Marc-Boris Saint-Maurice

Marc-Boris Saint-Maurice was both founder and first leader of the Marijuana Party of Canada, which he led from 2000 until 2004, taking it from its small beginnings as an extension of Québec's Bloc Pot -- (which he also founded and led from 1998-2000) -- to national attention and emulation. As leader of the Marijuana Party he contested two general elections, as well as two critical by-elections. He made his debut on the Canadian political scene in the September 11, 2000 by-election in British Columbia's Okanagan—Coquihalla riding where he challenged then newly-elected Canadian Alliance leader, Stockwell Day. Though 'Boris' was officially registered as an 'independent candidate' -- the federal Marijuana Party was still in the pre-registration stage -- he ran on a platform devoted exclusively to marijuana reform and effectively introduced the concept of single-issue democratic action to Canadian politics. Though garnering less than a thousand votes, by the end of the campaign, 'Boris' and the Marijuana Party were known entities from coast to coast to coast.

By 2001 Saint-Maurice had successfully steered the Marijuana Party through Election Canada's rigorous registration process and in the federal election of that year, as a committed federalist, he took his marijuana reform message into a virtual lion's den; east-end Montréal's separatist stronghold of Laurier—Sainte-Marie against Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe. With 2,156 votes, 'Boris' finished 4th behind Duceppe, but the idea of a united, federal marijuana movement gained an important foothold and respected consideration throughout sovereignist Quebec.

*May 13, 2002: In the riding of Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, St-Maurice finished in last place with 197 votes. Massimo Pacetti of the Liberals would win.
*Canadian federal election, 2004: St-Maurice ran in the riding of LaSalle—Émard against incumbent and former Prime Minister of Canada, Paul Martin.

St-Maurice was also a member of the rock band GrimSkunk from 1988 to 1999. He's also the founder of the Bloc Pot, which he led from 1998 to 2000.

On February 28 2005, St-Maurice announced his resignation from the Marijuana Party. He announced that he was joining the Liberal Party of Canada, with the goal of working from within the governing party for liberalized marijuana laws.