POT PARTY: MORE SUBSTANCE FOR BC

Elkford resident Fred Sima is proud to become the region's candidate for
the BC Marijuana Party (BCMP). While his party's primary focus is on the
decriminalization of marijuana, Sima says the party's fundamental platform
of Choices, Options, Tolerance, go far beyond legalizing weed.

"The knowledge is getting out there that marijuana has more good than bad
associated with it," says Sima. "The bad that comes from marijuana comes
from the criminalization of it, not the usage of it."

Sima says he was drawn to politics after he was busted for cultivation of
marijuana for his personal use."

"I felt I had to come forward," says Sima. "... it's just ridiculous what
the government does to criminalize people for basically doing something in
their home. I don't feel it's right."

The BCMP has 46 provincial candidates with a membership ranging in age from
18-64. Candidates hail from diverse racial and religious backgrounds and
include three former NDP candidates, a former Canadian Alliance party
member and even seven non-marijuana smokers.

Some of the party's objectives include allowing competition in BC's auto
insurance industry, giving control over forest activities to local
communities and greater accountability for government and police services.

The BCMP also supports a workable ballot initiative system whereby citizens
groups could bring issues to a public referendum.

"We're open to all kinds of ideas," says Sima. "We're not afraid of using
other parties' ideas either, as long as they're for the good and freedom of
the people of Canada."

Sima says he has realistic expectations for the upcoming election, but
states the party's message is what matters. The BCMP's own party pamphlet
states "...the Liberals will form BC's next government through virtue of
being the only party which hasn't screwed up and that only because they
have never been in power."

"We're not out to win the election as a political party and take over the
government," says Sima. "If nothing else we're going to get the message
out that marijuana is basically a benign substance, we've proved it in the
courts. If we could legalize it in the same way as alcohol through
responsible and regulated use, we would see the tax dollars used to bust
people turn into income."

BCMP Candidate will be campaigning in East Kootenay communities prior to
the provincial election May 16.