Pubdate: Thu, 12 Dec 2013
Source: Georgia Straight, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 The Georgia Straight
Contact:  http://www.straight.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1084
Author: Stephen Hui
Cited: Sensible BC: http://www.sensiblebc.ca/

SENSIBLE B.C. VOWS TO RUN MARIJUANA PETITION CAMPAIGN AGAIN

THE PETITION CAMPAIGN seeking a referendum on marijuana
decriminalization in B.C. fell short by 100,000 signatures, but its
organizers are vowing to try again.

"It's worth remembering that it took two tries to get marijuana reform
on the ballot in Washington, and now they have complete legalization.
We can make this happen here in BC too, we just need to work together
a little bit harder than we did the first time around. We can do it!"
Sensible B.C. director Dana Larsen wrote on his campaign's website on
December 9.

The same day, Elections B.C. confirmed that the initiative to amend
the Police Act hadn't gathered enough signatures to force the
provincial government to consider holding a province wide initiative
vote.

In a news release, chief electoral officer Keith Archer stated that
"under the Recall and Initiative Act, signatures of at least 10
percent of the registered voters in each of the province's 85
electoral districts were required. The proponent has not submitted
sufficient signatures on the petition sheets, therefore our office has
determined that this petition does not meet the requirements of the
Act and is unsuccessful."

According to Elections B.C., 4,460 people registered as canvassers for
the initiative. The petition was issued to Larsen on September 9 and
submitted to Elections B.C. on December 9.

Sensible B.C. says it collected 210,000 signatures. Larsen claimed
that the campaign's canvassers faced harassment from B.C. Ferries
staff and Metro Vancouver Transit Police officers.

"One important next step is to launch legal challenges against those
who tried to stop us from canvassing. We will be going to court
against BC Ferries and other groups over the coming months, clearing
the path for our volunteers to avoid harassment and police calls next
time around," Larsen wrote.