Pubdate: Tue, 08 Mar 2011 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2011 Postmedia Network Inc. Contact: http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html Website: http://www.theprovince.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Dana Gee Video: http://www.theprovince.com/videos/index.html?v=3D1832874042 CHONG BACKS LARSEN FOR NDP LEADERSHIP NDP leadership hopeful Dana Larsen is looking to a famous stoner to help spark up his campaign. Actor/comedian Tommy Chong of Cheech and Chong fame has thrown his support behind former Marijuana Party leader Larsen as he takes a run at the top NDP job, which will be decided at the leadership convention on April 17. "Dana was the only voice in B.C. that I heard of in politics that could actually further the marijuana course along," said Chong, who headlined a Larsen fundraising show at the Rio Theatre in Vancouver on Monday night. "Dana is our saviour. He's the Nelson Mandela, the Barack Obama of Canada. He has a shot at coming in here and energizing young people to go, 'Hey we can make a difference.'" Chong, who splits his time between Vancouver and Los Angeles, and his partner Cheech Marin, were synonymous with pot smoking during the 1970s. Hit records and movies made them the kings of weed long before the currently incarcerated Marc Emery was the prince of pot. "Celebrity can help to draw some attention and help draw the media to put a spotlight on the ideas we're trying to bring forward," said Larsen. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake