Pubdate: Tue, 29 Mar 2005
Source: Langley Advance (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.langleyadvance.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1248
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?196 (Emery, Marc)

UNINVITED CONTROVERSY

It's really not a big deal that Marc Emery, the leader of the B.C. 
Marijuana Party, isn't going to be a panelist at Wednesday's marijuana 
townhall meeting. Organizer Mark Warawa, Langley's MP, can invite whomever 
he wishes - it's his event.

But therein lies the rub.

Emery was invited.

His invitation was revoked after Warawa found out the so-called "Prince of 
Pot" was going to run against Fort Langley-Aldergrove MLA Rich Coleman (who 
is B.C.'s top cop - and therefore Pothead Enemy No. 1) in the upcoming 
provincial election.

Miss Manners would be appalled - she would tell Warawa it is very impolite 
to un-invite someone to your party.

Warawa's handlers are probably equally unsettled by the situation. By 
yanking Emery from the invitation list, Warawa has created greater flak 
than if he had just let Emery come.

The MP said he didn't want the situation to become politicized.

Well, it's Canada and it's pot. There is little that is more political than 
that.

The invitation was pulled while it was still thought that Coleman would be 
attending the forum. As it turns out, he has a calendar conflict and was 
never able to make it.

But if Coleman had been there to face off with Emery, Warawa would have had 
little to worry about. A veteran politician, Coleman can debate issues well 
at the worst of times, but in the spotlight, he positively shines.

And Emery is no slouch either. He's not just a joint-toking hippie; he's a 
successful entrepreneur with a long history of social activism.

It would have made a great debate.

Now it's just all gone to pot.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom