Pubdate: Tue, 22 May 2001
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 The Vancouver Sun
Contact:  http://www.vancouversun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Page: B2
Section: Regional Roundup: Port Moody

MARIJUANA PARTY TOO FAR RIGHT, SAYS DEFEATED CANDIDATE

Citing philisophical differences, Graeme Smecher probably won't run for the 
B.C Marijuana party again.

The candidate for Port Moody-Westwood said too many of his personal beliefs 
clash with the pot party's policies: "I was expecting a bunch of hippies 
and what I found was a bunch of right-wing libertarians," said Smecher, 20. 
"I can't run a platform to my liking without being unfair to them." The 
Port Moody resident said the basic principle of the Marijuana party is 
complete personal freedom.

That includes legalized brothels, and hardly and gun control. "Some things 
I find implausible," Smecher said. "I can't see them working in reality. 
There has to be a balance between personal freedom and safety." A software 
consultant for a Vancouver dot-com company, Smecher threw his hat into the 
ring at the last minute just to make sure the fringe party ran a full slate 
of candidates. He soon found out his left-wing leanings weren't compatible 
with the conservative/libertarian direction of the Marijuana party.

Despite his disagreements, Smecher captured the second highest percentage 
of votes for the party with 6.36 percent (1,359 votes). "There were only 
three candidates so I captured more protest votes," Smecher said modestly. 
Liberal incumbent Christy Clark won the Port Moody-Westwood seat easily 
with 15,967 votes or 75 per cent of the ballots cast.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens