HTTP/1.0 200 OK Content-Type: text/html Marijuana Party Candidate Clarifies Position 
Pubdate: Fri, 18 Aug 2006
Source: Nunatsiaq News (CN NU)
Copyright: 2006 Nortext Publishing Corporation
Contact:  http://www.nunatsiaq.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/694
Author: Ed deVries
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

MARIJUANA PARTY CANDIDATE CLARIFIES POSITION

To the readers, and in particular the residents of Igloolik, I feel I 
must write in response to the attention being given to my life 
recently and publicly.

My apologies to Mayor Quassa and all those offended by statements 
reported in this paper in relation to my aquiring and then wanting to 
donate some carvings and artifacts. It was never my intention to 
bring about this much anger and oppression over an act of honesty and 
generosity.

The "problem" existed long before my time and the methods employed to 
address the problem usually cause more problems!

I have no need to bash anyone or anything here.

We all make choices. I chose to stop being afraid of the truth and to 
work towards a better life for my children and for all the young 
people who want to work toward a future for themselves, free of the 
lies and shame associated and propagated by law enforcement and 
governments from the south.

Anyone of us can abuse anything. Cannabis Marijuana is something that 
can be turned into an asset sustaining life, here, now, and in the future.

I am talking about eating, fuel for heat and transportation, 
medicine, cloth, canvas and so on.

By adapting and re-directing the negative and turn the presence and 
enjoyment of cannabis into a positive (as they try to do on beer 
commercials) we together can change for the better, for the future of 
all our children and grandchildren.

I believe this and stand by my belief.

Thank you for this opportunity to respond publicly.

And just so the facts are straight, I did plead guilty to two charges 
and I will be sentenced by a judge in Igloolik on Sept.25. No "back 
room deal," no jury. Just me and the judge. Hope that makes it simple 
enough for everyone.

Ed deVries

Igloolik 
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