Pubdate: Tue, 17 Apr 2001 Source: Langley Advance (CN BC) Copyright: 2001 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc. Contact: http://www.langleyadvance.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1248 Authors: Marc Emery, Michael Mann GOING TO POT Grass May Not Be The Only Issue, But It Sure Seems To Be At The Root Of It All Dear Editor, The Langley Advance News has done its readers a disservice, spreading factually inaccurate comments about the political party I founded, the BC Marijuana Party. Even a casual look at our website and our platform shows we are no one-issue party. We propose a "voucher" system to improve education opportunities, legalizing prostitution to reduce disease and injury to sex trade workers, and legalizing all naturopathy and homeopathy to increase our choices and options in medicine. We propose proportional representation (after the Liberals win all 79 seats and have a one-party parliament for four years, we'll all wish we had this in place), ballot initiatives that work, and of course, eliminating marijuana prohibition. Our website, www.bcmarijuanaparty.ca, clearly indicates that we have a platform that offers up what our theme is: "Choices, Options, Tolerance." Your writer [Politicians gone to pot, April 15 Comment, Advance News] spent 80 per cent of his time on sarcasm and offered readers not even any useful criticism, as though he hadn't even seen or was aware of our platform. Shame on the Langley Advance News. We are fielding a full slate of 79 candidates. Never before has any new party offered a full slate of candidates in their first BC election. Perhaps your writer can at least dismiss "amotivational syndrome" from his presumed long list of factually inaccurate stereotypes, since the BC Marijuana Party clearly has its act together. Marc Emery President, BC Marijuana Party * Dear Editor, While I was able to see some humour in Troy Landreville's description of a Marijuana Party victory party [Politicians gone to pot, April 15 Comment, Advance News], many sick people fail to see the humour. I know of some sick people who don't use pot because they like it; they use it because it's the best medicine that works with the least unpleasant side effects. The government now says you have to have one year or less to live in order to get this medicine with no hassle. Do you think this is funny? Do you think this to be a fair trade-off? I do not, nor do most Canadians. Perhaps he would be better off to investigate before he wrote. Michael Mann Oak Bay-Gordon Head Editor Note: The scientific jury is still out on the value of smoking pot for medicinal purposes, as compared to consuming the active ingredients in pill form (available by prescription) without the negative effects of smoke inhalation. In any case, the Marijuana Party advocates complete legalization - not just use for medicinal purposes. And reality is this: as long as they call themselves the "Marijuana Party," most people will not take candidates seriously on other issues, for precisely the reasons that Troy highlighted with humour. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth