Marijuana activist Tommy Chong continues his push to legalize pot across Canada and the United States. He says Canadian legislation promised for next spring to legalize recreational marijuana could set an example for the U.S. He credits marijuana for healing him of prostate and colorectal cancers and says only the big pharmaceutical companies could lose when it comes to the medicinal benefits of cannabis.He hopes the next American president will legalize pot throughout the U.S. so every state can benefit economically from taxing the drug. Chong appears Thursday, October 13, at the International Cannabis Business Conference in Vancouver. The 78-year-old Edmonton-born musician who became famous in the 1970’s for his “stoner” comedy “Up In Smoke” with Cheech Marin says he first tried pot at age 17 at a Calgary jazz club where a bass player gave him a joint. Chong says he doesn’t see any downside to smoking pot except potheads have poor memories and that anyone who tokes up too much might sleep for four or five days.