Pubdate: Fri, 12 Dec 2003 Source: Chief, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2003 Whistler Printing & Publishing Contact: http://www.squamishchief.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2414 Related: http://www.ndpot.ca/ Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Dana+Larsen Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Jack+Layton EX-MARIJUANA PARTY LEADER GOES TO NDP The former leader of the B.C. Marijuana Party will be back on the hustings in this spring's anticipated federal election under a new banner. Dana Larsen, buoyed by federal New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton's call to legalize marijuana, officially became a member of the NDP last month and intends to seek the party's nomination in the West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast riding. Larsen, who lives in Gibsons, ran in this riding for the federal Marijuana Party in the 2000 federal election and the B.C. Marijuana Party in the 2001 provincial vote. Larsen said his bid for the NDP nomination has already received the endorsement of Telis Savvaidas, the party's candidate in the riding in 2000, and other key members of the local NDP. The NDP's nomination meeting is set for March 2004 ahead of an anticipated spring election call by new Prime Minister Paul Martin. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake