Who we are
In late 2012, a few passionate marijuana advocates got together and brainstormed the best way to end prohibition in BC. We consulted with lawyers, campaigners, and organizers, and decided to push for a provincial referendum to stop marijuana arrests.
In the fall of 2013, more than four and a half thousand volunteers worked together to collect over two hundred thousand signatures from citizens across the province in 90 days. We knocked on doors, stood on street corners, and changed the conversation around marijuana reform. And though we did not meet the very high bar set to have a referendum, our team of volunteers and community leaders have become the largest marijuana policy organization in Canada.
Since then we have been putting on community training sessions, public rallies and days of action to keep pushing this issue forward. Legalization was closer than ever, but we still have a lot of work to do!
In 2015 we had a huge opportunity to change marijuana laws in Canada. This gave us the opportunity to broaden the conversation about marijuana at the federal level, and to use our grassroots network to help elect marijuana friendly politicians in key battleground ridings across BC. This was going to an important election that changed the political landscape in Canada. The Change of the Guard in Ottawa signaled the End to Prohibition on Cannabis as the new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised legalize. Sensible BC continues to work towards sensible cannabis legislation at every opportunity.
2017 Sensible Vancouver Association
A municipal by-election was held in Vancouver, BC, Canada on October 14, 2017. Unlike in full elections, voters were only asked to elect one councillor and nine school board trustees rather than the full complement of elected municipal positions. The by-election was necessary for two reasons: the resignation of Vision Vancouver Councillor Geoff Meggs from City Council to become BC Premier John Horgan's chief of staff and the desire of the new BC provincial NDP government to reconstitute the Vancouver School Board, whose elected members had all been fired by the previous BC Liberal government.
Mary-Jean Dunsdon ran under the Sensible Vancouver Association in bid for the City Councillor. Mary-Jean did not get the seat that went to Hector Bremner. Mary-Jean brought not just the cannabis message to the civic campaign but presented a well rounded policy on Social Housing and Addiction. Mary Jean was an early pioneer in providing safe cannabis access and continues to campaign for Sensible Drug Laws in Canada through her work in harm reduction and community action.
Sensible Vancouver Association Today
We continue to work towards Sensible Solutions for ushering in this 'Legalization' regime.
Legalization Day Oct 17 2018 was celebrated on Victoria BC's Legislature Lawns.
Watch Dana Larsen Legalization Day Oct 18th 2018 Victoria BC Legislature Part 1
Watch Part 2 Dana Larsen Legalization Day Oct 17, 2017 Victoria BC Legislature
Cannabis Activists across Canada owe a big THANK YOU to all of our Volunteers. A Special Thank You goes out to Dana Larsen for his personal efforts and life long quest to Legalize Cannabis. Legalization is a step in the direction of FREEDOM from the stigma and persecution of cannabis users.
The biggest harm from Cannabis are the unjust laws. Although Legalization Day brings some freedoms to smoke them if you've got them the laws we have now will prove to be just as draconian as prohibition. Legalization Day simply brings a new stage to the recovery from years of propaganda and 'Reefer Madness" mentality.
Sensible Vancouver Association Continues to address issues in Vancouver through social actions such as 420 Vancouver celebrations, addressing City Council, fighting for dispensary's, supporting local organizations fighting for Clean Supply of all prohibited drugs.
We encourage and support grassroots efforts such as OverGrow Canada, The Cannabis Substitution Project, Sara Blyth's 2018 campaign and the Overdose Prevention Society.
Sensible Vancouver Association is made of Volunteers just like you. Join us.