Pubdate: Thu, 16 Dec 1999
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 1999 Victoria Times-Colonist
Contact:  line by MAP.

SUPPORTERS PUSHING FOR A NEW RIGHT-WING NATIONAL PARTY ARE TOYING WITH
INCLUDING A VERY LIBERAL IDEA IN THE PLATFORM - THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA.

Kevyn Nightingale, the Tory co-chairman of the policy committee, says
there's a "good chance" the committee will adopt the idea and formally
recommend it to a United Alternative convention in Ottawa at the end of
January.

"It's an up-in-the-air item right now, Nightingale said in an interview
Wednesday. "But there's great support for it."

Nightingale, described the proposal as daring but argued it might help
broaden the appeal of the Reform-led effort.

"There's a good chance Canadians will see us in a slightly different
light," he said."There's probably a good PR (public relations) spin to
this, saying "Look we're not the restrictive bunch of people who want to
tell you how to run your lives."
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake