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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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CN: Pot Party Fields Local Candidate
Jennifer Feinberg, Staff Writer Chilliwack Progress (CN BC)
Sunday 23 Jul 2000 Subject: CN: Pot Party Fields Local Candidate Pubdate: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 Source: Chilliwack Progress (CN BC) Author: Jennifer Feinberg, Staff Writer POT PARTY FIELDS LOCAL CANDIDATE Millions of Canadians now prefer marijuana to alcohol and a Chilliwack man is calling for an end of the country's war on pot. Norm Siefken announced his candidacy this week for federal office representing the Marijuana Party of Canada in the Fraser Valley. "I will speak boldly and truthfully in Parliament on behalf of the two-thirds of Canadians who want marijuana decriminalized for adults. The time has come for fair and sensible laws," he says. "We inherited this stupid war on pot from a previous generation and only the Marijuana Party has a good plan to end it." Their economic plan is to channel tax dollars collected from regulated marijuana sales between large personal income tax cuts and increased healthcare funding. Mr. Siefken has lived here since 1996, is originally from Newfoundland and was raised on Vancouver Island. Asked how his views are likely to fly in the Bible belt, he answers: "I'm a Christian. I don't believe in evolution and I used to attend church regularly down south. One of the core Christian values is to stand on the truth and I will always do that in this campaign for the Marijuana Party." His campaign literature carries a disclaimer that reads: Norm Siefken is employed as a medical radiation technologist at several Lower Mainland hospitals. The viewpoint expressed is not necessarily that of the employers." He explained the purpose of the disclaimer is to leave no doubt that the views he espouses are his alone. The Marijuana Party candidate is a graduate of the United States Army Academy of Health Sciences, and a former professional sky diver with a total of more than 1,200 jumps to his credit. "I'm a medical marijuana user for a spinal injury I sustained in 1995," he clarifies. "I was on a crosswalk, and got hit in the back by a car. When I came to I had a broken back." He says he's one of the few people in the party who is a certified medical marijuana user and he says doesn't use the doctor-sanctioned bud for recreational purposes. "However, the party does advocate laws allowing adults to choose marijuana instead of alcohol. So it does recognize the advantages of its recreational use, especially over alcohol and other legal drugs," he said. "Bottom line is I use it every 2 or 3 weeks when my back goes into spasms. I never do it before work." What about health concerns about smoking? "Any smoke is a lung irritant and that's about the only thing that's wrong with it. I personally prefer to make it into a tea as opposed to smoking it," offers Mr. Siefken. Is it legalization or just decriminalization? "I'm talking legalization for adults. We're planning to produce $20 billion plus in revenues. According to an article in the Globe and Mail, the marijuana industry is bigger than forestry and may be as big as tourism in B.C. We are talking $10 billion plus per year in tax revenue, if marijuana was regulated and taxed in a similar fashion to alcohol." The country spends about 3 billion per year fighting the war on marijuana, according to Marc Emery, a former owner of Hemp B.C. who operates the world's largest pot seed sales business, Mr. Siefken says. Does the Party have the prerequisite 50 candidates yet? "The party leaders have said 50 are definite, 100 candidates are possible. Now, at least 42 candidates are confirmed. We have a benefactor who donated $50,000 to get things going," he says. What does his family think of his crusade? "I have several brothers and sisters in the Fraser Valley. They've given 2 thumbs up. I'm just starting to get the word out. People have one of two reactions: They're either immediately turned off and don't want to hear about it, or they are excited and extremely interested in the party. Most of all, people are excited about the economic plan." When asked if he thought Canadians already have de facto decriminalization now, Mr. Siefken responds: "No we don't. In fact 20,000 Canadians every year are being arrested for simple marijuana possession. It's very expensive dragging these cases through the courts. The present laws are extremely hypocritical. Our government allows people to smoke as many cigarettes and drink as much alcohol as they please while the occasional marijuana user is viewed as a criminal. That's hypocrisy." Is he worried about the fringe or wacky label? "My friends will tell you I'm not a wacky person. I'm a very sober and serious-minded person. If I thought there was anything humorous about the Marijuana Party's platform I would not be involved in this party in the first place. This is a very serious issue. In fact, it's those who wish to keep the current laws in place who are the minority fringe. The majority want decriminalization."
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