Pubdate: Fri, 21 Jun 2013
Source: Richmond News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013, Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.richmond-news.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1244
Author: Philip Raphael

POT ADS GIVEN GREEN LIGHT ON CANADA LINE

Billboard firm overturns initial rejection of Sensible BC's
decriminalization campaign

A group trying to de-criminalize marijuana use in B.C. has been given
the green light to grow some grassroots support on outdoor signage
along the Canada Line.

Sensible BC's director Dana Larsen told the Richmond News his
organization's initial efforts last month to get their billboards at
Canada Line stations was turned down by Pattison Outdoor which handles
advertising along the line and at bus shelters.

But that changed Wednesday when company officials called Larsen to
okay the ads.

"They called to apologize for what was called a miscommunication, and
so we have that option now," Larsen said, adding Sensible BC has not
decided how it will proceed to drum up public support for its campaign.

The request to advertise with Pattison Outdoor was made in May and
Sensible BC provided the company with several versions of the ad they
wanted to use. But each one was rejected.

When Larsen tried to get an answer why, he said officials at Pattision
Outdoor did not offer clear explanations, and eventually stopped
taking his calls and emails.

The ad asks readers to "Join the Sensible BC Marijuana Referendum
Campaign," and lists Sensible BC's website address below
(www.SensibleBC.ca). On the left side of the ad is a large marijuana
leaf.

"I've seen other ads they've (Pattison Outdoor) run with marijuana
leaves on them, so I didn't really know what the problem was," Larsen
said, adding Sensible BC has placed an ad with Astral Media in West
Vancouver.

Sensible BC went public with the Canada Line snub, and now the ads
have been okayed.

"I guess they got a bunch of media calls and changed their mind,"
Larsen said, adding his most recent discussion with Pattison Outdoor
was positive. "I'm not sure exactly what we want to do, or run with
them, but it is nice the situation has been resolved."

Sensible BC's budget for advertising is around $500,000, a portion of
which is earmarked for billboards.

Calls to Pattison Outdoor were not returned in time for the News'
deadline.

The ads are part of a campaign similar to the one enacted by the
anti-HST group that sought to repeal the unpopular tax which combined
the PST and GST.

Larsen said his organization's goal is to have the Sensible Policing
Act - a piece of legislation Sensible BC has written - brought forward
and passed into law decriminalizing marijuana use.

"Although the (B.C.) Legislature could do it in a normal fashion,
we're working towards a referendum," Larsen said.

That requires 10 per cent of registered voters - a total of around
400,000 - to sign a petition in every electoral district across the
province over a 90-day period. And Richmond's three districts were
seen as key areas to raise awareness of the campaign. Plus, the Canada
Line ads would have reached others across the Lower Mainland.

Larsen said plans are to start the three-month, sign-up process in
September.

"Right now, we're still building awareness, getting our volunteers and
teams in place, and preparing for what will be a monumental effort to
get the number of signatures that we need," he said.

If Sensible BC is successful, there would be a referendum on the
Central Policing Act next year.

Larsen said he is optimistic British Columbians would choose to make
pot possession legal, given the changes in Washington State and
Colorado, and 18 other states which have legalized medical marijuana.

"That's very inspiring to us," he said, adding the treatment of
marijuana users in B.C. is out of synch with the rest of the world.
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MAP posted-by: Matt