Pubdate: Wed, 11 Feb 2004
Source: Terrace Standard (CN BC)
Copyright: 2004 Terrace Standard
Contact:  http://www.terracestandard.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1329
Author: Jeff Nagel

POT PARTY MEMBER WON'T RUN IN ELECTION

TERRACE's perennial weed candidate says he won't roll again when the 
federal election is called.

Bob Erb of the Marijuana Party says his name will not be on the ballot in 
what is widely expected to be a spring election.

Instead, he plans to renew his old NDP membership and work to light up that 
party's fortunes.

The Terrace construction worker is following in the footsteps of other 
marijuana activists aiming to take the NDP higher.

B.C. Marijuana Party leader Dana Larsen has said he will seek the NDP 
nomination in West Vancouver.

"There's not going to be a federal marijuana party," Erb noted.

Erb said he and others in the movement are impressed by NDP leader Jack 
Layton's pledge to work towards the legalization of marijuana.

Erb says the NDP needs to refine its marijuana message, and talk more about 
the benefits legalization could bring - such as increased tourism to Canada 
- - as well as the potential for jobs from cultivation and use of industrial 
hemp.

"It's not going to be just a bunch of stoners walking around Canada because 
we've legalized pot," he said.

Erb has run unsuccessfully in provincial and municipal elections, most 
recently for mayor against Jack Talstra in 2002.

Erb's decision may come as a relief to Talstra, who has said he's 
considering a federal run for the Liberals and whose law firm handles 
federal drug prosecutions here.

In the mayoral race, Erb's candidacy put Talstra on the spot when the mayor 
confirmed telling the RCMP he'd prefer there be no drug arrests of Erb 
during the campaign lest it appear Talstra directed police against his 
opponent.

Erb gave out marijuana at an open house where volunteers also provided 
rides to the advance polls.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman