Leader: Marc-Boris St-Maurice

Web Site: http://www.marijuanaparty.com

Platform: Platform

Candidates: None listed on party web site as of May 27, 2004.

Party Description: The Marijuana Party of Canada is the federal counterpart to Quebec's marijuana party, Bloc Pot. The party stands primarily for the legalization of marijuana possession, production and trade. Proponents of the Marijuana Party of Canada support the party for different reasons. Some supporters possess, grow or sell marijuana despite the laws against it, and want not to be penalized for that possession, growth, or trade. However, others support the Marijuana Party because marijuana prohibition is an issue that provides a perfect rallying point for one or more broader political messages, and this fact challenges the popular belief that the Marijuana Party is, in effect, a one-issue party. It might be more accurate to say that the Marijuana Party is a multi-concern party that focusses on a single issue in order to resolve many, seemingly unrelated, issues.

For example, some supporters advocate the use of hemp (the plant referred to as marijuana) as a less environmentally harmful source of fibre for the production of paper, clothing and other durable materials. Some support the Marijuana Party because they advocate self-ownership: the principle that every individual owns his or her own body, and that government ought to have no say when it comes to the peaceful use of ones body (for example, the choice to use alternative medicines, to have an abortion, or simply to get peacefully high). Some support the Marijuana Party on the belief that marijuana provides pain relief that prescription drugs do not provide as well, or at all (for example, for cancer patients and glaucoma sufferers). The party adds that hemp legalization would open up new jobs for Canadians, and improve tourism.

It should be noted that Marc Emery - the founder and leader of the BC Marijuana party, and a man the media has appropriately called the "Prince of Pot" for his incredible influence in the marijuana movement - has publicly advised against voting for the Marijuana Party of Canada. His reasoning is that, because the NDP is in favour of marijuana legalization, and because the NDP has a greater chance of winning seats, the best strategy for legalization advocates is to vote for the NDP (see the BC Marijuana Party site for more on this, including an interview with NDP leader Jack Layton).