VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – A former top cop in BC says regulating the sale of marijuana stateside could mean our streets will be a lot safer.
    
A vote on Tuesday in three states including Washington, Oregon, and Colorado could legalize marijuana.

Former solicitor general Kash Heed says if that happens in Washington state, it could lead to a reduction in crime in BC.

“Gangsters wouldn’t have a market in various states to sell their product, and in all likelihood they won’t be able to generate the profits to purchase cocaine and guns and bring it back and cause more havoc here,” Heed insists.

“It’ll cut the legs off of a lot of our gangs and organized crime groups that use Washington state, Oregon, and Colorado as their market to distribute marijuana from BC.”

Whatever the result, Heed is hoping the vote will put pressure on governments to do the same thing here, as he notes Canada is way behind when it comes to marijuana policy.

“I’ve read these American initiatives and  I think they are very pragmatic, very contemporary.  It’s something that we can learn from. Regardless of what happens, we have to move forward.  With the situation here, we’re the ones especially here in BC that have to deal with the consequences of marijuana prohibition, [and how] it traces back to roots of a lot of the gang violence,” he insists.