GOING TO POT

Grass May Not Be The Only Issue, But It Sure Seems To Be At The Root Of It All

Dear Editor,
The Langley Advance News has done its readers a disservice, spreading
factually inaccurate comments about the political party I founded, the BC
Marijuana Party. Even a casual look at our website and our platform shows
we are no one-issue party.

We propose a "voucher" system to improve education opportunities,
legalizing prostitution to reduce disease and injury to sex trade workers,
and legalizing all naturopathy and homeopathy to increase our choices and
options in medicine.

We propose proportional representation (after the Liberals win all 79 seats
and have a one-party parliament for four years, we'll all wish we had this
in place), ballot initiatives that work, and of course, eliminating
marijuana prohibition.

Our website, www.bcmarijuanaparty.ca, clearly indicates that we have a
platform that offers up what our theme is: "Choices, Options, Tolerance."

Your writer [Politicians gone to pot, April 15 Comment, Advance News] spent
80 per cent of his time on sarcasm and offered readers not even any useful
criticism, as though he hadn't even seen or was aware of our platform.
Shame on the Langley Advance News.

We are fielding a full slate of 79 candidates. Never before has any new
party offered a full slate of candidates in their first BC election.
Perhaps your writer can at least dismiss "amotivational syndrome" from his
presumed long list of factually inaccurate stereotypes, since the BC
Marijuana Party clearly has its act together.

Marc Emery
President, BC Marijuana Party

Dear Editor,
While I was able to see some humour in Troy Landreville's description of a
Marijuana Party victory party [Politicians gone to pot, April 15 Comment,
Advance News], many sick people fail to see the humour. I know of some sick
people who don't use pot because they like it; they use it because it's the
best medicine that works with the least unpleasant side effects.

The government now says you have to have one year or less to live in order
to get this medicine with no hassle. Do you think this is funny? Do you
think this to be a fair trade-off? I do not, nor do most Canadians.

Perhaps he would be better off to investigate before he wrote.

Michael Mann
Oak Bay-Gordon Head

Editor Note: The scientific jury is still out on the value of smoking pot
for medicinal purposes, as compared to consuming the active ingredients in
pill form (available by prescription) without the negative effects of smoke
inhalation. In any case, the Marijuana Party advocates complete
legalization - not just use for medicinal purposes.

And reality is this: as long as they call themselves the "Marijuana Party,"
most people will not take candidates seriously on other issues, for
precisely the reasons that Troy highlighted with humour.