Sensible B.C.'s CannaBus rolled into Squamish on Saturday (Oct. 19) and seemed to fit right in at the weekly Squamish Farmers Market.
Organizers set up shop on Cleveland Avenue from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and gathered as many signatures of local voters as possible as part of the campaign to get B.C. voters to decide by ballot whether marijuana should be decriminalized by having police refrain from investigating, conducting searches and otherwise expending resources on cases of simple possession of pot.
Squamish organizer Chelsea Dixon said 320 people signed the petition on Saturday and she hinted that Sensible B.C. might have a presence at the market in the future. The group has until Dec. 5 to collect signatures from 10 per cent of all eligible voters in every riding to mandate a provincial referendum to decriminalize marijuana possession.
Dixon said most people she encountered were positive and explained why she supports the Sensible B.C. cause.
I don't use it at all but I completely support anyone's right to, she said. I think everyone's going to do it anyways, so we might as well make some money off of it. It makes sense to put it in a store, tax it and make money off it it's a billion-dollar industry.
She said there was a pretty even split between men and women signing on, but noted a lot of middle-aged and elderly people supporting the cause. She added that she's not sure why it has taken so long for talk of decriminalization on marijuana to begin but said there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding pot.
Squamish resident Kim Smerek agreed and told The Chief why she supported Sensible B.C.
I think it's an important and wonderful thing it's a plant, a beautiful plant, she said. I have friends who have medical marijuana growing facilities and I've heard that new legislation might make it much harder for them to grow. And I have friends who have prescriptions and it truly helps them.
Smerek said she's a user herself and that she thinks Sensible B.C. has a great chance to get to the referendum stage.
As long as it's marketed enough and they get the word out, I don't see how they couldn't get enough signatures, she said. I think legislation and the government have slowed down the decriminalization and maybe pressure from the U.S. in the past. For the most part it's that the government finds it hard to make money off of it. And because of its medicinal properties, I'm sure all the pharmaceutical companies are against it.
Marty Elston, also from Squamish, added his name to the petition and said decriminalization is long overdue.
I think we've reached the tipping point, he said. I'm really hopeful Sensible B.C. gets the 10 per cent. I think we're close.
Elston said he thinks Canada has often felt pressure from the U.S. to not decrimilize but that the recent legalization of marijuana in Colorado and Washington State might help Canadians loosen up a bit.
Our neighbours to the south and their policies have influenced our vision on it in the past, he said. It's nice to see Canada stand up independently for a change.
Squamish resident Al Boucher had a different motivation for signing the petition. He told The Chief he's a medicinal marijuana user and that he supports Sensible B.C.'s efforts.
I absolutely think there should be reform, he said of the marijuana laws. It's ridiculous that it's illegal, and that's why I signed it right away.
Boucher said he thinks there is a lot of support for marijuana in Squamish and he hopes that those who do support reform get out and add their name to the Sensible B.C. list.
Those who missed out on the CannaBus at the market can register online at www.sensiblebc.ca. Squamish residents can contact Dixon at [email protected] for more information on how to register.
