B.C. pot activists push for legalization after Wash. vote

Pot advocates in B.C. say now that voters in Washington have passed a law to legalize possession of marijuana, it is time for a similar referendum here.

On Tuesday 55 per cent of voters in Washington State approved Initiative 502, legalizing the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by anyone over the age of 21.

The initiative also taxes and regulates the production and sale of cannabis, and makes it illegal to drive while under its influence.

Dana Larsen, the leader of Sensible BC, has been campaigning to trigger a similar B.C. referendum on legalization of marijuana in the fall of 2014.

He watched Washington's marijuana initiative with a mixture of envy and a hope for what might happen up here.

"I think this is a huge blow against the war on cannabis," said Larsen after the results were announced.

"We need to follow the example put forward by Washington State to end prohibition, to legalize it"

Jodie Emery is the wife of Marc Emery, the well-known pot activist who was jailed in the U.S. for selling cannabis seeds from his Vancouver mail-order business to customers in the U.S.

"It's nothing but positive news for us and we hope the Harper government is paying attention."

Emery says legalizing the production and sale of marijuana would cripple the province's billion-dollar illegal pot industry and the gangs that profit from it.

"We're both affected by the drug violence and the trade that goes across the border. And if Washington is going to legalize it - well it's our turn to do it next."

Both Larsen and Emery say the vote puts the lie to the argument that decriminalization in Canada would bring harsh consequences from the States.