MARIJUANA PARTY CANDIDATE UNWELCOME AT POT MEETING

Langley Conservative MP Mark Warawa took back an invitation to the
president of the Marijuana Party, Marc Emery, to speak at his townhall
meeting on March 30.

The meeting, divided into two parts, was scheduled to address issues such
as the decriminalization of marijuana and the elimination of grow-ops.

Tanya Tait, a spokesperson at Warawa's office, said that the decision to
not invite Emery came after he announced that he would be running against
Rich Coleman in the upcoming election - the day after Warawa extended the
original invitation to the town hall meeting. Tait said that Warawa didn't
want the townhall meeting to turn too political, as Coleman and Emery are
scheduled to go "head-to-head" in the election.

She added that due to scheduling conflicts, Coleman would not be able to
attend, but would send a replacement.

But spokespeople for the marijuana party weren't satisfied with Warawa's
reasoning, as the invitation to the Soliciter General, and Emery's upcoming
opponent, Coleman remained open.

"When I saw that the Soliciter General had been invited, I immediately
assumed that Marc would be asked, again, to attend," said Kirk Tousaw, B.C.
Marijuana Party's campaign manager, in a press release which was sent out
earlier this week.

"After all, wouldn't MP Warawa want a fair and open discussion?"

In the same press release, Emery stated his disappointment in the decision.

"This will clearly be a prohibition love-fest," said Emery of the meeting.

"Coleman has been fear-mongering about marijuana for years. His policies
will not eliminate grow-ops.

"Instead, they will push mom and pop growers out of the industry, increase
the role of organized crime and increase the likelihood of violence.
Prohibition is a dangerous failure and we need to end it immediately. They
know it, and that is why they are afraid to debate us," said Emery.