Pubdate: Wed, 16 Mar 2016 Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC) Copyright: 2016 Vancouver 24 hrs. Contact: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/letters Website: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837 Author: Eric MacKenzie Page: 3 GROW POT OPENLY, GET SEEDS FOR FREE Sensible BC Director Doing Giveaway As 'Final Step' Of 'Civil Disobedience' Local cannabis activist Dana Larsen says Canadians growing marijuana at home is the "final stage" in Canada's legalization movement-and he's providing the seeds to get people started. Larsen, the director Sensible BC, is giving away one million cannabis seeds for free, sending a package of 10 seeds to anyone who requests them. The only caveat - he wants people to grow the plants to be grown in public view. "I want cannabis to be normalized. I think that cannabis should grow across Canada like any other plant," Larsen told 24 hours. "To begin that, I want Canadians to grow cannabis openly - in their front yard, or on their window sill or patio." The expectation is that the federal Liberal government will eventually introduce legislation legalizing marijuana. But with no major plans yet announced, Larsen said his million-seed giveaway is an avenue to "force their hand." "Our cannabis movement has gotten to where it is in Canada not through politicians but through civil disobedience," he said. "Bong shops are still illegal, selling seeds is still illegal, dispensaries are still illegal, but you wouldn't know any of these things from walking around any big city, because through civil disobedience, we have forced the police and government to back off on enforcing these laws. "Overgrow the government, start growing your own cannabis and let's seize the freedom that we want to have and just take it for ourselves, rather than waiting for politicians." Larsen is also offering 100 seeds to individuals willing to plant seeds in public places. Having first spread news of the offer on Facebook a few days ago, Larsen said he'd received about 4,000 requests for seeds as of Tuesday afternoon. He estimates that number will reach at least 50,000 before his Overgrow Canada campaign - which will include visits to 14 Canadian cities next month-concludes. Larsen is accepting seed requests at www.overgrowcanada.com. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom