Pubdate: Wed, 31 Oct 2012
Source: Valley Voice, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 The Valley Voice
Contact:  http://www.valleyvoice.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1388
Author: Jan McMurray
Cited: Sensible BC: http://www.sensiblebc.ca/

DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED IN SILVERTON

The Sensible BC Campaign, working towards a referendum on the
decriminalization of possession of marijuana in BC, kicked off its
provincial tour in Silverton on October 3.

"I'm inspired by this turnout - 20 people came out on short notice in
Silverton," said Dana Larsen, who is heading up the campaign.

Larsen had scheduled Nelson for his first tour date, but squeezed in a
session beforehand at the Cup and Saucer in Silverton when invited by
Silverton resident Leah Main.

The referendum, following the same process as the HST referendum,
Decriminalization of marijuana campaign launched in Silverton will
take place in BC in September 2014 if enough people sign up to support
it.

At least 10 percent of registered voters in every provincial riding,
or 400,000 people, must sign a petition in order for the referendum to
go ahead.

Larsen said he feels very sure that a referendum on the
decriminalization of the possession of cannabis would pass. "There is
lots of support in both the NDP and Liberal caucuses," he said.
"People are confused about what the terms 'decriminalization' and
'legalization' mean, but calling for the decriminalization of
possession is something everyone agrees on. Over 75 percent of people
in BC agree. The hard part is getting 400,000 signatures."

People can sign up on the Sensible BC website, or on paper copies of
the Sensible BC Registration Form in circulation in communities.
Signing up now is like pre-registering. The formal collection of
signatures will occur from August to October 2013. Everyone who signs
up now will be contacted when the time comes to sign up officially.

"Most advocacy groups feel the law should change. But we are the only
group that has developed our own legislation," said Larsen. He said
they worked with Elections BC to ensure the legislation is valid.

Although marijuana is illegal under the federal Controlled Drugs and
Substances Act, the Province contracts the police and therefore has
the power to direct them. "This legislation tells the Province to tell
the police not to search or seize or detain or arrest anyone for
possession," he said. "For marijuana to be fully legal, you have to
deal with the federal government - but remember, alcohol prohibition
was done at the provincial level."

The legislation is called the Sensible Policing Act, and it has three
parts.

The first part is an amendment to the provincial Police Act that
directs police not to use any resources or take any action at all in
cases of simple possession of marijuana by adults.

Police will still be able to act in cases of possession for the
purpose of trafficking.

The second part deals with youth, by adding cannabis to the section of
the BC Liquor Control Act that covers minors in possession of alcohol.
This authorizes police to seize cannabis from a minor and to issue a
ticket, exactly as it is with alcohol.

The third part calls upon the federal government to remove cannabis
from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, so BC can tax and
regulate cannabis like alcohol and tobacco. This part also mandates
the BC government to do a study about how it would tax and regulate
cannabis.

Although rumour has it that simple possession of marijuana is
overlooked by police in BC, Larsen was armed with statistics showing
the contrary.

He said over 3,500 British Columbians were charged with simple
possession of marijuana last year, which is close to double the rate
of charges of any other province. And the rate of possession charges
has increased dramatically over the years - by 60 percent between 2007
and 2011.

Another rumour dispelled by Larsen is that the US would never allow
this to happen in Canada. "Many states are way ahead of us," he said.

Larsen said cannabis has been illegal since the 1920s, and "it's high
time to change that."

"The time is right," he said. "Public opinion polls show that the
majority of people want this. The HST campaign showed us this can be
done."

Main added that the majority vote in favour of the decriminalization
of marijuana at the recent Union of BC Municipalities convention was a
big step forward, as well.

Larsen is touring the province until the end of January, and will
launch a second tour in March.
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MAP posted-by: Matt