POT PARTY RAISES A STINK WITH LAWMAKERS

Province will look at banning weed warriors from Legislature grounds after
smokefest

Monday's pot party on the Legislature grounds was likely the last straw for
the annual high-jinks, Public Works Minister Stan Woloshyn said yesterday.

"I'm looking at the feasibility of not allowing it," Woloshyn said. "We try
to make the Legislature grounds available to people in the province - it's
their place, after all. But in no way can we condone illegal activities."

The weed-fest planted itself near the band-shell three years ago on Labour
Day, despite being denied permission, and squatted there again this past
holiday weekend.

About 250 people attended.

"This year they didn't even have the courtesy to ask for it," Woloshyn
said, adding it was originally billed as an event to promote hemp and its
many non-narcotic uses, but has gradually grown into a celebration of
dope-smoking.

Woloshyn said he had no problem with people campaigning or lobbying for
changes in legislation but the line must be drawn at deliberate
law-breaking. Police monitoring the bands and speeches calling for
decriminalizing marijuana said this year's crop of partygoers - including
several young teens - were particularly brazen in flaunting the rules. Two
people were charged with possession. "Because of the behaviour exhibited by
some of the people in attendance, if there is a similar type of gathering
in the future there will be enhanced law enforcement," Alberta Justice
spokesman Peter Tadman said. "The laws of the land have to be in effect."
Organizers of the pot party could not be reached for comment.

Copyright (c) 1998, Canoe Limited Partnership.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski