Failure: Effort to force weed decriminalization vote reached two-thirds of goal, organizer says Sensible B.C. organizer Dana Larsen confirmed Sunday that the Citizen's Initiative for a referendum on decriminalizing marijuana possession has failed ahead of Election B.C.'s Monday deadline. "We're not going to make it," said Larsen. "We've very proud of our team of canvassers and what we accomplished. 200,000 signatures is still a remarkable feat." Larsen and his team needed to collect the signatures of 10 per cent of registered voters in every single one of B.C.'s 85 electoral districts in a 90-day period for the initiative to be a success. [continues 182 words]
Local pot advocate Randy Caine is helping promote a Sensible BC petition that would put in motion a vote for the decriminalization of marijuana in 2014. William Austin wore a penguin suit Saturday while standing on the sidewalk along Willowbrook Drive. The New Westminster resident made the short sojourn east to Langley to volunteer for Sensible BC, a group with the goal of decriminalizing marijuana possession in 2014. Through collecting signatures on a petition, volunteers are attempting to garner 10 per cent support in all 85 provincial ridings, which Sensible BC hopes will result in a provincial initiative vote. [continues 696 words]
Failed NDP leadership candidate Dana Larsen and his group Sensible BC are set to kick off their campaign next month to force a referendum on marijuana policy. Much like the ultimately successful Fight HST petition in 2010, Larsen hopes to use the Recall and Initiative Act to force an end to what he sees as archaic and draconian drug laws. Specifically, Larsen and his group want to prohibit the use of police resources in B.C. to enforce drugs laws aimed at the possession and use of marijuana. [continues 305 words]
Dear Editor: Rick Norlock's response to the Liberal party policy of legalizing marijuana serves to demonstrate the approach to policy the Conservative party takes on many contentious issues. Policy is determined in a top-down manner with any ideas that might be controversial being ignored or censured by the party brass starting with the prime minister. Then they set about attacking the spokesperson behind the opposing idea using emotional terms such as "simplistic" or "naive," or "lacking in judgment." Or they will present some inaccurate facts not based on evidence (e.g. Mr. Norlock says that "we have a huge problem with impaired driving" whereas Statistics Canada reports, "The rate of impaired driving causing death dropped 29 per cent in 2011, reaching its lowest point in over 25 years.") or even suggest that there is no evidence. (What about the LeDaine Commission report?) [continues 358 words]
Patient Bemoans Loss of Growing Privileges NEW rules on medical marijuana will make it too expensive and too hard to purchase, Manitoba patients fear. Health Canada, meanwhile, says the rule changes will make purchasing medical marijuana safer and more efficient. A new program, called the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulation (MMPR), will take effect on April 1, 2014, replacing the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations (MMAR). The new program was announced June 19, although discussions about changes to the existing program were already taking place in December 2012. [continues 569 words]
Elections BC has given approval in principle to marijuana activist Dana Larsen's bid to lead a petition drive for de-criminalizing marijuana possession. Larsen has proposed that B.C. go around the federal law with a "Sensible Policing Act" that would disallow the use of B.C. police resources to prosecute simple possession of small amounts of pot. As of Sept. 9, Larsen will be allowed to begin collecting signatures referendum similar to that used to reverse the harmonized sales tax. [continues 256 words]
VICTORIA - Elections BC has given approval in principle to marijuana activist Dana Larsen's bid to lead a petition drive for de-criminalizing marijuana possession. Larsen has proposed that B.C. go around the federal law with a "Sensible Policing Act" that would disallow the use of B.C. police resources to prosecute simple possession of small amounts of pot. As of Sept. 9, Larsen will be allowed to begin collecting signatures referendum similar to that used to reverse the harmonized sales tax. [continues 257 words]
B.C.'s Prince of Pot could be on the verge of an epic homecoming. Marc Emery has been imprisoned in a U.S. jail since 2010 for selling marijuana seeds and recently applied to return to Canada to serve the rest of his five-year sentence. His wife Jodie Emery broke the news on Twitter Wednesday that the U.S. government has now approved his transfer. "Oh my god!!! Now Canada has to make a decision!!" she tweeted. She urged Emery's supporters to write to the federal public safety minister to urge Ottawa to approve his transfer back to Canada. [continues 202 words]
Before Cherie Scott goes to sleep every night, the 86-year-old has a sweet bedtime snack: a marijuana cookie. With her chic bob hairstyle and tweed blazer, Scott - who prefers to be addressed as "Mrs. Scott" - doesn't exactly fit the stoner stereotype. Admittedly, before she tried it, she was totally against the drug. "I thought the whole system, it was evil and addictive and you were a little cuckoo with it," the Burnaby senior told The Province. But when she found herself in a dire situation, unable to sleep after her husband died of lung cancer in 1980, Scott said she was desperate for relief. Fearing she would become addicted to sleeping pills, Scott's son suggested she try marijuana. [continues 1101 words]
There's a tantalizing 10- page gap in the B. C. government's response to a freedom of information request. An unidentified media outlet asked for any records in the Justice Ministry dealing with the possible impact of decisions in Washington state and Colorado to approve recreational marijuana use. The request produced this week copies of a handful of earnest entreaties from citizens to the premier to go with the flow and give up on prohibition. But 10 pages were redacted under section 14 of the FOI law. That allows the government to withhold information that could reasonably be expected to harm law enforcement. [continues 556 words]
There's a tantalizing 10-page gap in the B.C. government's response to a freedom of information request. An unidentified media outlet asked for any records in the justice ministry dealing with the possible impact of decisions in Washington state and Colorado to approve recreational marijuana use. The request produced this week copies of a handful of earnest entreaties from citizens to the premier to go with the flow and give up on prohibition. But 10 pages were redacted under section 14 of the FOI law. That allows the government to withhold information that could reasonably be expected to harm law enforcement. [continues 557 words]
There's a tantalizing 10-page gap in the B.C. government's response to a freedom of information request. An unidentified media outlet asked for any records in the Justice Ministry dealing with the possible impact of decisions in Washington state and Colorado to approve recreational marijuana use. The request produced this week copies of a handful of earnest entreaties from citizens to the premier to go with the flow and give up on prohibition. But 10 pages were redacted under section 14 of the FOI law. That allows the government to withhold information that could reasonably be expected to harm law enforcement. [continues 557 words]
MONTREAL -- Reggae singers on a flatbed truck led a couple hundred people through the city's downtown streets Saturday in support of marijuana legalization. Police ignored the joints burning smoke into the hot spring air as the crowd, openly defying the country's marijuana laws, walked leisurely down the streets of a busy shopping district. Protest organizer Marc-Boris St. Maurice, activist and founder of the Marijuana Party of Canada, told QMI Agency the police "are pretty tolerant today." He added that the lack of arrests on Saturday showed how unevenly the country's pot laws are enforced. [continues 185 words]
CANNABIS ADVOCATES are gathering at the courthouse Saturday afternoon to smoke a little (or maybe a lot of) pot and take in events financed by local lottery millionaire and weed legalization activist Bob Erb. The origin of the name 4/20 varies depending on who you talk to, but the date of April 20 has taken hold around the world in recent years as the day for marijuana legalization rallies. Usually held in larger urban centres, this is the first time a 4/20 rally has been held in Terrace and it is one of many across the country being financially supported by Erb. [continues 741 words]
The campaign to decriminalize marijuana in B.C. is getting a little help from the "marijuana millionaire." Recent lotto winner and marijuana activist Bob Erb has promised to match all donations made to the Sensible B.C. campaign to decriminalize pot in the province. Erb, a former B.C. Marijuana Party candidate, won $25 million in the Nov. 2 Lotto Max draw. He has already donated $120,000 to the Sensible B.C. campaign and now plans to match donations as the campaign prepares for a fall petition drive to force a referendum on decriminalization. [continues 233 words]
Larsen has dedicated his life's work to cannabis law reform. On Jan. 23, Dana Larsen spent his afternoon in UVic's Student Union Building speaking about pot to an audience that no doubt consisted of a few more empty chairs than he would have liked to see. This has become a typical day for Larsen in his capacity as the face of Sensible B.C., a campaign to reform B.C.'s cannabis laws through a provincial referendum. Larsen, 41, has travelled across B.C., speaking at events both large and small as he promotes his campaign. [continues 726 words]
There's a pot industry ready to grow if the drug is legalized, an internal policy paper by the B.C. branch of the federal Liberals says. The draft report - released in January to stimulate discussion on legalizing marijuana among Liberal members and MPs - highlights the drug's economic potential for creating jobs across the country in everything from tourism to retail. "The economic impact of legalizing marijuana in Canada would be very positive for the government and taxpayers," the report states. [continues 308 words]
Mik Mann is known for his passion for pot, but he is also a man who uses his creativity and ingenuity to live a life he enjoys. A political activist, Mann is primarily self-taught in his knowledge, but made a living using his hands. Born and raised in Toronto, Mann went to work right out of high school. Jobs were plentiful through the 1970s and 1980s and he was able to move around to various positions. He got behind the wheel driving a cab and as a courier for the Bankers Dispatch Company, but construction and painting were his trades of choice. While in the big city, Mann became interested in racing an Austin Mini car as an amateur when the vehicle was first introduced to Canada. [continues 963 words]
Sensible Policing Act Means BC Would Stop Enforcing Federal Possession Laws If his Sensible BC campaign can secure enough signatures next year, Dana Larsen, co-founder of the BC Marijuana Party and former BC NDP leader candidate, hopes that in September 2014 there will be a referendum on decriminalizing marijuana possession in the province. "The success of the anti-HST campaign shows that it can be done," Larsen told a small group in Parksville last week. His Sensible Policing Act would effectively decriminalize marijuana possession in BC. [continues 401 words]
As he tours Vancouver Island, Dana Larsen is promoting the Sensible Policing Act in an effort to decriminalize cannabis possession in B.C. Larsen - director of the Vancouver Medicinal Cannabis Dispensary who sought the provincial NDP leadership last year - spoke to supporters Saturday at the Filberg Centre in Courtenay. He is leading a Sensible BC campaign in hopes of securing a referendum on the act. Volunteers will collect signatures next year from September to November. If 10 per cent of registered voters in every riding in B.C. sign the petition, a referendum would occur in September 2014. [continues 198 words]
