Pubdate: Wed, 24 Jul 2013
Source: Victoria News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Black Press
Contact: http://www.vicnews.com/contact_us/
Website: http://www.vicnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1267
Author: Judith Stamps
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n344/a03.html
Cited: Sensible BC: http://www.sensiblebc.ca

PLENTY OF CONSEQUENCES FOR B.C. MARIJUANA USERS

Re: Marijuana vote not a sure thing (Our View, July 17)

This week the editorial staff at Victoria News draws our attention to 
the Sensible B.C. initiative. Coming this fall to a province near 
you, its aim is to collect enough B.C. voter signatures to justify a 
cannabis referendum.

I am happy that the staff call this initiative a good thing. I am 
puzzled by their choice of focus: it may never fly; it may be 
symbolic at best. But I am astonished by their claim that in B.C. we 
"buy, sell, grow, and consume without fear of serious consequences."

If only it were true. British Columbians are charged for simple 
possession at double the rate of any other province - up over 88 per 
cent in the last decade according to the Vancouver Sun - 3,500 
arrests in 2010, according to Dana Larsen.

A successful referendum would direct police resources away from 
persecuting cannabis users. We need this referendum, especially in 
B.C. So don't ask, "Will this fly? Is this symbolic?"

Go out there and join SensibleBC.ca. There is more at stake here than 
meets the editorial eye.

Judith Stamps

Victoria
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom