Pubdate: Wed, 11 Dec 2013
Source: Nelson Star (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Black Press
Contact:  http://www.bclocalnews.com/kootenay_rockies/nelsonstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4866
Author: Jeff Nagel

MARIJUANA PETITION FIZZLES OUT

Sensible BC Gets 210,000 Signatures, Vows to Try Again

The Sensible BC campaign to spark the decriminalization of marijuana 
in B.C. is officially up in smoke after falling short of its goal.

Pot activists got 210,000 signatures or about two-thirds of the 
300,000 needed - 10 per cent of voters in all 85 B.C. ridings - for 
their initiative petition to potentially trigger a referendum. They 
had aimed for a target of 450,000 to provide a buffer against 
disqualified signatures.

"It's a pretty remarkable accomplishment," Sensible BC head Dana Larsen.

"We've definitely demonstrated a high level of organization and 
support for this cause. Had we been operating under the rules of 
pretty much any other referendum system in the world, we would have 
qualified to be on the ballot."

He said the 4,500 registered petitioners - triple the number at the 
start of the 90-day campaign - reached the threshold required by 
Elections BC in 19 electoral districts and got at least eight per 
cent in five more.

Successful local campaigns happened on much of Vancouver Island, the 
Kootenays and other parts of the Interior.

But in the vote-rich Lower Mainland that holds the most districts, 
marijuana advocates came up short.

They reached the 10 per cent threshold in just Vancouver-West End and 
Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, with no other local wins in the rest of 
Metro Vancouver or the Fraser Valley. They came closest in the three 
North Shore ridings with eight per cent plus.

Sensible BC aimed to compel the province to pass legislation banning 
police from expending any time and resources on simple marijuana possession.

Larsen said canvassers were harried in some areas by opponents and at 
times by calls to police as they tried to collect signatures on 
SkyTrain and BC Ferries.

The outcome is nowhere near the 700,000 signatures gathered by Fight 
HST forces en route to their winning referendum.

But Larsen argues the province must now look "very seriously" at the 
marijuana issue, particularly as states such as Washington and 
Colorado move to full pot legalization.

He says history shows even failed campaigns can have impact.

A prior initiative in 2002 pushing proportional representation got 
98,000 signatures but led to a citizens assembly on electoral reform 
and ultimately two referendum questions on the issue.

Signatures were being delivered to Elections BC Monday and Larsen 
said Sensible BC will take a break over Christmas before deciding 
when to mount a new petition campaign, along with other forms of 
political engagement.

"We're definitely going to do it again," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom