Pubdate: Fri, 13 Dec 2013
Source: Maple Ridge News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Maple Ridge News
Contact:  http://www.mapleridgenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1328
Author: Craig Speirs
Cited: Sensible BC: http://www.sensiblebc.ca

READY FOR SENSIBLEBC, PART 2

Editor, The News:

After 90 days, the results are in - the SensibleBC campaign for 
cannabis reform collected more than 200,000 signatures, two-thirds of 
the way to its goal of 10 per cent of voters.

The campaign got almost eight per cent in the Maple Ridge-Mission 
riding and seven per cent in Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows.

In comparison, the successful petitions in Washington State and 
Colorado got 3.6 per cent over 180 days, without the need to go 
riding by riding.

Nevertheless, anytime that many people sign a petition calling for 
change to our drug policy, politicians should pay attention.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservatives are lost to 
reason; they just want to throw more people in jail for doing 
something that shouldn't be a crime.

B.C. Premier Christy Clark, on the other hand, could really help the 
province's bottom line by making some common sense changes as to how 
our police do their business.

All we need is better leadership.

There are a lot of jobs and economic activity at stake.

Locally, SensibleBC had more than 75 canvassers and collected 5,400 
signatures over the past three months.

They knocked on doors, attended events, approached friends, family 
and co-workers, and stood at a table on 228th Street, taking 
questions and signatures.

We are proud of every one of them for stepping forward, and most have 
committed to the next fight, whenever that is.

We have a solid foundation to build upon and next time we just have 
to bring friends.

Funny thing is, most were new to any political process and will be a 
force in the future.

We will certainly be encouraging them to stay involved.

Along the way, we met lots of people who were grateful that we were 
fighting this fight for them.

But we also met some very fearful and angry people.

We were accused of being a bunch of drug addicts, pot heads and 
criminals who just want to get their children hooked on drugs.

Of course, the reality was we are parents, grandparents and honest, 
law-abiding citizens who want to control, regulate and educate about 
cannabis so we can keep it away from those same children.

Instead of lying to our children about cannabis, we should educate 
them so they will make responsible choices.

Our fight was for adults being able to make decisions without 
unfocussed prejudice or unjust laws interfering.

Prejudice produces a stigma that is based on fear and ignorance.

The most common fear that made the difference locally was from those 
who wanted to sign, but felt they couldn't because their boss or the 
government would find out and use it against them.

Prejudice doesn't trump the incredible medicinal uses of cannabis or 
the lack of negative effects recreational use has on the individual or society.

Sadly, the stigma that is produced through pot-prejudice has kept 
many people from accessing the medicinal uses. That is the real crime.

To quote Plato "We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the 
dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.".

Lastly, thanks to those 5400 people who threw aside the veils of fear 
and ignorance and by signing embraced hope and knowledge and stepped 
into the light.

Craig Speirs

Maple Ridge
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom