JOB PROSPECTS ENDLESS, SAYS MARIJUANA CANDIDATE

Larry Kunz became the B.C. Marijuana Party candidate in the
Cowichan-Ladysmith riding almost by accident.

Kunz, 41, who currently lives in Port Alberni, has been involved in
the hemp movement since attending a Hemp Fest in Nelson, in 1993,
after which he became a hemp minister in the Assembly of the Church of
the Universe.

"For me (the Hemp Fest) was just a magical eye-opener," Kunz said. "It
gave me such energy and such focus."

The aspiring writer got involved with the Marijuana Party after making
a simple phone call to ask for more information.

He said the party asked if he'd be interested in running on the North
Island and he accepted.

When Meaghan Walker-Williams withdrew as the party's candidate in
Cowichan-Ladysmith, Kunz was asked to replace her, since it was closer
to his home.

Kunz, who admits to having no previous political experience or even
aspirations toward public office, said the B.C. Marijuana Party
platform covers all the issues, but always comes back to one key
concept: legalizing cannabis and hemp.

"That's the number one issue," he said, "then all the other things are
going to happen."

By legalizing the production of marijuana and hemp, Kunz maintains the
government could dramatically increase revenue, through taxation on
commercial hemp and marijuana production, as well as through saving
the millions of dollars spent to fight the war on marijuana.

He also argues that unemployment would drop due to the labour needed
to plant and harvest hemp, while hemp production would provide fiber
to operate mills.

"The employment prospects are just endless. There'd be a lot of work,"
Kunz said. "We could get rid of the deficit, employ people and just
growing it would help the environment."

In health care, Kunz said a Marijuana government would ensure access
to alternative and complementary medicine, while also licensing
medicinal marijuana for distribution through pharmacies.

"The worst thing about marijuana right now is the cost people who want
to smoke it have to pay to get it," Kunz said, adding that medicinal
marijuana could be provided at cost through pharmacies.

Kunz believes his party can win at least one or two seats in the May
16 general election, but also said presenting options for voters is
important.

"There's a lot of people saying it's about time," he said. "A lot of
people are saying anything is better than the NDP, but they don't want
to vote for the Liberals."