The mayor thinks it’s time to re-examine the legalization of marijuana.
Keith Hobbs earned some indie cred last week when he spoke with Canadian band Hollerado when they were in town last Friday on their Meet the Mayors Tour. While the conversation spanned a wide range of topics – like whether Hobbs preferred The Simpsons’ Mayor Quimby or Family Guy’s Mayor West. The mayor chose West because Quimby is too corrupt.
But the band was most impressed by Hobbs’ views on marijuana. A self-proclaimed conservative and former police officer, Hobbs told the band that taxing marijuana and putting the revenue into social programming should be considered.
The mayor is quick to point out that he was expressing his own personal opinion, and not that of any official city policy.
"My comments to Hollerado were you know maybe the government should be controlling that one particular drug," Hobbs said Thursday afternoon.
"I think we need to attack things like Oxycontin, cocaine, crystal meth, all those harmful harmful drugs that are killing people instead of concentrating so much on marijuana."
During his stint on the city’s drug force, Hobbs said he saw that organized crime controls the marijuana trade. When one top dealer is arrested, another takes his or her place in a non-stop battle between police and criminals.
"The system that we’re doing right now that the officers are tied up in isn’t working. We’re not making a big dent in the drug trade," Hobbs said. "Right now organized crime is making millions and millions of dollars off of marijuana so perhaps the government could make millions and millions of dollars and start attacking poverty, start attacking the issues of homelessness and things like that. There’s a lot of revenue to be made from (marijuana)."
Taxes could be used to help fund initiatives like Shelter House’s recent effort to create a long-term housing model for chronic alcoholism where clients are actually given small doses of alcohol as part of their treatment.
While his view may seem controversial, Hobbs doesn’t regret speaking to the band about it.
"I don’t wish I hadn’t said it.. We were just having a beer and having a conversation," Hobbs said.
Hobbs and Hollerado also discussed Aboriginal and youth issues. He commends the band for raising issues that must be addressed.
"I think if you don’t talk about issues and you bury them you’re not doing any service."
To read Hollerado’s chat with Hobbs click here holleradomeetsthemayor.tumblr.com/page/2
