HEMP TO WAGE 'GUERILLA CAMPAIGN'

THE pro-marijuana candidate for the Aston by-election today said he
would be a shoo-in if he received the vote of everyone in the
middle-class seat who has smoked pot.

Help End Marijuana Prohibition (HEMP) Party candidate Graeme Dunstan,
59, who describes his occupation as an itinerant change agent,
promised a strong campaign.

"HEMP will be waging a guerilla theatre campaign in Aston to put
cannabis law reform on the federal political agenda," Mr Dunstan said.

"If everyone in Aston who has ever smoked pot voted for us, we'd win
hands down."

Mr Dunstan was unsure where his preferences would go but said the ALP
was notorious for its broken promises on cannabis law reform.

Aston is a marginal Liberal seat in outer metropolitan Melbourne, made
vacant by the recent sudden death of MP Peter Nugent.

The by-election will be held on Saturday, July 14.

In the Ryan by-election in Brisbane earlier this year HEMP candidate
Nigel Freemarijuana polled 2.3 per cent of the primary vote.