Pubdate: Wed, 17 Jul 2013
Source: Goldstream Gazette (Victoria, CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Black Press
Contact:  http://www.vicnews.com/eeditions/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1291

MARIJUANA VOTE NOT A SURE THING

B.C. is famed around the world for the quality of its marijuana, and 
people here buy, sell, grow and consume it mostly without fear of 
serious consequences from the law.

Elections B.C. has approved Dana Larsen's drive for a referendum on 
decriminalizing marijuana possession - a reminder that pot remains 
illegal, and unlike our neighbour in Washington state, our province 
and country remain far away from laws that take drug profits away 
from criminals.

Any move to shake up drugs laws in this country is seen as a good 
thing. But pot smokers shouldn't have a victory toke yet - it's not 
clear this referendum will even get off the ground, and, if it does, 
if the province will give it the time of day.

Similar to the ultimately successful drive to oust the HST, Larsen 
and his supporters need to collect signatures of at least 10 per cent 
of elected voters in each of the 85 ridings.

The gross mishandling of the HST by the Liberals made it easy to whip 
up voter anger, and voter turnout. Many people in B.C. may support 
laxer laws around possessing marijuana (or buying, selling and 
growing for that matter), but the issue is unlikely to inflame the 
same passions as a government perceived as dishonest and shifting tax 
burdens from business to citizens.

The drive to create a marijuana referendum could help to get 
voting-adverse young adults more engaged in the political life of 
B.C. At the risk of glib stereotyping, hopefully the referendum 
advocates stay focused and organized, and aren't smoking what they 
are trying to legalize.

If the referendum were to succeed anywhere in Canada, it should be 
B.C. But even if Larsen and his allies win, the victory will be 
non-binding and symbolic - the B.C. Liberals don't have to support the vote.

B.C. may have a permissive pot culture, but this isn't the U.S., 
where, for better or worse, voter propositions are binding. And 
unlike Canadian provinces, states like Washington and Colorado will 
defy their federal government based on the will of the people.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom