HTTP/1.0 200 OK Content-Type: text/html Pot Party's Leader Pledges Constitutional Challenge
Pubdate: Fri, 11 Jun 2004
Source: Windsor Star (CN ON)
Copyright: The Windsor Star 2004
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/windsor/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

POT PARTY'S LEADER PLEDGES CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE

MONTREAL -- The leader of the Marijuana Party of Canada said after a court 
appearance Thursday he plans to contest the constitutionality of the 
country's pot laws.

Marc Boris St-Maurice, a candidate in Prime Minister Paul Martin's riding 
of LaSalle-Emard, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of simple possession 
of three grams of marijuana.

He said it was coincidence his court appearance took place during the 
federal election and cited a report this week by the Fraser Institute 
saying legalization of marijuana would help generate revenues for the 
government.

St-Maurice, 35, maintains the federal Controlled Drugs and Substances Act 
is unconstitutional because the ban on possession of marijuana was struck 
down by the Ontario Court of Appeal. He said the court ruled it violated 
the rights of people who needed pot for medical reasons.
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