Pubdate: Mon, 09 Dec 2013
Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Canoe Inc
Contact:  http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837
Author: Nick Eagland
Cited: Sensible BC: http://www.sensiblebc.ca

CAMPAIGN FOR MARIJUANA REFERENDUM BURNS OUT

Sensible BC's campaign for a referendum to decriminalize marijuana 
has finally burned out.

The pot-advocacy group projects it won't be able to gather the more 
than 400,000 signatures necessary to force a referendum by its 
deadline at 4 p.m. today.

Sensible BC spokesman Dana Larsen blamed a "notoriously difficult" 
referendum system in B.C. and a lack of support from government.

The campaign faced stiff opposition from TransLink and BC Ferries, 
which both tried to prevent the pro-pot campaigners from canvassing 
on their properties.

Larsen said Sensible BC will take both companies to court in the 
coming months in order to establish rules regarding the placement of 
canvassers and so that future campaigns won't face the same hurdles.

He also said the campaign struggled without a political champion in 
Parliament or the B.C. legislature.

"The whole need for this process is for when the government is just 
off the rails," said Larsen. "We don't have anybody standing up for 
this issue and making a big deal about it, even though it's one of 
British Columbia's largest industries."

Larsen said that Sensible BC is "already figuring out what the best 
date is for a new launch" of the campaign.

Larsen said Sensible BC gathered more than 200,000 signatures since 
Sept. 9 and that the number of volunteers has tripled since then.

"This is by no means the end of Sensible BC - this is just the 
beginning," said Larsen.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom