HILL RALLY AIMING TO FIRE UP POT SUPPORT

Rick Reimer isn't satisfied being one of the few allowed to grow and
possess marijuana -- he wants to legalize it for all Canadians. The
Pembroke man is organizing a rally at the Centennial Flame on Parliament
Hill at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 -- two days before the federal election.

"It will force the politicians to actually talk about it instead of
sniggering around and making little jokes," said Reimer, puffing a roach
under the shadow of the Peace Tower yesterday.

Reimer, who has multiple sclerosis, is one of 74 Canadians allowed to grow
and possess a tiny amount of pot for medicinal purposes. He said it helps
him fight nausea, ward off fatigue and generally improve his quality of life.

No Harm Done

"The only harm it ever does to anyone is you're ingesting smoke into your
lungs," he said, suggesting pot is less harmful than legalized tobacco,
alcohol and prescription drugs.

Reimer is somewhat of an enigma in Canada; people can't share the contents
of his "happy box" or even water his ration of seven marijuana plants.

Sotos Petrides, Marijuana Party candidate for Ottawa West-Nepean, said he
attempted to enlighten the public about cannabis as an outreach worker for
Health Canada's Office of Natural Health Products. He quit after 10
stifling weeks.

While acknowledging he'll never be elected, Petrides hopes his party
garners enough votes to force the government to legalize marijuana.