Pubdate: Thu, 15 Nov 2012
Source: Alaska Highway News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Glacier Interactive Media
Contact:  http://www.alaskahighwaynews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/716
Author: Allison Gibbard

LET'S TALK CANNABIS

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 police are currently fighting against marijuana and local
grow-ops. However, the RCMP has a policy against commenting on pending
or prospective legislation.

"As the national police force of Canada we provide expert input to
lawmakers when requested and in specific capacities, but we do not
blur the line between law enforcement and legislators," said Cpl. Jodi
Shelkie of the Fort St. John RCMP.

"Like every community in our province, Fort St. John has serious drug
issues. Fort St. John RCMP strives to identify, target and apprehend
drug dealers and suppliers. As well, we work at educating our youth on
the dangers of drug use."

However, 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.

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: Matt