Citizen's Initiated Referendum?

Lochaber · Enthusiast Joined: Feb 19, 2008 Posts: 67 Location: SINZ

A friend of mine who has a passing interest in CLR asked me the other day if anyone had ever tried, or considered trying, to get the requisite number of signatures to force a referendum on CLR?

Made me wonder - doesn't seem like many people are interested, but why not?
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paula · Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 5:19 pm

Its definately been considered. Referendums aren't binding, so it would be a shitload of work to coordinate the petition, which you need in order to get permission for the referendum. There is a timeframe involved in which to collect the required number of signatures on the petition, from people who are on the electoral roll. Then how would you word it, that would need very careful choosing. The semantics are arguable till the cows come home LOL

rasputin · Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 5:57 pm

Sadly when you consider the number of signatures required and the number of supporrters to gather them it would seem the CLR cause would need to grow a bit before such a venture.
Sadly NORML does not have the resources to keep the Cannabus on the road to continue the excellent high profile 420 journey and subsequent activity in Queen Street etc,. Such a shame that such a resource is parked up at this time of year.

Baccy · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:49 am

so how much people are exactly needed for this to happen?. Right now alot of people have doubt in the goals we all aim for but if their was a set required amount of people needed to sign up for a petititon then it could start a movement of the bud smokers but it has to be advertised in a proper manner with funds backing it and then boom the plan falls through lol.

hometoad · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:00 pm

semantics and numbers are unfortunately only part of the problem. Another part of the problem is when you've sorted semantics and got the required numbers that are legit and have got it all parliment is that it doesn't become a political hot potato or foot ball that winds up getting treated the way the anti smacking legislation petition may well do.

Paul13 · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:27 pm

About 270,000 authenticated signatures are required on a petition to cause a non-binding referendum. About 120,000 valid votes in a few weeks time in the general election would get the ALCP over the 5% threshold and put 6 pot activists into parliament.

Of course we can all wait till the Law Commision brings out its findings on the misuse of drugs act, can we? When will that be? 2 years? And what will the findings be?


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