CANDIDATE'S CAMPAIGN BUILT ON HEMP PROMISE

Refitting B.C.'s economic engines and the way we're governed are the
mechanics behind the B.C. Marijuana Party's election campaign, Malahat-Juan
de Fuca candidate Ron Anderton says.

"Our platform is diversifying health care, and decentralizing forestry by
taking power away from international conglomerates and letting communities
decide what they want done with their forests."

"Hemp can replace everything we're taking out of the forest today."

Anderton, 48, who lives near Colwood, says hemp farmers could sell their
environmentally-safe fibre for making all types of paper that could be
recycled up to eight times.

"If we can get a hemp industry growing, we won't need any new taxes and
we'd hopefully reduce them. The public would end up with more disposable
cash to spend and widen our tax base."

Anderton is a former roofer who is on a permanent disability.

He admits to having smoked marijuana and supports his party's drive to
democratically legalize pot for medical and personal use.

The BCMP says pot could be sold as a controlled substance, much like
alcohol and cigarettes.

"Its taxation could go into government revenue and there'd be a cost
savings by police not pursuing marijuana smokers," he said.

He estimates about $100 million a year could be saved that's now spent
keeping people in Canadian jails for pot offences.

Voters should decide if weed is another vice.

"We're over-governed and we have to give the power back to the individual."

Wider use of marijuana for medical purposes could ease chronic pain and
dilute the nausea of chemotherapy, says Anderton.

"Hemp should be the biggest legal industry in B.C. We've got the best pot
in the world so it makes sense we could grow the best hemp."

About 25,000 products can be made from hemp crops, including clothing,
foods, and lubricants.

Education is the way to inform voters about its uses. "Our platform's based
on choices, options and tolerance.

"Somewhere we've lost the definition of government."

The BCMP also wants: an end to the war on drugs; a school voucher system
based on credits to schools picked by parents and students; and licensed
brothels and prostitution to control the spread of HIV.