Vancouver may urge Canada to legalize marijuana
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 8 (Reuters) - Vancouver, the West Coast Canadian city whose drug-treatment programs have drawn the wrath of U.S. officials, may press the federal government to legalize and tax marijuana, according to a published report on Wednesday.
Regulating marijuana as a legal substance would allow drug counselors to use the same types of programs now in place to fight alcohol abuse and tobacco smoking, according to a city proposal quoted by the Vancouver Sun.
Vancouver, with a population of about 2 million in its greater metropolitan area, already has a reputation of taking a more easy-going attitude toward marijuana use than the rest of Canada. A handful of cafes in Vancouver cater to pot smokers even though the drug remains illegal.
Marijuana-growing is a major illegal industry in British Columbia, with reports estimating it has a more than C$2 billion ($1.6 billion) annual impact on the province's economy. Much of the potent "B.C. Bud" produced in the Pacific Coast province is smuggled into the United States.
Regulating marijuana as a legal substance would allow drug counselors to use the same types of programs now in place to fight alcohol abuse and tobacco smoking, according to a city proposal quoted by the Vancouver Sun.
Vancouver, with a population of about 2 million in its greater metropolitan area, already has a reputation of taking a more easy-going attitude toward marijuana use than the rest of Canada. A handful of cafes in Vancouver cater to pot smokers even though the drug remains illegal.
Marijuana-growing is a major illegal industry in British Columbia, with reports estimating it has a more than C$2 billion ($1.6 billion) annual impact on the province's economy. Much of the potent "B.C. Bud" produced in the Pacific Coast province is smuggled into the United States.
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