Pubdate: Thu, 15 Nov 2012
Source: Dawson Creek Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Glacier Community Media
Contact:  http://www.dawsoncreekdailynews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/690
Author: Allison Gibbard

PEACE 'VERY IMPORTANT SPOT' FOR CANNABIS SUPPORT

A group crusading for the decriminalization of marijuana stopped in 
the Peace Region to raise awareness of the cause.

Dana Larsen, director of Sensible B.C., spoke to supporters about the 
campaign he is running to have the province adopt the Sensible 
Policing Act. This legislation would stop police from arresting 
people for possession of marijuana.

"We want to legalize all aspects of the cannabis industry and bring 
it forward into a regulated system," explained Larsen.

Larsen believes that it's important that he visits all the regions in 
British Columbia, including the Peace Region.

"For this campaign to succeed we need the support of people in every 
electoral district in British Columbia, and if we miss just one of 
those districts, we will fail at our chances for a referendum. I 
think I have to come everywhere and this is a very important spot in 
terms of gaining support," Larsen said.

Both Dawson Creek Mayor Mike Bernier and Fort St. John Mayor Lori 
Ackerman voted against a motion at the meeting of the Union of 
British Columbia Municipalities to decriminalize marijuana.

"A lot more needs to be addressed prior to decriminalization," said 
Ackerman in a previous interview.

"How do we know how to deal with any social impact (that could arise)?"

Bernier was also vocally against the motion.

"It's not the right time to do so," he said at the time. "Some of the 
debate has been around legalizing it would shut down grow ops - no, 
it wouldn't."

Bernier said that he believed many grow-ops would continue to sell 
their wares illegally to customers in the U.S., even if the drug were 
decriminalized in B.C.

Larsen's campaign is based around the idea of decriminalizing the 
possession of pot but he says this isn't his end game.

"Our legislative starts off with just decriminalizing the position, 
but that's just the first step and we intend to go further than that 
to actually pass and regulate cannabis at the provincial level," he said.

In Larsen's vision, this would give those who are currently selling 
marijuana illegally the chance to become part of the business legitimately.

"People who are growing cannabis now would be able to participate in 
the legal aboveground industry and come aboard."

He sees the legalized pot industry looking a lot like the current 
wine industry.

"I visualize legal cannabis being similar to the modern wine 
industry, where people can produce it in their own home for 
themselves and their friends or they can open up a winery and sell it 
to others. That's the kind of model we see for cannabis," explained Larsen.

Local RCMP are currently fighting against marijuana and local grow-ops.

"We do receive tips on grow-ops that we actively follow-up on. We 
also follow up on any tips with respect to trafficking in those 
substances as well," said Sgt. Scott West.

According to Larsen he is not alone in his thoughts that cannabis 
should not be considered illegal or criminal.

"Eighty per cent of people in British Columbia think that possession 
of cannabis shouldn't be a criminal offense," he said.

Larsen believes that decriminalizing marijuana would benefit the 
Peace Region because the justice system would not waste manpower and 
resources on charging people with possession.

"Well it would save the police a lot of time and money," he said.

A report released in October from the B.C. Ministry of Justice, shows 
that possession charges increased by 88 per cent over the last 
decade, from 2,004 charges in 2002 to 3,774 charges in 2011.

This year, 31 drivers who were impaired by drugs were stopped and 
taken off the road by the RCMP in Dawson Creek.

However, legalizing marijuana is not just as simple as stopping 
arrests for possession.

"The Criminal Code would have to catch up to the decriminalization in 
terms of driving laws... and how police officers would have to 
enforce those laws," said West.

According to Larsen, if marijuana was decriminalized than it would 
give the police the opportunity to focus on substantive crimes and 
not waste their time busting pot smokers.

And Larsen is not alone in his way of thinking.

Recently two states - Washington and Colorado - voted to legalize 
possession for up to one ounce of marijuana for personal use at the 
state level.

"I think this is very good for our movement-. It's very important for 
the worldwide effort to end the global war on cannabis. America is 
really the heart of that war. They're the nation that promotes their 
global war on cannabis to other countries around the world and now 
it's starting to crumble from within," said Larsen.

He also noted that this is particularly important for Canada because 
it's very similar to what Larsen and his supporters are trying to do 
with the sensible policing act.

"Their law in Washington legalizes the possession of up to an ounce 
of cannabis right away, so that comes into play in December when all 
the initiative laws come into play. Any adults in Washington will be 
able to posses up to an ounce of cannabis with no fear of anything at 
all," explained Larsen.

Larsen says this is a positive thing because it's the same process 
that he is currently trying to get going in B.C.

"It sets a great example for us here, and gives us hope as to what 
can be done when citizens get together and write their own laws and 
use the democratic tools they have to make them come into play."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom