver Council Chambers, 355 West Queens Road
Major Neill Franklin – Neill Franklin is a former Commander for the Bureau of Drug and Criminal enforcement and the Education and Training Division for Maryland State Police. Through his work with Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, Neil has worked to raise awareness about the failures of prohibition and is motivated by the high number of civilian and police officer lives lost in the war on drugs.
Damon Barrett – Damon Barrett is a Senior Analyst with Harm Reduction International and leads their human rights program. A member of the UK delegation to the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs from 2008-2011, Damon has worked to raise the profile of drug policies at the UN Human Rights Council and through other UN mechanisms. Damon is also a co-founder of the International Centre on Human Rights and Drug Policy and an Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal on Human Rights and Drug Policy.
