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Question Period with Dana Larsen

'How any self-described libertarian could vote for today's Conservatives is beyond me.'

Matthew Johnston - June 6, 2008

Dana Larsen has dedicated his life to marijuana legalization. He was the editor of Cannabis Culture magazine, Leader of the BC Marijuana Party and, in 2005, he founded a group called End Prohibition which works within the NDP to promote alternatives to the war on drugs.

Western Standard: Why did you join the federal NDP after being Deputy Leader of the BC Marijuana Party?

Dana Larsen: I was actually the Leader of the BCMP for a while, after the 2000 election. I was also a candidate for the federal Marijuana Party.

While I enjoyed being involved in a single-issue party, I think the Marijuana parties have served their purpose in demonstrating the broad base of support for marijuana law reform. Really, the marijuana movement is strong enough that there should be drug policy reform activists within every major party, just as every party now has openly gay candidates, which would have been unthinkable just two decades ago.

When Jack Layton became NDP leader, he made it clear that drug law reform would become a higher priority for his party, and he has been consistent with this approach. And although ending Canada's failed drug war is a high priority issue for me, it is certainly not the only important issue, or the only thing that I care about. I support the direction that Layton's NDP would take our country, from issues like ending the Afghan War to the labelling of GM foods, from civilian oversight of the RCMP to ensuring clean air and water, and resisting "deep integration" with the USA.

I am the co-founder and manager at the Vancouver Seed Bank, which sells seeds for marijuana and other interesting psychoactive plants. It is a testament to the diversity and tolerance of the NDP that they would accept me as a federal candidate. I am proud to be part of the evolving New Democrat tradition, and I feel very much at home within the NDP.

WS: You were the editor of Cannabis Culture magazine. Why not fight to liberalize marijuana laws through the media? Why politics?

DL: The marijuana movement involves many dimensions of social and political change, but ultimately ending the war on drugs will require legislative change. I also enjoy politics and I am passionate about our country and making Canada the best nation we can be. I think I would be a good Member of Parliament and hopefully the voters in my riding will agree.

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