Pubdate: Fri, 15 Nov 2013
Source: Penticton Western (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Penticton Western
Contact:  http://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1310
Author: Joe Fries
Cited: Sensible BC: http://www.sensiblebc.ca/

PETITION NEARING TARGET

People heading in for an afternoon workout at the Penticton Community
Centre last week also had a chance to lend strength to the campaign to
decriminalize marijuana in B.C.

Jo Ann Murphy, a registered canvasser for Sensible BC, was collecting
signatures there on copies of the official petition to which she has
devoted nearly all of spare time for two months straight.

The community health worker said she originally intended to collect a
few dozen signatures from friends to show support for medical
marijuana users, but the more she learned about the subject, the more
she understood "the importance of putting my face to the issue."

"I don't think people should be getting a criminal record for simple
possession," she said. "In my opinion, in what I've read and the
information I've gathered, (marijuana) is less harmful than something
like alcohol."

With the help of Murphy and about 30 other volunteers, Sensible BC has
now collected close to 3,500 signatures in the Penticton riding,
according to local organizer Amanda Stewart.

The group's aiming for 6,000 names here, which would provide a buffer
over and above the 4,337 signatures required by Elections BC in this
riding. The three-month campaign closes Dec. 5.

Sensible BC needs 10 per cent of eligible voters in each of B.C.'s 85
ridings to sign the petition in order to trigger a referendum on its
proposed legislation that would set the stage to decriminalize
marijuana possession and tax the sale of weed.

In the Penticton riding, Stewart has dispatched volunteers to staff
tables at Cherry Lane Shopping Centre and the community centre, plus
appear at public events like hockey games, farmers' markets and flu
clinics.

Even still, "This is such a big riding, there's a good chance we've
missed huge pockets of people with our public activities," said
Stewart, who operates the Valley Hemp and Import Company, one of a
handful of local businesses that also have copies of the petition.

Sensible BC is hoping to decriminalize marijuana in much the same way
that Colorado and Washington states are now working towards.

Last week, Colorado voters approved a plan to apply a 15 per cent
excise tax plus a 10 per cent sales tax to marijuana that's expected
to raise $70 million annually when it goes into effect Jan. 1. Stewart
said that's a model her group would like to see replicated here.

"It reminds us, too, how has the States gone ahead and done this
before British Columbia?" she said. "A lot of people are scratching
their heads."

For more information on signing the petition or volunteering, contact
Stewart via email at a  ---
MAP posted-by: Matt