UNINVITED CONTROVERSY

It's really not a big deal that Marc Emery, the leader of the B.C.
Marijuana Party, isn't going to be a panelist at Wednesday's marijuana
townhall meeting. Organizer Mark Warawa, Langley's MP, 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His invitation was revoked after Warawa found out the so-called "Prince of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.

Warawa's handlers are probably equally unsettled by the situation. By
yanking Emery from the invitation list, Warawa has created greater flak
than if he had just let Emery come.

The 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 than
that.

The invitation was pulled while it was still thought that Coleman would be
attending the forum. As it turns out, he has 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.