Pubdate: Sat, 07 Dec 2013
Source: Alaska Highway News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Glacier Interactive Media
Contact:  http://www.alaskahighwaynews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/716
Author: Matt Preprost & William Stodalka

POT REFERENDUM UP IN SMOKE

The fight to decriminalize B.C. bud appears to have gone up in smoke
for the province, and especially the Peace Region.

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.

"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. "I guess it's
paranoia. People don't want to be registered in the aspect of a
controlled substance."

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 Henry. "The
government is all about money, they need money to make things work and
it's a giant revenue stream waiting for them to tap into.

"When it comes down into almighty dollar, the government isn't going
to turn it away," he said.

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," he said. "That 19-to-35 demographic just seems to be so pissed
off with politicians in general that they just ignore it."
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MAP posted-by: Matt