CN BC: Pot Head Aims At Solicitor General

[IndianaToker]

by Kurt Langmann, (Source:Aldergrove Star)
24 Feb 2005

British Columbia
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The president of the B.C. Marijuana Party has set his sights on challenging local MLA and Solicitor General Rich Coleman in the May 17 election.

Marc Emery said he running in the Fort Langley-Aldergrove constituency against the BC Liberal MLA because, "Even though the public wants to reform our marijuana laws, the Solicitor General is pushing for draconian U.S.-style drug war tactics that don't work in the U.S. and won't work for Canadians."

Emery's party, established in 2001, won three per cent of the popular vote in the last election, with a full slate of candidates in the province. "( We ) look forward to growing that total in 2005," said Emery.

Emery, a Vancouver City resident, said he chose to campaign here because "our current Solicitor General has failed to be honest with the public."

This is in reference to Coleman's speech to the Vancouver Board of Trade in February 2004, in which Coleman said that, "We have just lost a soldier in Afghanistan. When we first arrived in Afghanistan, the weapons that were shipped to ( rebel ) soldiers in Afghanistan, a lot of it could be traced to the marijuana drug trade in British Columbia."

The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association made an Information Act request seeking information regarding Coleman's claims and the Ministry responded: "Please be advised that the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General has no records within the scope of your request."

Emery also opposes Coleman's push for stringent forfeiture laws.

"Criminal defendants, who are innocent until proven guilty, are left without enough money to hire good lawyers," said Emery.

The BCMP platform calls for legalization and regulation, including a licensing scheme for commercial grow operations.

"I challenge the Solicitor General to debate me about marijuana... and to explain why he supports wasting taxpayer funds going after marijuana users, sellers and growers. Instead of prohibition, we should regulate and tax the industry," said Emery.

"The streets would be safer, the cannabis cheaper and the people happier."

Pubdate: Thu, 24 Feb 2005
Source: Aldergrove Star (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Central Fraser Valley Star Publishing Ltd.
Contact: newsroom@aldergrovestar.com
Website: http://www.aldergrovestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/989
Author: Kurt Langmann
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?196 (Emery, Marc)
Link to article: http://www.mapinc.org/norml/v05/n315/a07.htm