Keremeos resident Clancy Madden joined ranks with a number of B.C. residents looking for a change in the province’s drug laws.
Madden brought a petition, a small desk and his 1948 vintage Anglia sedan to the sidewalk in front of the Branding Iron Bar and Grill on Friday, September 13.
Madden became passionately involved in the marijuana debate 10 years ago, when his favourite nephew died of cancer.
“When he was able to get it, marijuana made a big difference in his ability to cope with the effects of chemotherapy,” Madden said. “It helped to control his pain and ability to keep food down.”
In the days preceding his death, the drug wasn’t available, and his nephew suffered as a result.
Preventing that from happening to someone else is Madden’s goal.
“There is also the futility involved in today’s society trying to control it,” he added.
A steady stream of signatures were being added to the petition early Friday morning.
“I’m very pleased with the response so far,” he said.
The petition - entitled “An initiative to amend the police act” is part of the Sensible BC campaign to hold a marijuana referendum in the province.
The campaign, similar to the one that axed the HST in B.C. in 2011, needs 10 per cent of the province’s population - about 400,000 residents to sign the petition. If successful, a referendum to vote on the Sensible Policing Act would be held to decrimalize marijuana.
The law would redirect B.C. police from detaining or arresting adults for marijuana possession. Minors with marijuana would be treated as if it were alcohol.