ADVENT OF POT PARTY SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE

Ever since our children were teenagers, they have been politically active.

Because of my job, they were listening to political discussions at the
dinner table when they were knee-high to a grasshopper. By the time they
were in their teens, they got involved in election campaigns, first as
campaign workers, then as candidates.

I have never belonged to any political party. I feel that it is my job to
be independent and criticize politicians, regardless of what party they
belong to and praise them when praise is due.

As a result our children were politically all over the map and still are.
Our oldest son, Charles ran for the NDP in the last federal election, Gary,
our second-oldest ran provincially for Gordon Wilson's Progressive
Democratic Alliance. Our daughter, Patricia, the born free enterpriser,
has always leaned more to the right, considering at one time running for
the Socreds.

This time, Gary and Patricia are staying on the sidelines. Not Chuck, No
Sir, he is running in this federal election for the Marijuana Party.

Chuck is not what you might call a pothead. He is a realtor and good at
his job. The reason he's running for the fringe Marijuana Party is his
unshakeable belief that possession of marijuana should be decriminalized
and people allowed to grow and possess small amounts for personal use.

I happen to agree, although I don't think I would back up that conviction
with my candidacy for the Marijuana Party, any more than I would consider
running for any of the mainstream parties.

And according to a National Post poll earlier this year, 65 per cent of all
Canadians agree that possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal
use should not be a criminal offence.

Yet, in 1998, 19,200 adults and youths were charged for possession of
marijuana. And about 2,000 Canadians went to jail on simple possession
charges. This on the strength of a law two out of three Canadians want
abolished.

But by far the worst result of the criminalization of drugs, both soft and
hard, is the crime it fosters.

Prohibition is the most fertile soil for crime, and you can bet your last
dollar that the criminals who make huge profits on the smuggling and sale
of drugs are not among those who want its possession decriminalized.

It is estimated that the legalization and regulation, along the lines of
alcohol, just another drug, would generate $20 billion a year. That's not
chicken feed. I'm sure Paul Martin would find good use for such a windfall.

The legalization of drugs has been proposed by some pretty influential
people. Vince Cain, former Chief Coroner of British Columbia, urged
governments to legalize drugs.

Economist Milton Friedman: "Legalizing drugs would simultaneously reduce
the amount of crime and raise the quality of law enforcement. Can you
conceive of any other measure that would accomplish so much to promote law
and order?"

Mainstream parties have on occasion broached the subject, but were always
beaten back by the reactionary forces among their members.

Alliance leader Stockwell Day hinted during his campaign for the party
leadership that, perhaps, the time had come to consider decriminalizing
drugs. A resolution to that effect, however, was defeated by convention
delegates.

With no other party in sight to tackle the issue, Chuck decided to run for
the Marijuana Party. I don't think he has any illusions of winning, but he
says he is looking forward to airing the issue during the campaign.

I am interested to see how many young people who wouldn't dream of even
voting because they are disenchanted with the candidates and parties on
offer will feel compelled to register their protest vote in favor of the
Marijuana Party.