MARIJUANA PARTY'S EX-LEADER BECOMES A LIBERAL CONVERT

OTTAWA -- Political defections to the Liberal party aren't unusual, but the
announcement today to confirm the issuance of Liberal membership No. 766001
is bound to turn heads.

Marc-Boris St-Maurice, the founder and former leader of the Marijuana party,
is the latest Liberal convert and vows he won't be satisfied to sit quietly
on the sidelines.

St-Maurice said yesterday he wants to help the Liberals become the party
that completely legalizes marijuana and he believes there is already
substantial support for such legislation among party members.

"They may be silent supporters, but I know for a fact that it's very strong
support and I will try and -- without trying to make any puns -- smoke them
out, identify them and work to try and come together and make (new
legislation) work."

In the last eight years, St-Maurice, 36, has helped organize parties
dedicated to reforming marijuana laws. He's also been arrested seven times
for possessing small amounts of marijuana, has appeared before committees of
the House of Commons and the Senate, calling for the drug's legalization,
and ran against Prime Minister Paul Martin in Martin's Montreal-area riding
of LaSalle-Emard in the June 28, 2004, election -- receiving 324 votes
compared to Martin's 23,258.