A group trying to de-criminalize marijuana use in B.C. has been given the green light to grow some grassroots support on outdoor signage along the Canada Line.
Sensible BC's director Dana Larsen told the Richmond News his organization's initial efforts last month to get their billboards at Canada Line stations was turned down by Pattison Outdoor which handles advertising along the line and at bus shelters.
But that changed Wednesday when company officials called Larsen to okay the ads.
"They called to apologize for what was called a miscommunication, and so we have that option now," Larsen said, adding Sensible BC has not decided how it will proceed to drum up public support for its campaign.
The request to advertise with Pattison Outdoor was made in May and Sensible BC provided the company with several versions of the ad they wanted to use. But each one was rejected.
When Larsen tried to get an answer why, he said officials at Pattision Outdoor did not offer clear explanations, and eventually stopped taking his calls and emails.
The ad asks readers to "Join the Sensible BC Marijuana Referendum Campaign," and lists Sensible BC's website address below (www.SensibleBC.ca). On the left side of the ad is a large marijuana leaf.
"I've seen other ads they've (Pattison Outdoor) run with marijuana leaves on them, so I didn't really know what the problem was," Larsen said, adding Sensible BC has placed an ad with Astral Media in West Vancouver.
Sensible BC went public with the Canada Line snub, and now the ads have been okayed.
"I guess they got a bunch of media calls and changed their mind," Larsen said, adding his most recent discussion with Pattison Outdoor was positive. "I'm not sure exactly what we want to do, or run with them, but it is nice the situation has been resolved."
Sensible BC's budget for advertising is around $500,000, a portion of which is earmarked for billboards.
Calls to Pattison Outdoor were not returned in time for the News' deadline.
The ads are part of a campaign similar to the one enacted by the anti-HST group that sought to repeal the unpopular tax which combined the PST and GST.
Larsen said his organization's goal is to have the Sensible Policing Act - a piece of legislation Sensible BC has written - brought forward and passed into law decriminalizing marijuana use.
"Although the (B.C.) Legislature could do it in a normal fashion, we're working towards a referendum," Larsen said.
That requires 10 per cent of registered voters - a total of around 400,000 - to sign a petition in every electoral district across the province over a 90-day period. And Richmond's three districts were seen as key areas to raise awareness of the campaign. Plus, the Canada Line ads would have reached others across the Lower Mainland.
Larsen said plans are to start the three-month, sign-up process in September.
"Right now, we're still building awareness, getting our volunteers and teams in place, and preparing for what will be a monumental effort to get the number of signatures that we need," he said.
If Sensible BC is successful, there would be a referendum on the Central Policing Act next year.
Larsen said he is optimistic British Columbians would choose to make pot possession legal, given the changes in Washington State and Colorado, and 18 other states which have legalized medical marijuana.
"That's very inspiring to us," he said, adding the treatment of marijuana users in B.C. is out of synch with the rest of the world.
