Pubdate: Sat, 28 April 2001
Source: Duncan News Leader (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 Duncan News Leader
Contact:  http://www.duncannewsleader.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1314
Author: Peter Rusland

CANDIDATE'S CAMPAIGN BUILT ON HEMP PROMISE

Refitting B.C.'s economic engines and the way we're governed are the 
mechanics behind the B.C. Marijuana Party's election campaign, Malahat-Juan 
de Fuca candidate Ron Anderton says.

"Our platform is diversifying health care, and decentralizing forestry by 
taking power away from international conglomerates and letting communities 
decide what they want done with their forests."

"Hemp can replace everything we're taking out of the forest today."

Anderton, 48, who lives near Colwood, says hemp farmers could sell their 
environmentally-safe fibre for making all types of paper that could be 
recycled up to eight times.

"If we can get a hemp industry growing, we won't need any new taxes and 
we'd hopefully reduce them. The public would end up with more disposable 
cash to spend and widen our tax base."

Anderton is a former roofer who is on a permanent disability.

He admits to having smoked marijuana and supports his party's drive to 
democratically legalize pot for medical and personal use.

The BCMP says pot could be sold as a controlled substance, much like 
alcohol and cigarettes.

"Its taxation could go into government revenue and there'd be a cost 
savings by police not pursuing marijuana smokers," he said.

He estimates about $100 million a year could be saved that's now spent 
keeping people in Canadian jails for pot offences.

Voters should decide if weed is another vice.

"We're over-governed and we have to give the power back to the individual."

Wider use of marijuana for medical purposes could ease chronic pain and 
dilute the nausea of chemotherapy, says Anderton.

"Hemp should be the biggest legal industry in B.C. We've got the best pot 
in the world so it makes sense we could grow the best hemp."

About 25,000 products can be made from hemp crops, including clothing, 
foods, and lubricants.

Education is the way to inform voters about its uses. "Our platform's based 
on choices, options and tolerance.

"Somewhere we've lost the definition of government."

The BCMP also wants: an end to the war on drugs; a school voucher system 
based on credits to schools picked by parents and students; and licensed 
brothels and prostitution to control the spread of HIV.
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MAP posted-by: Beth