PERSON, PLACE, THING

PERSON: Tad Low, Creator/Executive Producer Of Pop-Up Video On Muchmoremusic

PLACE: Chestnut Street, Toronto

THING: Politicians And Marijuana

Q: Have you smoked marijuana? Did you inhale?

A: "Like I'm just going to sit here and burn it? Why would I want to waste it?"

Q: Do you condone media interest in whether politicians did or did not
smoke dope as youths?

A" "I'm a big fan of recreational marijuana use. In fact, most of my TV
shows have been created under the influence. It helps you to step outside
the normal current of everyday life and look at things with a new
perspective. From a politician's standpoint, what could be better?"

Q: Opinion polls have shown that the public doesn't care about a
politician's youthful use/abstention. Is it important?

A: "It's a big thing so journalists can get [politicians] in a GOTCHA!
situation and sway the voter away. I think they're going to find the
opposite. If a politician would come out and say "I did," and "I do," and
"I love it," it might be political suicide, but I think the tide has turned
and that kind of honest admission would help him."

Q: That being the case, why don't you stay and run for office?

A: "I'm not sure an American can do that, and I'm not sure what your
munchie situation is up here."

Q: Do you believe politicians who claim they have never tried marijuana?

A: "You've got to wonder what sort of person gets into politics in the
first place? These guys are not the sort of people you'd put at the top of
your party list. It's not that they haven't wanted to try it, it's just
that they haven't been invited to any parties."

Q: Name a politician who you have strong suspicions smoked marijuana
despite their denial.

A: "Al Gore. Definitely! For him to be such a stiff and score -- 20 years
ago -- what I'd consider a babe -- Tipper -- there's no way! She wouldn't
have gone for such a stiff unless there was some sort of medicinal
encouragement."

Q: Do you favour decriminalization of marijuana use?

A: "Where I come from, New York, there used to be clouds of marijuana
wafting down the streets. At intermission time at Broadway musicals it
wouldn't just be cigarettes lit up outside the theatre. It was like a
Cheech and Chong movie. Now, you have to be extra careful where you light
up. I've got friends who spent a night in jail just for smoking a joint.
It's crazy! I'm for decriminalization. The only people against
decriminalization are the politicians who have never tried it!"