MARIJUANA CANDIDATE TOSSED FROM DEBATE

NELSON - Marijuana Party candidate Dan Loehndorf will not take part in
Wednesday's election forum at L.V. Rogers High School after administrators
decided his presence at the campus was not appropriate.

"We had reason to believe that many people would consider this particular
presentation to be inappropriate for students," said Don Truscott,
superintendent of the Kootenay Lake School District. "When a person is
advocating something which is against the law then it's our position that
we would have a concern with that."

Last week staff at the local high school grappled with the issue of
allowing a candidate which advocates the legalization and use of marijuana
to present to students.

On Monday, Loehndorf was called to the school for a meeting with Principal
Brian De Biasio and told he was not welcome.

"They told me that they were concerned that the students would be held
captive to something that they would rather not hear," Loehndorf said. "I
think it's upsetting because I would like kids in our society to really
have a fair understanding of democracy. I think they should be encouraged
to go out and vote and by discluding (sic) me it creates the perception
that the voting process is unfair, that it's rigged, that it can be
influenced by authorities who shouldn't be meddling in the federal
electoral process and that will discourage them further from getting out
and voting."

Though De Biasio could not be reached for comment, Truscott said he stands
by the decision made by LVR administration.

"The forum is not a public forum and candidates were invited to come and
make representation. It's not unusual for us to be very careful about who
we have coming into the school and what they are going to be speaking
about," said Truscott, who was informed of the decision, but not part of
making it.

"It's a tough situation. We have a duty to perform with respect to making
sure what goes on in schools is something that we can defend. If there are
students or people in the public that want to hear this particular person's
platform they can do that in a public forum.

What is going on in the school is not necessarily public and it's never
been our practice to allow just anybody to come in and say what they wish."

Loehndorf said he will be protesting outside the school on Wednesday and
that Marijuana Party national leader Marc-Boris St-Maurice is scheduled to
arrive in Nelson and add his support.

"We're seeking legal counsel on the issue and the party is considering a
lawsuit," said Loehndorf.