Pubdate: Thu, 29 Mar 2001
Source: Agassiz Observer (CN BC)
Address: Box 129 #3 - 7092 Pioneer Avenue, Agassiz, B.C., V0M 1A0
Fax: 604-796-2081
Contact:  http://www.agassizobserver.com/

MARIJUANA PARTY SELECTS LOCAL CANDIDATE

David Ferguson was confirmed as the B.C. Marijuana Party's Chilliwack-Kent 
riding candidate in the upcoming provincial election March 15.

Ferguson, who owns Black Sea Organics in Agassiz, said he supports the 
party's marijuana de-criminalization platform, but his main interest is to 
ensure alternative medicines remain un-regulated.

"It's the only party that believes in freedom of medicine and getting the 
government off the back of herbalists," he said. "We believe a terrible 
assault is going to happen in the next two years on freedom of medicine."

He added while the party supports the legalization of marijuana, they do 
not believe it should be uncontrolled.

"We're not saying open the doors wide open. We're into managing things the 
way alcohol is. We know it would save taxpayers billions of dollars a year 
because of the phony war on drugs being waged at this time."

He added hemp and marijuana could become B.C.'s number one crop, bringing 
in tax revenue and giving people in poor rural areas good jobs growing it 
on marginal farm land.

"We can save our economy and our environment with the hemp plant."