Sensible BC is kickstarting its 90-day referendum campaign to decriminalize marijuana today.
The group says it needs signature from 10 per cent of registered voters in all of B.C.’s 85 districts to force a referendum on the subject.
“There’s no one against this in B.C., there’s no one who says this is wrong,” says Dana Larsen, Sensible BC. “The only negativity we get is from those who don’t want to discuss the issue.”
The group 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. In 2010, Sensible B.C. says there were 19,000 incidents of marijuana possession in B.C. which is close to twice the national rate.
Vancouver Police Chief Jim Chu recently spoke on behalf of Canada’s police chiefs saying they would like the option to hand out tickets for small amounts of pot possession rather laying charges.
“It’s more proportional and reflects community standards across Canada,” says Chief Chu.
Over the next 90 days, close to 1,700 volunteers will try to collect 500,000 signatures across the province – they require signatures from 10 per cent of the registered voters in all 85 electoral districts.
If the group and their volunteers are successful gather enough signatures, it would trigger a referendum in September 2014.
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