Pubdate: Wed, 09 Jan 2013
Source: Campbell River Mirror (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Campbell River Mirror
Contact:  http://www.campbellrivermirror.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1380

POT ACTIVIST TO VISIT CITY

Dana Larsen is coming to Campbell River to promote the Sensible BC
decriminalization campaign.

Larsen, former candidate for the leadership of the BC NDP, is
promoting the Sensible Policing Act, which would effectively
decriminalize cannabis possession in the province.

Larsen will be speaking in Campbell River on Monday, Jan. 21, from
7-8:30 p.m., at the downtown Community Centre.

"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," said 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. He's
been on tour to over three dozen cities and towns across BC since
October last year.

"There's no reason we cannot decriminalize possession in our
province," he said. "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 U.S. states of Washington
and Colorado has given the Sensible BC campaign a solid boost.

"Across Washington, thousands of charges for simple possession are
being dropped," explained Larsen, "saving taxpayers millions of
dollars while also unclogging the justice system. Yet here in BC we're
seeing possession charges skyrocket. If trends continue, 2013 will be
another record-breaking year, with over 4,000 pot possession charges
being laid across BC. It's time for a more sensible approach."

To learn more, visit www.SensibleBC.ca 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D