People were ready, even waiting "all his life," as one man described, this week to sign a petition in the Comox Valley seeking the decriminalization of marijuana in the province.
Local activist Ernie Yacub said reaction to the Sensible B.C. campaign being spearheaded by Vancouver-based Dana Larsen in the Valley has been "excellent."
"There's been a lot of variety of people (wanting to sign); we're really thrilled about it and that it's crossed all boundaries," he added.
"There's been activists, retired military personnel, old people, young men and young women. The response has definitely picked up in the last couple of weeks."
Sensible B.C. has 70 canvassers in the Valley, and Yacub said 100 is "doable."
"We're getting there really quickly, we might even get to 500," he noted.
Over the next three months, Sensible B.C. has to collect 10 per cent of registered voters in each of the province's 85 electoral districts, equalling about 400,000 signatures, and submit the petition by Dec. 9.
Yacub said anyone interested in becoming a canvasser doesn't have to go door to door. He is aiming for 10,000 signatures in the Valley alone.
"Our minimum is 7,000, but we actually need 5,000 signatures here," he said. "We would like to get 10,000 and maybe I'm an optimist, but I think we're going to do it."
Beginning Thursday, the petition will be circulated throughout the area and will be at a variety of business, including Sure Copy, Urban Smoke, Progressive Growth Hydroponics, LUSH Valley Food Action Society and Zocalo Café.
Yacub added they are looking for other business who would be willing to have a stationary petition at their store or business.
For more information or to register as a canvasser, visit sensiblebc.ca.
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