Dana Larsen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dana Albert Larsen (born April 14, 1971) is a Canadian author, politician and cannabis legalization activist. He is currently the federal New Democratic Party candidate for the riding of West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country.[1]

Larsen was the editor of Cannabis Culture Magazine from its creation in 1994 until 2005, producing 54 issues with publisher Marc Emery, who now also serves as editor.[2]

Larsen was a founding member of both the Marijuana Party of Canada and the BC Marijuana Party.[3] In the 2000 Canadian federal election, Larsen ran as the Marijuana Party candidate for the riding of West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast,[4] receiving 3% of the vote.[5] In the 2001 British Columbia provincial election, Larsen ran as a BC Marijuana Party candidate in the Powell River-Sunshine Coast riding, receiving 3.5% of the vote.[6]

After the 2001 election, Larsen became the Leader of the BC Marijuana Party.[7] In 2003, Larsen resigned from both Marijuana parties and joined the New Democratic Party.[8] [9]

In 2005, Larsen founded a group called "End Prohibition, NDP Against the Drug War."[10][11] Larsen has since claimed that End Prohibition has been instrumental in passing drug-policy resolutions through the provincial NDP in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Ontario.[12][13][14]

In 2006, Larsen helped to create the Vancouver Seed Bank, where he currently works as manager.[15][16] The Vancouver Seed Bank is a store which sells many seed varieties across Canada by mail-order, including those for banned plants such as marijuana, peyote and coca.[17]

In 2007, Larsen released a book called Hairy Pothead and the Marijuana Stone, a pot-laden Harry Potter parody published and distributed across North America by Cannabis Culture Magazine.[18] [19] He is also the author of the Pot Puzzle Fun Book, released in 2000,[20] the editor of Grow Like a Pro, a marijuana growing guide released in 2004,[21] and the creator of The Tokers Bowl Board Game.[22]

[edit] References

  1. ^ “Pot Activist Is NDP Candidate In Next Federal Election”, Pique Newsmagazine, May 17, 2007, <http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n623/a02.html>. Retrieved on 15 January 2008 
  2. ^ “The Constant of Change”, Cannabis Culture Magazine, April 13, 2005, <http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/4276.html>. Retrieved on 15 January 2008 
  3. ^ “Pot Party Turns On To BC Election”, The Coast Independent, Jan 20, 2001, <http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n114/a08.html>. Retrieved on 15 January 2008 
  4. ^ “Marijuana Vote Lights Up”, North Shore News, November 13, 2000, <http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1710/a03.html>. Retrieved on 15 January 2008 
  5. ^ West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
  6. ^ Powell River-Sunshine Coast. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
  7. ^ “Pot activists gear up for BC election”, Cannabis Culture Magazine, February 4, 2005, <http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/4099.html>. Retrieved on 15 January 2008 
  8. ^ “Ex-Marijuana Party Leader Goes To NDP”, The Chief, December 12, 2003, <http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1914/a09.html>. Retrieved on 15 January 2008 
  9. ^ “Ex-Marijuana Party Leader To Run For NDP In Federal Election”, Whistler Question, December 11, 2003, <http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1907/a10.html>. Retrieved on 15 January 2008 
  10. ^ End Prohibition, NDP Against the Drug War. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
  11. ^ “Pot activists gear up for BC election”, Cannabis Culture Magazine, February 4, 2005, <http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/4099.html>. Retrieved on 15 January 2008 
  12. ^ BC NDP passes legalization resolution (February 20, 2006). Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
  13. ^ Sask NDP backs legal marijuana (November 24, 2006). Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
  14. ^ ON NDP passes decrim resolution (February 4, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
  15. ^ “Pot Activist Sells Seeds To Advance Cause”, The Vancouver Sun, September 15, 2006, <http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=5aa55c7c-67f9-4718-b32a-fd4f16033ab8>. Retrieved on 15 January 2008 
  16. ^ “New marijuana seed business sets up shop”, CBC.ca, September 14, 2006, <http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2006/09/14/bc-marijuana-seeds.html>. Retrieved on 15 January 2008 
  17. ^ Welcome to the Vancouver Seed Bank. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
  18. ^ Hairy Pothead and the Marijuana Stone in the media. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
  19. ^ “B.C. bud inspires hemp-tinged parody of Harry Potter series”, The Vancouver Sun, September 21, 2007, <http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=140d0d0a-1932-4c70-acad-335dc34d03c7>. Retrieved on 15 January 2008 
  20. ^ Pot Puzzle Book Gets Good Reviews. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
  21. ^ Grow Like a Pro. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
  22. ^ Tokers Bowl Board Game. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.