The mayors of eight British Columbia cities, in a joint letter, liken marijuana enforcement to “alcohol prohibition in the United States in the 1930’s” and say that only organized crime profits from costly anti-pot measures.

The growth and export of “B.C. Bud” is an estimated $7 billion a year business in the western province oft-dubbed Canada’s “lotus land: B.C. has an estimated 20,000 grow operations, although a formal count is impossible.

“Widespread access to marijuana for our youth, grow-ops that provide funds for organized crime, and significant costs to taxpayers for enforcement are all compelling reasons to re-examine our failed approach to prohibition,” said Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, one of those signing the letter.

As if to emphasize his point, thousands of Lower Mainland teenagers gathered in downtown Vancouver for a public 4/20 smoke-in last Friday. 4/20 has become a north-of-the-border equivalent of Seattle’s Hempfest, but without the organization, cameo appearances by politicians, and careful cleanup.







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Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close Image 2 of 4 U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich speaks on the main stage. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich speaks on the main stage. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 3 of 4 U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich speaks on the main stage. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich speaks on the main stage. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 4 of 4 Mayors liken pot enforcement to Prohibition 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

Police in Vancouver stood by without making arrests. Vancouver School Board officials inadvertently boosted the turnout by scheduling a teacher training day.

The mayors’ letter was addressed to B.C. Premier Christy Clark and opposition New Democratic Party leader Adrian Dix. Dix, favored to win the next election, says he favors decriminalization.

The Canadian federal government, like its U.S. counterpart, has embarked on what the mayors called “an endless stream of anti-marijuana initiatives.”

An estimated 30,000 Canadians are arrested each year for simple possession, 50,000 for marijuana related crime. A total of 1.5 million Canadians have a record for drug-related crime.

“Based on the evidence before us, we know that laws that aim to control the marijuana industry are ineffective and, like alcohol prohibition in the United States in the 1920’s, have led to violent unintended consequences,” the mayors wrote.

The mayors said marijuana should be regulated and taxed, a position similar to that of Initiative 502 on Washington’s November ballot. The eight mayors added:

“It is time to tax and strictly regulate marijuana under a public health framework. Regulating marijuana would allow the government to rationally address the health concerns of marijuana, raise government tax revenue and eliminate the huge profits from the marijuana industry that flow directly to crime.”

A CBC News investigation, aired on Thursday, exposed the increasing use of barter payment for “B.C. Bud.” Canadian-grown marijuana gets traded for cocaine or crack, which is then sold in British Columbia.