We’re not surprised Sensible BC stumbled out of the blocks in its 90-day race to force a provincial referendum on marijuana enforcement changes in British Columbia.
According to Sensible BC spokesperson Dana Larsen, the campaigners have signed up 65,000 petitioners at the 30-day mark.
They were hoping to gather 80,000 signatures in the first month, but Larsen noted they are finding it more difficult to get canvassers officially registered.
However, Larsen said he feels confident Sensible BC will get at least the 10 per cent of eligible voters needed in every constituency in the province.
It would take 300,000 valid signatures to force the provincial government to call a referendum on how marijuana possession is enforced in B.C.
The initiative petition seeks to legislate the “Sensible Policing Act” in B.C., which would decriminalize simple marijuana use by directing police away from enforcing federal laws by no longer detaining or arresting adults for its possession.
Clearly, this is not a move to legalize marijuana use.
It is proposing a provincial law that would prohibit B.C. police forces from using any resources during simple possession cases.
However, that would also inhibit police forces from trying to find the trail to the bigger fish in the gang-related marijuana distribution business.
So, it could perpetrate the escalating gang warfare that most British Columbians would love to see come to an end.
If enough eligible voters in B.C. sign the petition, it could force a referendum in 2014 and from there who knows what would happen.
It’s doubtful the petition will succeed because there appears to be very little appetite from the media to provide the print or air space for Sensible BC because it appears to be a non-starter.
If the petition does succeed and a marijuana enforcement change referendum is put to the public, it is highly unlikely it would succeed.
It certainly would not gain the groundswell of support the anti-Harmonized Sales Tax referendum had when it was called in 2011.
The grassroots support of showing an unpopular government it cannot arrogantly force a tax change down the throats of its provincial electorate was overwhelming, and nothing was going to stop it – no matter how much money was spent to oppose the vote.
The pot referendum won’t gain that kind of support.
Furthermore, Sensible BC has another hurdle to get across.
The federal government has the jurisdiction and is on record of having no desire to legalize marijuana or turn a blind eye to its use.
It will be interesting to see how it all turns out.
