MARIJUANA PARTY HOPES TO HARVEST VOTES

The Marijuana Party candidate in Richmond East says the tide is shifting,
and B.C. may soon pay off its debt with a new cash crop.

"If B.C. legalizes pot we are going to be the number one economy in the
world," candidate John Shavluk said.

"But instead we give it to bikers and criminals and thieves."

The Marijuana Party will be running candidates in all three ridings this
election. Alice Kan-Halford is running in Richmond Centre and Gordon
Mathias is the Richmond Steveston candidate.

While legalization of marijuana and the industrial use of hemp are not the
only issues in the party's platform, they are central to party policy.

The party platform calls for a "removal of provincial funding from
marijuana law enforcement" and "a rational drug policy that includes
decriminalization, harm reduction and the prescription or heroin and cocaine."

Although both Shavluk and Kan-Halford both concede they doesn't have a
shade of a chance of winning, Shavluk said the investment of his time and
money is worthwhile.

The 44-year-old father of three said bringing up the issue of legalization
is one most politicians are afraid to touch.

"It's just too much (risk) and none of the mainstream politicians want to
tackle it because it is a tough issue," Shavluk said.

Not only have millions of dollars of revenues been lost through the
criminalization of marijuana, but millions more have been spent fighting
it, he said.

"The so-called 'war on drugs' is against our own children. If you look at
the police and prosecutor's budgets, the percentage growth there-my God."

Shavluk said the party could just as easily be called the Democracy Party,
because the platform stresses issues of choice and freedom.

The party also advocates a "voucher system" whereby parents could choose
the type of education their child receives, legalization of prostitution
and including restorative justice as an option for victims of crime.

"It's giving people choices," Shavluk said.

Alice Kan-Halford said she's been interested in politics from the age of
14, and was inspired by her party's platform.

"I believe strongly in their issues and I am a recreational user myself,"
said Kan-Halford, 19, who is manager of the Marijuana Party book shop in
Vancouver.

Kan-Halford said the party was very much a one-issue party when it made its
debut in the 2000 federal election, but not any more.

"We try to cover all issues," said the R.C. Palmer Secondary grad who now
lives in Vancouver.

In coming days, she said she plans to hit the streets of Richmond to spread
her party's message.

Kan-Halford said her parents have mixed feelings about her debut in the
political scene.

"I'm told my parents are glad I've taken the initiative," she said.

"However, the Marijuana Party they're not as happy about."

The election will be held May 16. Liberals currently hold all three of the
seats in Richmond.