CANDIDATE FAVOURS POT'S LEGALIZATION

Norm Siefken, the Marijuana Party candidate in the federal electoral riding
that includes Pemberton, has a simple request for those in the Pemberton
area thinking of nipping his campaign signs as souvenirs: Please wait until
after June 28.

"People want them as souvenirs because they have a pot leaf on them. I just
wish they'd wait until after the election," said Siefken, who in addition
to being the party's candidate in Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon is its Western
Canada leader.

Siefken, one of about 100 Marijuana Party candidates nationwide, said that
while party policy stipulates that hopefuls support the full legalization
of marijuana, candidates are free to espouse any views they like on other
issues.

Siefken, for example, is in favour of abolishing the federal gun registry,
is a strong supporter of public health care, and stands fully behind
Canada' s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Siefken, who said he's hoping to improve upon the 800 votes he received in
the Chilliwack riding in the 2000 electi on, nonetheless said legalizing
marijuana is still his No. 1 issue.

He said other parties are far too concerned about what the Americans would
think if marijuana were legalized.

He said the legalization and regulation of marijuana in Canada would result
in $20 to $30 billion in federal taxes a year. As well, he said, if 1 per
cent of Americans were to come to Canada for what he called "marijuana
tourism," the tourist industry would see $12 to $15 billion in new revenue
every year.

"This is Canada and issues should be decided according to what the Canadian
people want," Siefken said. "The Americans certainly don't look to Canada
any time they want to do something, and neither should we."