POT POPS UP IN POLITICS - AGAIN - SO WHERE DO PARTIES STAND?

Pot. Weed. Grass. In spite of its many names, marijuana -and the
contentious issue of legalization - hasn't had much attention from the
main party leaders during this campaign.

But some Canadians still want to sniff out the federal politicians'
views on the odorous green plant.

"I want to hear all the major contenders for my next prime minister
talk to me about their stance on marijuana. Whether it be
decriminalization or legalization, I don't care. Just talk about it,"
implored David Robert, MTV talk-show star, in an email to canada.com.

A recent decision by the Ontario Superior Court to strike down key
parts of the act that prohibits the possession and production of
marijuana has brought the issue back into the headlines. The federal
government has 90 days in which to decide if it will appeal the
decision, which centred on access to marijuana for medicinal purposes.

And last week, high-profile Canadian marijuana activist Marc Emery
- who had been imprisoned in the U.S. for selling marijuana seeds to
Americans through his Vancouver based catalogue company - was told he
can't serve part of his five year sentence in Canada.

So where do the parties stand?

CONSERVATIVES: The Conservatives, are "not into the business of
decriminalizing marijuana," says Tory candidate Rob Nicholson,
minister of justice in the outgoing Parliament.

"I think it sends out the wrong message to people."

LIBERALS: Party spokesman Michael O'Shaughnessy said in an email the
Liberals are reviewing the court ruling on medical marijuana, but the
Liberals are opposed to full decriminalization.

NDP: The party says it would adopt a harm-reduction approach to
substance abuse, permit the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes
and decriminalize possession.

The NDP voted against a Tory bill that would have created minimum
penalties for those found in possession of as few as six marijuana
plants.