Pubdate: Wed, 27 Dec 2000
Source: Cranbrook Daily Townsman (CN BC)
Section:  Page 5
Copyright: 2000 The Cranbrook Daily Townsman
Contact:  822 Cranbrook St., North Cranbrook, B.C., Canada V1C-3R9
Fax: (250) 426-5003
Website: http://www.dailytownsman.com/

MARIJUANA PARTY PLANS TO RUN CANDIDATES IN B.C. ELECTION

VICTORIA (CP) - A Victoria realtor has another big sales pitch planned for 
the new year that has nothing to do with a big house and an attractive 
commission.

Chuck Beyer, encouraged by his fledgling Marijuana party's performance in 
the recent federal election, has even higher hopes for the B.C. election 
that must be held by June.

"We managed to get 75 candidates together in the federal election in four 
months and I don't think we'll have any problem doing the same in B.C.," 
said Beyer, who founded the party five months ago.

The Marijuana party outpolled the well-established Green party in several 
ridings, although neither party is considered a serious contender.

But Beyer, 40, believes there is room on the political stage to keep 
attention on decriminalizing marijuana.

"We feel the NDP is going to be wiped out completely and all the rest are 
ultra-right wing parties so we're going to take the middle ground," he said.

Although Canada's drug laws are a federal matter, Beyer believes the 
provinces can influence how stringently the laws are enforced.

B.C. Attorney General Graeme Bowbrick has not commented on pot 
decriminalization and isn't expected to do so, a ministry spokesman said 
this week.

Liberal justice critic Geoff Plant said it's not likely the Marijuana 
party's appearance on the provincial scene will make marijuana 
decriminalization an issue.
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