Pubdate: Fri, 09 Aug 2013
Source: Kamloops Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Kamloops Daily News
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/679
Author: Jason Hewlett
Page: A3

POT DECRIMINALIZATION ACTIVIST PUSHES FOR B.C. REFERENDUM

If a province wide referendum on decriminalizing marijuana is
successful, pot activist Carl Anderson hopes enough pressure will be
put on the federal government to alter Canadian law.

Anderson is a local organizer for Sensible B.C., a provincial group
out to decriminalize marijuana possession. The organization wants to
collect 400,000 signatures by November to launch a referendum in 2014.

Sensible B.C. is aware cannabis laws can only be changed federally
through an act of Parliament. Anderson said a successful referendum in
B.C. might force greater change.

"We're trying to stop police searching and arresting people for
marijuana possession," he told The Daily News.

"The British Columbia government has some say in how they (police)
govern their resources."

Anderson's task is to secure enough signatures in Kamloops - 10 per
cent of voting population - by November. To do that, he needs
volunteers to circulate petitions and gather some 6,500 signatures.

To account for spoiled ballots, Sensible B.C. is shooting for 15 per
cent of eligible voters, he said.

"The first goal is to get the signatures and see how it plays out,"
said Anderson.

Anderson and what volunteers he can muster will be at Ribfest this
weekend and plan to set up booths at as many community events as
possible to gather support.

"We're going to try and get a booth going at every major event around
town and in Clearwater and Barriere," said Anderson.

He said Sensible B.C. also recruited Chad Moats because of his success
with the referendum against the harmonized sales tax. Moats declined
requests for an interview.

Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake said the matter is a federal
one and wouldn't comment further.

The federal government has no intention of decriminalizing marijuana,
said Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod, adding there's no
proof that legalizing the drug will remove the criminal element.

"Certainly, I recognize there's people who feel differently," she
said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt