MARIJUANA PARTY ON BALLOT IN NEXT ELECTION

Canadian politics is going to pot - literally.

The Marijuana party announced its intentions Thursday to run 15 candidates
in British Columbia and at least 50 across the country in the next federal
election.

The party has only one goal should it be elected: legalize marijuana.

The Marijuana party's Marc St. Maurice said if all pot smokers voted for the
party, it would have a good chance at winning seats.

"Look out Ottawa, here we come," he said during a news conference in an
empty building that used to house the Cannabis Cafe before authorities shut
it down.

"We need people to step forward and the first ones that will (sic) are the
most courageous and they do it with a straight face and a lot of hard work
and that sets the tone that sets the example and brings the right people on
side.

Those launching the party say too many people are scared with criminal
records for smoking marijuana, too many police resources are wasted chasing
them and too many economic opportunities are lost by continuing the
prohibition on marijuana.

Marc Emory (sic), a longtime B.C. marijuana activist, said marihuana is one
of the province's largest cash crops. He estimated marihuana production is
worth up to $5 billion to the B.C. economy.

"If the police campaign were successful in eradicating all that marijuana,
how could this province possibly cope with a drop of $4 to $5 billion in
revenue that's largely brought in from outside the province?" , he asked.

"That would be the most catastrophic economic thing to ever happen to this
province."

During the past year, police have drastically stepped up their enforcement
efforts. Stories about arrests of local marijuana grow operators are in the
news almost daily.

Police have said contrary to the laidback, munchie-eating image of pot
smokers, marijuana grow operators are often members of organized crime
gangs.

The party claims in campaign literature it gained 10,000 votes in Quebec
during the last federal election.