CULTIVATING A FOLLOWING

Legalized marijuana would boost tourist trade,
new Bloc Pot contends

If there is indeed the whiff of a provincial election in the air, the
law-abiding among us might want to refrain from inhaling.

The Bloc Pot, a provincial party that claims more than 200 members,
yesterday outlined its plans to work for the legalization of marijuana. It
was recognized as an official party by the chief electoral officer in March.

The Bloc Pot's first goal is to decriminalize personal possession: the laws
prohibiting marijuana possession would stand but provincial authorities
would not enforce them. The party's platform considers holding 28 grams or
lower as personal possession. The next step would be to have marijuana
removed from the list of prohibited drugs under Canada's Criminal Code.

Set to run at least 11 candidates in the next election, party president Marc
St. Maurice said he has realistic aspirations. He cited the 1996 New Zealand
election, in which the Aotearoa Legalize Cannabis Party - one party among
21 - garnered 1.8 per cent of the popular vote, as a significant step
forward for the pro-marijuana movement.

"I think we can do more than that, and it was that party's first experience.
In by-elections, that number went up to 4 per cent," St. Maurice, 29, said
after being elected president during the Bloc Pot's first general assembly.

He said he's convinced a number of Quebecers are willing to set aside
constitutional matters, the economy and the state of the health-care system,
and vote for a party whose sole goal is to promote the legalization of
marijuana.

"There are people out there who won't mention it in surveys, because it's a
taboo, but will vote for us," he said.

St. Maurice said legalization for medicinal purposes is only one argument
the party is making. The party contends gang violence would decrease if
marijuana was not sold on the black market.

It also suggests the province would generate additional tax revenues if
marijuana is sold by authorized dealers, and that legalizing the drug would
boost Quebec's tourist industry.

In March, the Bloc Quebecois called for a full parliamentary debate on the
legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes. This month, a man who
police say grew up to $50,000 worth of marijuana was granted a discharge by
a British Columbia judge who accepted his argument that he used the drug to
battle glaucoma.

In December, an Ontario judge ruled that Canada's pot laws unfairly denied a
Toronto epileptic the right to an effective medication for his condition.
Ottawa is appealing that decision.

The Bloc Pot set out yesterday on a recruitment campaign to find candidates
to run in each of the province's 125 ridings.

"Whether an election is called now or next spring, we'll be ready," St.
Maurice said. "I've traveled in many areas of the province and ... there's
always a s--t disturber somewhere who might be interested in running for
us."

Premier Lucien Bouchard has until next September to call an election.

St. Maurice said he has organized many pro-legalization demonstrations since
being arrested for marijuana possession six years ago. He said the party's
name is derived from the Bloc Quebecois because both are one-issue parties,
but the Bloc Pot won't take sides on separatist-federalist issues.

Checked-by: Don Beck