EDITORIAL: THINK BEFORE UN-INVITING A GUEST

It's really not a big deal that Marc Emery, the leader of the B.C.
Marijuana Party, wasn't invited to be a panelist at this week's marijuana
town hall meeting in Langley.

Organizer Mark Warawa, Langley's MP and former Abbotsford city councillor,
can invite whomever he wishes - it's his event.

But therein lies the rub.

Emery was invited.

His invitation was revoked after Warawa found out the so-called "Prince of
Pot" was going to run against Fort Langley-Aldergrove MLA Rich Coleman [who
is B.C.'s top cop - and therefore pothead enemy No. 1] in the upcoming
provincial election.

Miss Manners would be appalled. She would tell Warawa it is very impolite
to un-invite someone to your party. Let alone run and hide from a
legitimate candidate who brings interesting, albeit controversial, debate
to the table. Any seasoned politician should know that good debate on
interesting issues is what puts bums in the seats at these otherwise 'dry
as a Prairie wheat field in July' events can be.

Warawa's handlers are probably equally unsettled by the situation and will
hopefully advise the rookie MP of his decision.

By yanking Emery from the invitation list, Warawa has created greater flak
than if he had just let Emery come and debate.

The new MP said he didn't want the situation to become politicized.

Well, it's Canada and it's pot.

There is little that is more political, more of a hot-button issue, than that.

The invitation was pulled while it was still thought that Coleman would be
attending the forum.

As it turns out, he had a calendar conflict and was never able to make it.

But if Coleman had been there to face off with Emery, Warawa would have had
little to worry about.

A veteran politician, Coleman can debate issues well at the worst of times,
but in the spotlight, he positively shines.

And Emery is no slouch either. He's not just a joint-toking hippie; he's a
successful entrepreneur with a long history of social activism.

It would have made a great debate.

Now it's just all gone to pot.