STONER'S NDP BID UP IN SMOKE

The NDP has fired one of its candidates in British Columbia after a
video surfaced of him taking LSD, smoking more than 20 cannabis
joints in a single go and driving while under the influence of drugs.

Dana Larsen, a former editor of Cannabis Culture magazine and
one-time candidate for the marijuana party, was running for the NDP
in the riding of West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast.

Larsen also helped to set up the Vancouver Seed Bank, which not only
sells coca seeds, but also marijuana and poppy seeds. Larsen is well
plugged in to the cannabis scene and has dozens of videos on YouTube
in which he reads from his book: Harry Pothead and the Marijuana Stone.

DISTRACTION

Larsen resigned following a discussion with NDP officials yesterday.

"I didn't want this to distract from the larger issues of the
campaign. Since it seemed to be something people would be focusing
on, I decided to submit my resignation," he said in an interview.

The NDP has yet to name a new candidate for the riding.

Gerry Scott, campaign manager for the NDP national campaign in B.C.,
said Larsen's history as a marijuana advocate wasn't a factor in the
resignation.

Campaigning in Ontario, NDP Leader Jack Layton couldn't explain why
the party didn't vet the candidate more thoroughly.

"I don't know a lot of the details of what's gone on there," he said.
"But he's obviously taken the decision that he's not a suitable
candidate and we've accepted that decision of our B.C. team and of
the candidate himself."