Pubdate: Sat, 17 Nov 2012 Source: Daily Courier, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2012 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/5NyOACet Website: http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/531 ACTIVIST BENT ON PROVINCE GOING TO POT Dana Larsen brings his decriminalize-pot message to the Okanagan next week. Larsen, a former leader of the Marijuana Party, is touring Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon to promote new legislation that would decriminalize pot possession in the province. Recent votes to legalize cannabis in the U.S. have boosted his campaign. "Reporters from around B.C. and across Canada have been calling to find out how we plan to do it in B.C. after what activists accomplished in Washington and Colorado," he said in a statement. Washington has voted to legalize possession of up to an ounce of marijuana and mandated the state to work out how to open licensed cannabis shops within a year. Larsen's legislation would decriminalize possession and set up a commission to establish the framework of a legally regulated system in B.C. Larsen is leading the Sensible B.C. campaign to hold a referendum on the Sensible Policing Act, which would direct police to stop searching, seizing and arresting people for simple possession. He's looking for volunteers to collect the 400,000 signatures needed to trigger the referendum. Lawyers at Elections B.C. have confirmed the legislation is within provincial jurisdiction and suitable for a referendum, Larsen said. He aims to launch the petitions from September to November next year. "There's no reason we can't decriminalize possession in our province," he said. Larsen, 41, was editor of Cannabis Culture magazine from 1994 to 2005. Three years later, he helped open the Vancouver Medicinal Cannabis Dispensary, located near the Vancouver Seed Bank. He ran unsuccessfully to lead the provincial NDP in early 2011. He speaks Monday in Penticton at Valley Hemp and Imports on Main Street at noon and 3 p.m. He appears at the downtown Kelowna Library at 6 p.m. Wednesday, and in Vernon Thursday at the Wesbild Centre Board Room on 43rd Avenue at 6:30 p.m. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt