Pubdate: Fri, 07 Dec 2012
Source: Comox Valley Echo (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Comox Valley Echo
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/785

DANA LARSEN HERE TO PROMOTE THE SENSIBLE BC DECRIMINALIZATION CAMPAIGN

Dana Larsen, who last year ran for the leadership of the BC NDP, is
touring Vancouver Island over the next two weeks to promote the
Sensible Policing Act, which would effectively decriminalize cannabis
possession in the province.

Larsen will be speaking to supporters in Courtenay on Saturday
December 8 at the Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton Avenue from
7:00-8:30pm.

"The Sensible Policing Act directs all police in BC to stop spending
any time or resources on searching, seizing or arresting anyone for
simple cannabis possession," explained Larsen, who works as Director
of the Vancouver Medicinal Cannabis Dispensary. "The lawyers at
Elections BC have confirmed that this legislation is within provincial
jurisdiction and suitable for a referendum."

Larsen is leading the Sensible BC campaign to have a referendum on the
Sensible Policing Act, putting volunteers in place to collect the
official signatures needed from September to November of 2013.

Local activist Ernie Yacub is a supporter of the campaign. "Our
members have already started recruiting volunteers," said Yacub,
manager of the North Island Compassion Club. "We're getting a very
positive response: people are saying 'it's about bloody time'. Too
many people have had their lives ruined for using a plant, a medicinal
herb that has powerful healing properties."

Larsen has been on tour to 30 BC cities and towns since mid-October
with stops already in Prince George, Williams Lake, Kamloops and Kelowna.

"There's no reason we cannot decriminalize possession in our
province," continued Larsen. "In 2003, BC joined seven other provinces
in refusing to enforce the Long Gun Registry. At that time, Attorneys
General said they didn't want to bother with otherwise law-abiding
citizens who were in possession of an unregistered long gun. We're
asking for the same sensible perspective when it comes to people in
possession of cannabis."

The recent votes to legalize cannabis in the US states of Washington
and Colorado has given the Sensible BC campaign a solid boost.

"I have had dozens of media interviews on this encouraging policy
change. Reporters from around BC and across Canada have been calling
to find out how we plan to do in BC what activists accomplished in
Washington and Colorado."

Larsen explained that the Sensible Policing Act is very similar to the
successful Washington initiative.

"In Washington, they have legalized possession of up to an ounce of
cannabis right away, and mandated the state to figure out how to open
cannabis shops within one year. Our legislation would also
decriminalize possession in BC, and set up a commission to figure out
the rules and regulations needed to create a legally regulated system
in our province."

UPCOMING SENSIBLE BC TOUR DATES

Sat Dec 8: Comox Valley

Sun Dec 9: Nanaimo

Mon Dec 10: Duncan

Tues Dec 11: Mill Bay

FOR MORE INFORMATION

DANA LARSEN: 604-812-4372 / ERNIE YACUB: 250-338-3504 / SENSIBLE BC: http://SensibleBC.ca
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MAP posted-by: Matt