Pubdate: Sun, 11 Aug 2013
Source: Rocky Mountain Goat News, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 The Rocky Mountain Goat
Contact:  http://www.therockymountaingoat.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5461
Author: Korie Marshall
Referenced: Sensible Policing Act:
http://sensiblebc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Sensible-BC-Sensible-Policing-Act.pdf

SENSIBLE BC GETS GREEN LIGHT FROM ELECTIONS BC

Elections BC has recently confirmed that the Sensible Policing Act is 
suitable legislation under the Recall and Initiative Act, and could 
be taken to a public vote. Now Dana Larsen, Director of Sensible BC 
and proponent of the Sensible Policing Act, has asked Mayor and 
Council of Valemount to consider endorsing the Sensible Policing Act, 
and consider bringing it forward to the Union of BC Municipalities 
(UBCM) for their endorsement.

The Sensible Policing Act is a legislative proposal to effectively 
decriminalize cannabis possession in British Columbia, and to work 
towards legalization.

The summary from Elections BC of the draft bill says that the act 
proposes to amend the Police Act to no longer use provincial police 
resources on the enforcement of current laws related to simple 
possession of cannabis by adults. It would make possession and use of 
cannabis by minors an offence similar to possession and use of 
alcohol, under the BC Liquor Control Act. It also proposes that the 
Province call upon the Federal Government to repeal the prohibition 
on cannabis, or give British Columbia an exemption so that BC can tax 
and regulate cannabis similar to the regulation of alcohol and 
tobacco. And it proposes that BC establishes a commission to study 
what would be required to establish a legal and regulated model for 
the production and use of cannabis by adults.

A motion was endorsed to support the decriminalization and 
legalization of marijuana at the UBCM meeting councillors attended last year.

"It sounds really smart to me," Mayor Andru McCracken said at July 
23's council meeting, referring to the draft bill. But he also 
admitted that he hasn't seen a lot online about what other people 
think of it, just a lot from the people behind Sensible BC.

"The large consensus at UBCM," continued McCracken, "was 'we have a 
problem here, we are wasting a ton of resources, and we should fix it.'"

Councillor Latimer recalled that there were a number of former and 
current RCMP members at that forum, many of whom were in favor of 
decriminalizing and legalizing marijuana. Because the RCMP is an 
integral part of our community, it was motioned and passed that 
Village Staff would get the thoughts of the local RCMP on the issue 
before making a resolution. A member of the public during comment 
period suggested consulting other experts as well.

Sensible BC has started organizing canvassers, and can begin 
collecting signatures in September. They will have 90 days to collect 
signatures of support from at least 10 percent of the registered 
voters in each of BC's 85 ridings - over 400,000 signatures. If they 
collect those signatures, the Sensible Policing Act can be brought to 
a referendum in September 2014.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom