TOKEN SUPPORT

Alison Myrden had some very personal reasons to be pleasantly
surprised by the Fraser Institute report this week that recommended
the legalization of marijuana. "Wasn't that incredible?" said the New
Democratic Party candidate in Oakville, Ont., who smokes up regularly
to ease the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. She is one of the more
than 800 Canadians who carry a licence to use marijuana without legal
repercussions.

The use of the drug isn't central to Ms. Myrden's campaign, but she
says her experiences with the health system since being diagnosed 12
years ago with a rare form of MS called Tic Douloureux (which affects
a cranial nerve) put her onside with the NDP's strong support of
universal medicare.

Ms. Myrden doesn't hide her use of the drug from her potential
constituents. She's been known to nip out of all-candidates meetings
or interrupt her canvassing (in a wheelchair) for a quick toke to deal
with the piercing facial pain she suffers around the clock.

"I smoke everywhere I go. Everywhere you can smoke a cigarette, I
smoke marijuana," she said. "But I have to because I'm sick."