Andy Caisse
Encyclopedia
Andy Caisse is a political activist in Manitoba
, Canada
. He has campaigned provincially as a candidate of the Libertarian Party, and federally as a candidate of the Marijuana Party
.
Caisse has multiple sclerosis
, and is one of a small number of Canadians
who may legally own and consume marijuana
for medicinal purposes. He suffers from a weakened central nervous system
, and usually requires assistance in rolling individual cigarettes. Caisse has used a wheelchair since 1995.
In 2001, Caisse met Chris Buors
(later the leader of the Manitoba Libertarian Party) at a pro-marijuana rally in front of the Manitoba legislature. Caisse subsequently became involved in Buors's Manitoba Compassion Club, and organization that supplies medicinal marijuana to its members. In 2002 (at age 34), he was the subject of a profile by Cannabis News magazine. Caisse supports the full legalization of marijuana use.
In the 2003 provincial election
, Caisse ran as a Libertarian in the riding of Lord Roberts in central Winnipeg. He received 66 votes, as opposed to 4352 for the winning candidate, New Democrat
Dianne McGifford.
In the Canadian federal election of 2004, Caisse was for the Marijuana Party in the riding of Winnipeg South Centre
. He received 293 votes, about 0.75% of the total cast.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He has campaigned provincially as a candidate of the Libertarian Party, and federally as a candidate of the Marijuana Party
Marijuana Party of Canada
The Marijuana Party is a Canadian federal political party. Its agenda consists of ending prohibition of cannabis. With the exception of this one issue, the party does not have "official policy" in any other area...
.
Caisse has multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
, and is one of a small number of Canadians
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
who may legally own and consume marijuana
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
for medicinal purposes. He suffers from a weakened central nervous system
Central nervous system
The central nervous system is the part of the nervous system that integrates the information that it receives from, and coordinates the activity of, all parts of the bodies of bilaterian animals—that is, all multicellular animals except sponges and radially symmetric animals such as jellyfish...
, and usually requires assistance in rolling individual cigarettes. Caisse has used a wheelchair since 1995.
In 2001, Caisse met Chris Buors
Chris Buors
Chris Buors is a cannabis activist and politician in Manitoba, Canada. He became leader of the Libertarian Party of Manitoba in 2003, and oversaw the party's transformation to the Manitoba Marijuana Party in 2004...
(later the leader of the Manitoba Libertarian Party) at a pro-marijuana rally in front of the Manitoba legislature. Caisse subsequently became involved in Buors's Manitoba Compassion Club, and organization that supplies medicinal marijuana to its members. In 2002 (at age 34), he was the subject of a profile by Cannabis News magazine. Caisse supports the full legalization of marijuana use.
In the 2003 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 2003
The Manitoba general election held on June 3, 2003 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the New Democratic Party, which won 35 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party finished second with twenty seats...
, Caisse ran as a Libertarian in the riding of Lord Roberts in central Winnipeg. He received 66 votes, as opposed to 4352 for the winning candidate, New Democrat
New Democratic Party of Manitoba
The New Democratic Party of Manitoba is a social-democratic political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is the provincial wing of the federal New Democratic Party, and is a successor to the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation...
Dianne McGifford.
In the Canadian federal election of 2004, Caisse was for the Marijuana Party in the riding of Winnipeg South Centre
Winnipeg South Centre
Winnipeg South Centre is a federal electoral district in Manitoba, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1925 to 1979 and since 1988.-Geography:...
. He received 293 votes, about 0.75% of the total cast.