MAYORAL CANDIDATE CHARGED WITH POT POSSESSION

One of the candidates for mayor of Thunder Bay has been charged with
possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

The Chronicle-Journal has learned that Douglas MacKay, 53, was charged
Sept. 11 after police seized almost nine kilograms of marijuana.

Depending on the quality, that amount could be worth more than
$175,000 on the street.

City police spokesman Chris Adams says officers were called Sept. 9 to
a Crown Street apartment by the landlord who had reportedly found
marijuana in bags in the unit of an evicted tenant.

MacKay, himself, confirmed Friday that he had been charged and gave no
indication of withdrawing from the Nov. 13 race.

In announcing his candidacy last August, MacKay said his priority
would be to make Thunder Bay a test area for legal marijuana use.

"People would come from all over the world," he said then, citing the
economic boost to the city.

MacKay ran unsuccessfully in the last federal election under the
Marijuana Party banner in the Thunder Bay-Rainy River riding.

In the August Chronicle-Journal story MacKay described himself as a
"pot grower."

According to Adams, MacKay is next due to appear in court Nov. 23.