MARIJUANA A BURNING FEDERAL ELECTION ISSUE

Prime Minister Paul Martin may be re-thinking a spring election call - but
marijuana will likely be a burning issue in the federal campaign regardless
of when the writ is dropped.

Incumbent Abbotsford Conservative MP Randy White wants assets of grow
operations forfeited, vowing this week the problem of illicit drug
cultivation must stop.

And in announcing his candidacy for the Marijuana Party of Canada in the
riding of Fraser Valley, Norm Siefken said Canada will "never be a free
country until marijuana users have the same rights as alcohol consumers."

In the riding of Abbotsford, Tim Felger - who ran unsuccessfully for mayor
in the last civic elections - will tackle his arch rival White to win the
job of MP.

White proposes that proceeds of crime legislation be toughened to allow
Crown prosecutors to apply to have homes, vehicles, cash and other assets
owned by those convicted of drug crimes seized.

Describing proceeds of crime legislation as being "mired in judicial muck,"
the MP said this week that sometimes all the offenders have to do after a
police bust is "go home, fix their front door and they're back in business
with a new crop in 12 weeks."

However, if the two Marijuana Party candidates have their way, busts would
be a thing of the past.

Siefken told the Abbotsford News this week he is a a medical marijuana
patient who uses cannabis to relieve severe pain from degenerating
arthritis in his spinal column and ankles. He is licensed by Health Canada
to grow and possess medical marijuana, but he admits to being a
"recreational" marijuana user.

"Canadians must have more than the bogus decriminalization being discussed
by the Paul Martin's Liberals. Canada will never be a free country until
marijuana users have the same rights as alcohol consumers." said Siefken.
"A small percentage of alcohol consumers make irresponsible decisions which
harm or kill others, but we don't treat all alcohol consumers as criminals
because of this," he added.

Felger told the Abbotsford News this week he believes Martin will not call
a spring election, but that will offer him and Siefken more time to
organize their campaigns. "Prohibition is a cancer on society," said
Felger, who has made recent court appearances on cannabis-related charges.
He considered running for the federal New Democrats, but said the NDP has a
lot of "political baggage that people just don't like. "No, I don't expect
a spring election," he said, adding: "Now we have the time to build
momentum and hold some rallies and put a machine together."