MARIJUANA PARTY PLANS TO RUN IN NEXT FEDERAL ELECTION

VANCOUVER (CP) - Canadian politics is going to pot - literally. The
Marijuana party announced its intentions Thursday to run 15 candidates in
British Columbia and at least 50 across the country in the next federal
election.

The party has only one goal should it be elected: legalize marijuana.

The Marijuana party's Marc St. Maurice said if all pot smokers voted for
the party, it would have a good chance at winning seats.

"Look out Ottawa, here we come," he said during a news conference in an
empty building that used to house the Cannibis Cafe before authorities shut
it down.

"We need people to step forward and the first ones that will are the most
courageous and they do it with a straight face and a lot of hard work and
that sets the tone, that sets the example and brings the right people on side."

Those launching the party say too many people are scarred with criminal
records for smoking marijuana, too many police resources are wasted chasing
them and too many economic opportunities are lost by continuing the
"prohibition" on marijuana.

Marc Emory, a longtime B.C. marijuana activist, said marijuana is one of
the province's largest cash crops. He estimated marijuana production is
worth up to $5 billion to the B.C. economy.

"If the police campaign were successful in eradicating all that marijuana,
how could this province possibly cope with a drop of $4 to $5 billion in
revenue that's largely brought in from outside the province?" he asked.

"That would be the most catastrophic economic thing to ever happen to this
province."

During the past year, police have drastically stepped up their enforcement
efforts. Stories about arrests of local marijuana grow operators are in the
news almost daily.

Police have said contrary to the laid-back, munchie-eating image of pot
smokers, marijuana grow operators are often members of organized crime gangs.

The party claims in campaign literature it gained 10,000 votes in Quebec
during the last federal election and that Bloc Pot is "one of the most
popular non-mainstream parties."

St. Maurice said criminalization of marijuana has stigmatized the crop and
prevented economic opportunities in the production of hemp products and
medical marijuana.

"If we can remove the stigma, people will be able to get in business for
hemp and keep the cost low and compete. Then, let the better product prevail."

He said the Marijuana party is a one-issue party. If elected government -
the party doesn't yet have a leader - the party would amend the marijuana
law to legalize the plant.

Some restrictions would apply. The party's campaign literature says "proper
age limits should be set to protect our youth from abusive consumption."

As well, the party would prohibit people from driving while under the
influence of marijuana.

Once Canadian legislation is amended and the party has brought in an
election system to allow proportional representation, "then we would
discreetly bow out having considered that we've done everything we promised
to," St. Maurice said.

"Obviously, the cost of a new election would be greatly offset by the
amount of money we will be generating in the legal marijuana trade."