Mayor Wendal Milne appears to be holding firm to his election promise. He is holding a tight rein on finances at the district despite the frequent requests for contributions for events such as film projects and Juno Award bids.
The Economic Development Commission and Mayor Milne decided to forego the contribution of $12,000 for the Juno Award bid. Victoria is going ahead with the bid and other municipalities closer to the city are also contributing. Sooke is too far from the maddening crowd to reap any perceivable benefit. Good common sense decision.
Other decisions made recently include the signing of a motion to support decriminalization of marijuana. Decriminalization is different than legalization. Laws will still be in place to control consumption of pot and under-age youth will not be legally allowed to partake of the herb. Alcohol causes more pain and anguish than marijuana ever has and a sensible user does not become addicted anymore than a social drinker becomes an alcoholic. There are regulations that need to be in place and education must be a high priority. Mayor Milne and council have to be commended for taking a common sense approach to a problem. The war on drugs isn’t working — never has. It has been a obsession spawned by the United States filtered up to Canada. We don’t need our young or old people acquiring criminal records for inhaling.
Tax revenues from marijuana sales could be used to fund our over-burdened health care system. Perhaps if some folks had help with their psychological problems they wouldn’t be turning to misuse of any drug, be it alcohol or marijuana.