GREEN PARTY VOWS TO PROHIBIT TASERS

VANCOUVER -- The Green party is promising to decriminalize marijuana
and prohibit tasers in its platform for the May provincial election.

Green Leader Jane Sterk says a Green provincial government would work
towards decriminalizing marijuana and reap tax revenues by taking
control of its production and distribution.

She recognizes that decriminalization is a federal jurisdiction, but
believes the province can still assert some authority.

Also among the more than 500 measures in the platform, Ms. Sterk says
a Green party government would establish a provincial police force and
prohibit the use of tasers.

Ms. Sterk declined to predict a breakthrough seat for the Greens, who
have never elected an MLA in the province.

She is running in Esquimalt-Royal Roads and says the party has so far
nominated 41 candidates and may have all 85 candidates nominated by
the end of the month.