SO, JUST WHAT WERE THEY SMOKING?

Candidates, Crowd Get In The Spirit

Most At Debate Back Legalizing Pot

From the microphone came a question for the candidates that had
nothing to do with health or education or the Constitution or guns:
"Where do you stand on the legalization of marijuana?"

All seven candidates in the riding of Trinity-Spadina, seated at a
long table at the front of the lecture hall at the Miles Nadal Jewish
Community Centre on Bloor St. W. last week, smiled as the more than
300 residents in the packed room suddenly sat up with new interest.

So, legalizing pot, eh?

The first to answer was John Riddell, a white-haired gentleman
running for the Canadian Action Party, whose day job is
superintendent of a highrise. The audience hushed as he leaned back
in his chair, looked upward and replied with a slight grin, "I don't
think I'd have a problem with that."

Laughter. Cheers.

Next was Nick Lin, running for the Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada,
making his fourth attempt for political office.

Clearing his throat, he replied, "I don't think it's appropriate for
the state to interfere in individual lives."

The crowd went wild. "The Communist party? Holy cow!" someone in the
second row exclaimed with glee.

Next up was the Liberals' Tony Ianno, defending his seat in the
riding. He mentioned his support for his party's proposed
decriminalization of marijuana, then added something about how pot
would obviously become an alternative to drinking, so we'd have to
figure out "how to ensure if people are smoking that they're driving safely."

People looked at each other aghast. Did we hear right? Things were
certainly looking good.

Next was Asif Hossain, candidate for the Progressive Canadian Party
and a student at the University of Toronto.

Hossain leaned forward and declared with a grin, "As the youngest
candidate in the room, you might assume that I smoke all the time."
Cheers, applause. "But I don't." That being said, he added that he
believes in civil liberties, so bring it on.

More applause, hoots.

Suddenly, the mood in the room turned dark as Conservative candidate
Sam Goldstein, seething in his seat, took his turn. Pointing a
menacing finger at the crowd, he chastised them for wanting
candidates to control gun crime in their city, while wanting to
legalize a drug that was causing the gang warfare on their streets.

"You are supporting gang violence in this city!" he roared. The crowd
erupted in anger, shaking their fists as he continued to vent his disgust.

The moderator banged on the podium to stop the commotion and finally
the next candidate, the New Democratic Party's Olivia Chow, was able to speak.

"Well," she said. "I'm surprised it has taken so long and still
nothing has been done."

More applause.

Finally, the seventh and final candidate was able to speak -- Thom
Chapman of the Green party, a young man who plays chess in his spare time.

The room waited in silence and then he said, "I'm sorry, I forgot the
question."

He got the biggest laugh of all.