THIS BUD'S FOR YOU

Chilliwack Radiologist Norm Siefken Is The Marijuana Party's Main Man In
The Valley

When the next federal election rolls along, Fraser Valley residents will
have one more political party to choose from.

Norm Siefken, 42, has announced he's the official Fraser Valley Candidate
for the newly-formed marijuana party. And he's not just blowing smoke.

Siefken said the party will get the minimum required 50 candidates to run,
enough to make the marijuana party an official political organization for
the next election. "The Marijuana Party is a very serious party," Siefken said.

"This is the first time in Canadian History we will see a Marijuana Party
running. In the past, candidates(who supported marijuana legalization) ran
as independents."

Siefken, and his party, say it's time marijuana use was legalized in
Canada, claiming the laws are outdated and the cash crop could be managed
and taxed much like the distribution of booze.

"If they treated it like alcohol and set up stores like liquor stores where
only adults could buy it, then it could be taxed. It could create $20
billion in new revenue."

Siefken said the underground marijuana industry is estimated to be bigger
than the forestry industry in British Columbia. It's estimated that illegal
grow-ops and the selling of the crop generates about $10 billion a year.
Meanwhile, authorities spend more than $3 billion a year fighting the war
on drugs.

"At this point in time there is no rational reason to continue the war on
pot," he added.

The Marijuana Party believes, once legalized, taxes raised through the
legal selling of pot could do a wealth of good to Canada's financial woes;
especially helping out health care while creating tax cuts.

"Right now, only the gangs are getting richer," Siefken said. "I see the
people on the waiting lists and the government is telling everybody we have
to have the waiting lists because the money just isn't there. But the money
is there."

Siefken works as a medical radiation technologist at three Fraser Valley
hospitals and also legally uses medical marijuana for pain relief after
suffering severe back injuries five years ago. He's part of the Vancouver
Compassion Club where he takes a medical prescription from his doctor to be
filled. He claims he's not a recreational drug user and hardly drinks.

"I am especially excited about the economic advantages of decriminalizing
marijuana for adults," he said.

"The billions of dollars in tax revenue from this multi-billion dollar
industry will be split between personal income tax cuts and new funding to
improve health care, education, and social services."