Less than half of signatures required to force pot decriminalization referendum collected so far

Time is running out for the collection of enough signatures to force a referendum on decriminalization of marijuana in British Columbia.

In September, Sensible BC launched a 90-day referendum campaign to decriminalize marijuana.

The group said it needed signatures from ten per cent of registered voters in all of B.C.’s 85 districts to force a referendum on the subject.

It wants to pass the Sensible Policing Act, which would stop police from searching or arresting people for marijuana possession. The act also demands the federal government repeal marijuana prohibition.

Should the group gather enough signatures by December 9, it would trigger a referendum in September 2014.

But Dana Larsen with Sensible BC said on Unfiltered with Jill Krop tonight, so far, they have less than half the signatures that they need.

“It is a monumental effort to get the signatures that are required. We are not giving up yet. We are only two-thirds of the way in.”

Larsen says a big challenge is fighting the stigma around this issue.

“We get a lot of people telling us – I support what you do, I am glad you are out here. But if I sign this, I might lose my job, or I might not be able to cross the U.S. border. Those fears are not valid fears, but they are definitely out there. People are afraid that if they engage their political rights, they might get punished.”

The petition got a boost when it was signed by the mayor of Maple Ridge Ernie Daykin earlier this month.

Larsen says it is an issue a lot of politicians are scared of.

“It is strange when seven out of ten British Columbians support reforming the marijuana laws that we don’t get a lot of traction from our political leaders,” says Larsen. “That’s the whole point of trying to have a referendum is to bypass that disconnect between the people and our leaders on this issue.”

Campaign volunteers claim they’ve had trouble setting up to collect signatures at certain locations, like Skytrain and BC Ferries.

Larsen says as long as they are not bothering anybody, they have the right to be there.

Deborah Marshall with BC Ferries released the following statement to Global News,

“We have clearly articulated out position to Sensible BC that we do not allow this type of activity on our property. If they return, the police will be called. If the police do not remove them, we’ll consider all of our options including obtaining an injunction.”

With files from Grace Ke and Paula Baker