Pubdate: Wed, 11 Dec 2013
Source: Burnaby Now, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.burnabynow.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1592

JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE POT IS LEGALIZED

Sensible B.C. fails in its first attempt, but we're sure it has leaned
valuable lessons for the next campaign

Let's just consider it a trial balloon, or perhaps a trial
doobie.

Sensible B.C. - the group trying to spark a referendum on
decriminalizing pot - has come up short.

It needed close to 300,000 petition signatures to force a referendum
on the issue, and it achieved 200,000.

But that's a first-time run at the process during a 90-day window
using volunteers.

The group was certainly buoyed by Washington and Colorado's recent
decriminalization of marijuana and lots of support from politicians
and police.

It is, however, still hampered by rural folks who aren't as fast to
embrace the pot movement.

Getting high isn't high on a lot of folks' lists.

In fact, there's still a good percentage of B.C. taxpayers who think
that more giggling and getting the munchies is not what will propel
the B.C. economy forward.

But those folks are quickly becoming the minority.

We think that Sensible B.C. has probably figured out that they just
have to work harder to get the undecideds and potential pot supporters
off their duffs to offset the anti-pot folks.

Sensible B.C. appears ready to keep working, since their Twitter
account proclaimed this week: "210,000 signatures is a remarkable
accomplishment. Thanks to all volunteers & canvassers. This is just
the beginning!"

They're undoubtedly right, and it is just a matter of
time.

Our society is looking for more ways to zone out, and pot is probably
one of the milder alternatives.

When you consider all the pharmaceuticals available and, of course,
booze, the faint whiff of pot smoke in the neighbourhood may not be
all that bad.