You may remember Dana Larsen as the former NDP candidate for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country. He was the first of three NDP candidates in B.C. during the 2008 campaign that were forced to drop out of the race, all within about a week. The other two being, of course, Kirk Tousaw in Vancouver-Quadra and Julian West in Saanich-Gulf Islands.
To refresh your memory:
An NDP candidate has dropped out of the race after videotape surfaced showing him dropping hallucinogenic drugs and driving while smoking marijuana.
Old video surfaced showing Dana Larsen lighting a mouth stuffed full of marijuana joints, taking hallucinogenic drugs and driving while stoned. Clips shown on television news show Mr. Larsen taking hallucinogenic drugs including LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) and DMT (dimethyltryptamine).
After taking DMT, he was shown driving a vehicle.
"We finished our psychedelic voyaging for the evening and now we're just driving home, smoking our very last joint that I rolled in advance," Mr. Larsen said on tape from the now defunct pot.tv.
Larsen stepped aside and the NDP replaced him with another candidate. I figured that was the last we’d hear of Mr. Larsen. But turns out he’s back. Or, more accurately, never really went away. The NDP is having a convention in Halifax this summer, and Dana intends to make his voice heard. And he won’t be shying away from the drug issues that cost him is candidacy either.
From Rabble:
Want to go to Halifax but can’t afford transportation or lodgings? No problem. Dana will cover the tab...as long as you vote his way. I’d just avoid being in the vehicle he’s driving though. Or anywhere around that vehicle when its on the road.
I look forward to seeing what policies Dana puts forward at the convention, and how they’re received. It will also be interesting to see if Marc Emery is at the convention, and what he has to say about Jack Layton’s characterization during the campaign of their relationship, or lack thereof.**For the record, I have no problem with light recreational drug use, although I’d put marijuana and LSD in different categories. I support marijuana decriminalization; I’m not sold on legalization. Where you lose me though, and where Dana stepped over the line, is when he drove while using. Driving under the influence is wrong, whether its alcohol or drugs. What you do in your own home, knock yourself out. But don’t put innocent lives at risk by taking it on the road. Recommend this Post on Progressive Bloggers
