MARIJUANA CANDIDATE TOSSED FROM LVR DEBATE

Marijuana Party candidate Dan Loehndorf will not take part in Wednesday's
election forum at L.V. Rogers High School after administrators decided his
presence at the Fairview campus was not appropriate.

"We had reason to believe that many people would consider this particular
presentation to be inappropriate for students," said Don Truscott,
superintendent of the Kootenay Lake School District. "When a person is
advocating something which is against the law then it's our position that we
would have a concern with that."

Last week staff at the local high school grappled with the issue of allowing
a candidate which advocates the legalization and use of marijuana to present
to students. On Monday, Loehndorf was called to the school for a meeting
with Principal Brian De Biasio and told he was not welcome.

"They told me that they were concerned that the students would be held
captive to something that they would rather not hear," Loehndorf said. "I
think it's upsetting because I would like kids in our society to really have
a fair understanding of democracy. I think they should be encouraged to go
out and vote and by discluding me it creates the perception that the voting
process is unfair, that it's rigged, that it can be influenced by
authorities who shouldn't be meddling in the federal electoral process and
that will discourage them further from getting out and voting."

Though De Biasio could not be reached for comment, Truscott said he stands
by the decision made by LVR administration.

"The forum is not a public forum and candidates were invited to come and
make representation. It's not unusual for us to be very careful about who we
have coming into the school and what they are going to be speaking about,"
said Truscott, who was informed of the decision, but not part of making it.
"It's a tough situation. We have a duty to perform with respect to making
sure what goes on in schools is something that we can defend. If there are
students or people in the public that want to hear this particular person's
platform they can do that in a public forum. What is going on in the school
is not necessarily public and it's never been our practice to allow just
anybody to come in and say what they wish."

Loehndorf said he will be protesting outside the school on Wednesday and
that Marijuana Party national leader Marc-Boris St-Maurice is scheduled to
arrive in Nelson and add his support.

"We're seeking legal counsel on the issue and the party is considering a
lawsuit," said Loehndorf.