Pubdate: Wed, 28 Mar 2001
Source:  Terrace Standard (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 Terrace Standard
3210 Clinton St., Terrace, BC, V8G 5R2
Fax: 250-638-8432
Website: http://www.terracestandard.com
Contact:  Jennifer Lang

MARIJUANA MAN GETS SET TO ROLL

A 48-year old construction worker and former NDP supporter is mulling over 
an offer   to run as the B.C. Marijuana Party's candidate in Skeena.

Bob Erb has been actively recruiting new members for the party - best known 
for its  stance in favour of legalizing marijuana - since he joined in 
February.

Erb said he's signed up at least 75 party memberships in Skeena so far, and 
expects  that support to grow to 200 by the end of April. Voters could very 
well find themselves  in the middle of an election campaign by then.

He said the majority of new party members here are people in their 40s or 
50s, and  he knows of a couple in their 70s who have signed on.

Erb, who headed down to the party's launch in Vancouver over the weekend, 
said party  executives have asked him to consider becoming the candidate 
here in the upcoming  provincial election.

The fledgling party, led by former Grand Forks mayor Brian Taylor, intends 
to field  candidates in all 79 B.C. ridings.

Erb, a long-time federal and provincial NDP member, said he joined the 
national  marijuana party in January after reading about it in Cannabis 
Culture magazine.

He wanted to be involved after learning of its pledge to run candidates in 
the  provincial election.

After a lifetime of political involvement in the mainstream, Erb cites 
frustration that  the NDP hasn't worked harder to legalize marijuana.

"I have voted NDP all my life," said Erb, a union member and single father 
of two  teenagers, who describes himself as a "regular user" of marijuana.

Erb was charged with possession in 1997 after RCMP raided his Thornhill 
home, but  the charges were stayed.

He later filed a complaint against the RCMP over the raid.

He thinks legalizing marijuana for personal use and encouraging hemp 
farming would  "generate real, new sources of revenue for the government 
while cutting the numbers  on our employment and welfare rolls."

He also believes it would draw more tourists to B.C.
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