Pubdate: Fri, 06 Dec 2013
Source: Dawson Creek Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Glacier Community Media
Contact:  http://www.dawsoncreekdailynews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/690
Author: William Stodalka
Cited: Sensible BC: http://www.sensiblebc.ca

POT PETITION RUNNING OUT OF TIME TO PASS

The fight to decriminalize B.C. bud appears to have gone up in smoke 
for the province, and the Peace Region appears to have joined the 
rest of the province in not supporting the endeavour.

Sensible BC has publicly campaigned for the last few months to put 
marijuana decriminalization up to a referendum. In order to do so, 
they would need at least 10 per cent of voters in each of the 
province's 85 voting areas to sign a petition.

For the Peace River South area that includes Dawson Creek, this 
effort isn't looking too hopeful.

Charles Kux-Kardos, who is organizing the campaign's efforts in the 
Peace River South area, said that he has not received enough 
signatures yet, with only a few days left to go for the campaign.

"It's not going to happen," he said. "Once the dust settles and 
everything is kind of counted, we may have gotten about half of what 
we needed."

While he did see it as successful that they were able to foster 
conversation about the subject of marijuana decriminalization, he 
said voter apathy played a part.

"My theory: the demographic of 19-to-35 just didn't come out in 
force," Kux-Kardos said. "That 19-to-35 demographic just seems to be 
so pissed off with politicians in general that they just ignore it."

Despite this, the group's founder is not reported to have given up.

"We're not throwing in the towel yet, but we're acknowledging we have 
a ways to go at this point," Dana Larsen, Sensible BC's founder, was 
quoted as saying.

In the North Peace, Sensible BC coordinator Ty Henry expressed 
frustration at what he said turned out to be an "unorganized campaign."

Henry said the campaign had momentum in its early days - he was 
submitted a list of some 40 people who signed up to canvass and 
volunteer for the cause - but only a half-dozen actually stepped up 
to the plate when he called.

"People have no problems clicking a link, but as soon as it comes 
down to putting a signature on paper, or going up to speak with 
someone, a lot of people are scared to do it," said Henry.

Henry says he collected about 500 signatures himself in the North 
Peace, but couldn't speculate on the number of signatures other 
canvassers had collected.

He said he's waiting for the full tally to come in before declaring 
victory or defeat. Either way, Henry predicts Canada will legalize 
marijuana in the next five years - populist election campaign 
promises a la Justin Trudeau, or not.

"What it comes down to in the end is money," said. "The government 
.. needs money to make things work and it's a giant revenue stream 
waiting for them.

"When it comes down into almighty dollar, the government isn't going 
to turn it away," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom