Pubdate: Thu, 17 Oct 2013
Source: Alberni Valley News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Alberni Valley News
Contact:  http://www.albernivalleynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4247
Cited: Sensible BC: http://www.sensiblebc.ca
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n500/a09.html

FREE SPEECH FOR EVERYONE

Tom Fletcher's column, BC Views, last week (Marijuana 'reeferendum' 
misguided, Oct. 10) elicited the highest number of responses online 
that we've seen in quite awhile. A few defended his position against 
the Sensible BC petition for a provincewide referendum on 
decriminalizing marijuana possession, but the majority of you were 
quite vocal in defending the petition and the man at the heart of it, 
Dana Larsen.

(Take a look at our expanded Letters section on A11 for evidence.)

Many of you questioned why we would run such a column.

We wanted to point out that BC Views is a column; an opinion; not a 
news article. Mr. Fletcher chose a side and defended it, much as 
those of you who provided us with feedback did.

Mr. Fletcher is a provincial columnist for Black Press, and his 
column runs in every Black Press-owned newspaper in B.C. He presents 
a side, and we welcome writers who would like to present the other 
side. Indeed, we included a response from Mr. Larsen in our Letters 
section this week.

Editorials, columns, blogs-they are all written to engage readers and 
stimulate conversation.

BC Views last week certainly achieved both goals.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom