POT PARTY MEMBER WON'T RUN IN ELECTION

TERRACE's perennial weed candidate says he won't roll again when the
federal election is called.

Bob Erb of the Marijuana Party says his name will not be on the ballot in
what is widely expected to be a spring election.

Instead, he plans to renew his old NDP membership and work to light up that
party's fortunes.

The Terrace construction worker is following in the footsteps of other
marijuana activists aiming to take the NDP higher.

B.C. Marijuana Party leader Dana Larsen has said he will seek the NDP
nomination in West Vancouver.

"There's not going to be a federal marijuana party," Erb noted.

Erb said he and others in the movement are impressed by NDP leader Jack
Layton's pledge to work towards the legalization of marijuana.

Erb says the NDP needs to refine its marijuana message, and talk more about
the benefits legalization could bring - such as increased tourism to Canada
- - as well as the potential for jobs from cultivation and use of industrial
hemp.

"It's not going to be just a bunch of stoners walking around Canada because
we've legalized pot," he said.

Erb has run unsuccessfully in provincial and municipal elections, most
recently for mayor against Jack Talstra in 2002.

Erb's decision may come as a relief to Talstra, who has said he's
considering a federal run for the Liberals and whose law firm handles
federal drug prosecutions here.

In the mayoral race, Erb's candidacy put Talstra on the spot when the mayor
confirmed telling the RCMP he'd prefer there be no drug arrests of Erb
during the campaign lest it appear Talstra directed police against his
opponent.

Erb gave out marijuana at an open house where volunteers also provided
rides to the advance polls.