VANCOUVER -- Eight B.C. mayors are supporting the push to tax and regulate marijuana, signing a letter sent Thursday to Premier Christy Clark and provincial NDP and Conservative leaders Adrian Dix and John Cummins, respectively.

Citing concerns of gang violence surrounding the local dope trade, it is signed by the respective mayors of Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, Armstrong, Vernon, Lake Country, Enderby and Metchosin.

"We recognize and fully understand public dissatisfaction with today's marijuana laws. Therefore, we will be recommending that the Union of B.C. Municipalities support a motion in favour of taxation and regulation of marijuana," the letter reads.

So far, only Dix has publicly supported decriminalization.