Political pot shots

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by NAOMI BLOCH

Marijuana Party leader Marc-Boris St-Maurice is calling on politicians to walk the talk.

"There is an open invitation to other people in the political arena to come and spend a day at the Compassion Club watching the operations and actively participating," says St-Maurice. His call is aimed in particular at Rosemont MP, Bernard Bigras. In the spring of 1999, the Bloc Québécois member came out in support of the Compassion Club, which sells medical marijuana to those in need. "The Compassion Club is a model for Canada," said Bigras. "Club members can take the marijuana in a secure environment and receive a very good quality of marijuana."

Bigras was the first elected member to speak up in the House of Commons, condemning Health Minister Alan Rock's slow response towards legalization. "What does [Rock] do to help?," Bigras asked the House. "What have the officials who the minister asked to look into this issue last year been doing? What do they have to show for their research? Only the minister knows."

St-Maurice, federal candidate for the Laurier-Ste-Marie riding, and Alexandre Néron, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve candidate, were charged with possession of 66 grams for the purposes of trafficking, after MUC Police raided the Montreal club last February. Their trial begins on Monday.

St-Maurice denounces Bigras' telltale silence at the time of their arrest. "I guess it's not Bigras or Duceppe who are going to give a day of their time to go to the Compassion Club. But that smells a lot like gaining political capital without wanting to put in the work necessary."

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