Pubdate: Fri, 19 Jul 2013
Source: Tri-City News (Port Coquitlam, CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Tri-City News
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/3X3xlf9Y
Website: http://www.tricitynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1239
Author: Gary McKenna

PRO-POT CAMPAIGN LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS

An organization dedicated to the decriminalization of marijuana will
be seeking volunteer canvassers at an event in Port Coquitlam next
week as it prepares for a marijuana referendum campaign this fall.

Sensible BC needs 50 to 60 volunteers in each of B.C.'s 85
constituencies to collect signatures this fall in order to pressure
the provincial government to hold a referendum on the Sensible
Policing Act.

The legislation, written by supporters of Sensible BC, would
essentially stop police from searching or arresting people for
possession of marijuana and would call on Ottawa to repeal marijuana
prohibition.

While legalization falls under the purview of the federal government,
Dana Larsen, the director of Sensible BC, said the province has the
power to tell police how they should prioritize their resources.

"It is very specific," he said. "We want the province to tell police
to stop searching and arresting people for marijuana
possession."

Larsen said he's hoping to achieve what HST activists were able to
accomplish with their recall campaign in 2011. He believes that if a
vote on the Sensible Policing Act were held today, it would gain
overwhelming support.

Getting the signatures to force a referendum is the difficult part, he
said. More than 400,000 signatures from across B.C. are required and
must represent at least 10% of registered voters in each provincial
riding. Organizers will only have 90 days to collect the names
starting on Sept. 9.

Before the three-month signature-gathering period begins, Larsen hopes
to have 5,000 to 6,000 volunteers in place across B.C. to help collect
names. "We are really looking for people to step up," he said.

* Members of SensibleBC will be at Leigh Square (1100-2253 Leigh
Square) to talk about existing marijuana laws and field questions from
the audience. on Tuesday, July 23, between 7 and 8:30 p.m. For more
information about the campaign, go to www.sensiblebc.ca .
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MAP posted-by: Matt