Pubdate: Wed, 11 Dec 2013
Source: Northern View, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 The Northern View
Contact:  http://www.thenorthernview.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4366
Author: Jeff Nagel
Cited: Sensible BC: http://www.sensiblebc.ca/

MARIJUANA REFERENDUM FAILS TO FIND SUPPORT

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.