MARIJUANA PARTY ROLLS OUT ELECTION IDEAS TO CONVINCE VOTERS IT'S NOT JUST
TOKEN GROUP

Single-issue party touts candidates in Quebec and Ontario

MONTREAL - The Marijuana Party rolled out its election platform yesterday,
hoping its 100 or so candidates can convince voters it's more than just a
token party.

The grassroots organization aims to field candidates in every region of
Canada except Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and the Northwest
Territories.

One of the most intriguing contests will pit party leader Marc-Boris
St-Maurice against Prime Minister Paul Martin in the Montreal riding of
LaSalle-Emard.

"We're going to try to find out a little bit more about Sheila's brownies,"
Mr. St-Maurice joked, referring to the prime minister's comment at the end
of last year that his wife once made strange-tasting brownies.

But Mr. St-Maurice, who launched the campaign surrounded by marijuana
paraphernalia, including leaves, bags of seeds and posters emblazoned with
the party's "Let's Roll" slogan, later said he believes it is inappropriate
to ask people if they've used dope.

"To be honest, I don't really care whether Paul Martin smoked marijuana or
not. I really care if he's going to legalize it."

Legislation aimed at decriminalizing possession of small amounts of
marijuana died in the Commons this spring.

The 35-year-old Mr. St-Maurice, whose party garnered more than 66,000 votes
in 2000 and is aiming for more than 100,000 on June 28, admits the Marijuana
Party is focused on one topic, but says it's high time it got more
attention.

"We are a single-issue party, but that issue covers finances, social
climate, justice, international relations and agriculture," said Mr.
St-Maurice.

Quebec, with 40 hopefuls, and Ontario, with about 25, will lead the way
nationally, prompting Mr. St-Maurice to boldly claim the "Marijuana Party is
experiencing positive growth."

Another candidate with Commons aspirations is Mike Foster, who will fly the
flag in Ottawa Centre. "There are more than three million Canadians who
smoke," said Mr. Foster, who runs a shop that dubs itself a "countercultural
variety store."

Mr. Foster, who will turn 50 in a few weeks and has smoked a joint or two
most days since the age of 16, finds it ironic that one of his direct
opponents on election day will be former NDP leader Ed Broadbent.

"I used to vote for Ed Broadbent years ago," Mr. Foster said with a laugh.

"I don't think I would now. I think that ship has sailed."