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Referendum
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‘Cannabus’ rolls into Willowbrook
Local pot advocate Randy Caine is helping promote a Sensible BC petition that would put in motion a referendum for the decriminalization of marijuana in 2014. by Troy Landreville
tlandreville@langleyadvance.com
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William Austin wore a penguin suit Saturday while standing on the sidewalk along Willowbrook Drive. The New Westminster resident made the short sojourn east to Langley to volunteer for Sensible BC, a group with the goal of decriminalizing marijuana possession in 2014. Through collecting signatures on a petition, volunteers are attempting to garner 10 per cent support in all 85 provincial ridings, which Sensible BC hopes will result in a provincial initiative vote. An initiative vote resulting from the current Sensible BC efforts would not be binding on the government. The “cannabus,” decorated with signatures and well wishes, was parked in front of the Hempyz location owned by local pot advocate Randy Caine, who helped man the petition table during the day. Austin, who ran under the B.C. Marijuana Party banner for the MLA seat in the VancouverMount Pleasant riding during the last provincial election, shook a Sensible BC sign back and forth for passing motorists and pedestrians to see. So why the penguin suit?
William Austin donned a penguin suit to attract the attention of motorists and people walking by the Sensible BC ‘Cannabus’ and petition on Willowbrook Drive Saturday afternoon. Troy Landreville/Langley Advance “It’s winter, it’s disarming, it’s non-threatening, it’s better than wearing a pot leaf or a bong,” said the bearded, bespectacled Austin, who added that sacrificing his Saturday, and an entire month for that matter, to support the cause is well worth it. “I took a month off of work to volunteer for this,” he said. Austin said decriminalizing marijuana will immediately take away a lot of resources currently being “wasted by police.” “Every time a police officer stops and even says ‘Hey, what are you doing?’ to a kid who’s smoking a joint, that’s wasting resources,” he said. “Another example is, whenever we’re at SkyTrain stations, we have, like, four cops watching us. That’s a huge waste of resources.”
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Troy Landreville/Langley Advance
Langley’s Randy Caine, who advocates the decriminalization of marijuana, leaned against the ‘Cannabus’ Saturday afternoon. The bus was parked near Caine’s Willowbrook Hempyz location.
According to Sensible BC, charindicated that he will vie for the ging adults with possession of Langley City mayor’s seat in the marijuana costs an estimated $25 next municipal election – believes million per year in B.C. alone. B.C.ers need to have a say on Austin also believes decriminthe issue, something he says has alization will open dialogue with been lacking through this prochildren about marijuana. cess. “You don’t have to loop it in “By decriminalizing and reguwith cocaine and heroin and all lating it, we’re actually going to that stuff, anymore,” Austin said. take back control,” Caine said. “It becomes easier to not lie to “What Canadians and British your kids about it. Give them an Columbians are concerned about, education rather than just taboo.” is not having control. This would Austin began using marijuana give them that opportunity.” for medicinal purposes when he He said the Sensible BC referwas 20 and said most shouldn’t endum would allow B.C. voters start any earlier than that age. an opportunity to determine what “Unless you need it as medicine the future of drug policy may be. or it’s helping you, it’s prob“I think that’s beneably not best for younger ficial in terms of unifyScan people,” he said, noting ing British Columbians with that’s why decriminalization around, I think, a queswould apply to people 19 tion that more and more years old and older. people would like to disMarijuana has been “concuss, would like to examstructive” to Austin instead ine,” he said. of “destructive,” he said. A pot smoker for roughly the He was in a serious car crash past 45 years, Caine believes the that nearly claimed his life and referendum is less about maristruggled for a year with the after juana and more about solutions effects. and dialogue. “I tried weed against my ‘poorOn Saturday the reaction to the er’ judgement and since I started petition was “remarkably posismoking I haven’t missed work tive,” Caine said. because I’ve been depressed, I This is the “Beta” version of haven’t missed work because my the decriminalization movement, legs hurt,” Austin said. “I’m a lot Caine noted. more productive of a person.” “I think we can learn from this, However, Austin was quick and understand, what were the to point out that marijuana, obstacles, what have been the like most anything else, can be challenges?” he said. abused. For more information about “You can’t smoke enough weed Sensible BC, visit www.sensto kill yourself with; you can iblebc.ca. drink enough Coca Cola to go For local information, canvassinto diabetic shock,” he said. ing locations, and events updates The 59-year-old Caine – who view the Facebook page: Sensible ran for City council in 2011 and BC The Langleys.