Pubdate: Fri, 08 Mar 2013
Source: Burnaby Now, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.burnabynow.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1592
Author: Cayley Dobie
Cited: Sensible BC: http://www.sensiblebc.ca

SENSIBLE B.C. CANNABIS FORUM COMES TO BURNABY

Sensible B.C.'s campaign to decriminalize marijuana is coming to SFU 
March 14 and it's bringing a group of panelists that are sure to 
impress, including Burnaby's own Mayor Derek Corrigan.

The forum, which is the fifth of fifteen scheduled events, is 
expected to be yet another lively discussion on the ever-popular 
illegal substance.

"It's been a terrific show of support for cannabis reform here in 
B.C.," said Philippe Lucas, a former Victoria city councillor and one 
of five members of the campaign's advisory board.

And Burnaby residents can expect no less, especially with Corrigan on 
the panel.

In a previous interview with the Now, Corrigan voiced his personal 
support of putting an end to pot prohibition in B.C. He, along with 
seven other mayors, sent an open letter to Premier Christy Clark and 
B.C. NDP leader, Adrian Dix, in April of 2012 calling for the 
regulation of marijuana.

"I thought the fact that we had seen a coalition of ex-mayors, and 
ex-attorneys general and health professionals taking a stand on this 
issue really meant we had to take it to the next step, which is 
elected officials taking a position," Corrigan said.

And Lucas couldn't agree more.

Sensible B.C. hopes that the forums will show politicians that the 
public is behind them when it comes to marijuana reform and will 
support them on this issue.

"Cannabis reform is going to gain (them) support and it's going to 
gain them votes," he said.

And with a provincial election looming on the horizon, votes are 
going to become especially important to politicians looking to keep 
or gain a seat in the legislature.

Much like speed limits, marijuana laws are certainly not the most 
popular in the province, Lucas said, and now that Colorado and 
Washington have legalized marijuana, there isn't any reason why B.C. 
shouldn't do the same.

"For so long we heard from the federal, and even some provincial and 
municipal, governments that we couldn't even contemplate changing our 
cannabis laws because the US would never tolerate it," he said. "That 
discussion is out of the window and the last thing we want to be is 
falling behind."

The discussion on the table at the Sensible B.C. forums is how 
current laws should be changed and what role the government will play 
in regulating, and ultimately, taxing marijuana.

"It's no longer a matter of whether or not we should change our 
cannabis policy but what that change is going to look like," he said.

So far, Lucas is pleased with how the forums have been running. From 
strong turnouts to engaging panelists, the response from the public 
has caused most forums to run longer than scheduled.

"We're leaving about half the time at these panels to engage the 
audience in the discussion," he said. "People have been very keen in 
the discussion."

Sensible B.C.'s forum at SFU is from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Shrum Science 
Centre (SSC C9002) on Thursday March 14.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom