Pubdate: Thu, 10 Jan 2002
Source: Victoria News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2002 Victoria News
Contact:  http://www.vicnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1267
Author: Don Descoteau

'BOOKSTORE' OWNER LIKELY TO BE BUSTED

The fate of Victoria-based medical marijuana advocate Ted Smith is up in 
the air once again, as Crown Counsel determines whether to lay charges 
after pot was seized last week at the shop known as Ted's Books.

Smith, coordinator for the Cannabis Buyers' Clubs of Canada and president 
of the Victoria Hempology 101 Society, claims that since his and other 
compassionate marijuana supply clubs are still awaiting the results of 
legal challenges to The Constitution, the courts have given his operation 
freedom to sell products to people with permanent medical problems.

But Sgt. Darren Laur, who heads up the targeted policing division for the 
Victoria police, says no such loophole exists for the pot buyers' club.

"I think it's really important to understand that there is no understanding 
between ourselves and Ted's Books to allow him to do what he's doing," he 
says. "The key point here is he is breaking the law."

Laur says the police fully expect charges to be laid against Smith and two 
other individuals on the scene Jan. 3 at Ted's Books when officers, acting 
on a tip, seized seven pounds of marijuana and other related products.

Victoria police are concerned that the marijuana being sold through Ted's 
Books, the Johnson Street shop used as a headquarters for Smith's two 
organizations, is being re-sold on the street. And, Laur says, there are no 
checks and balances to ensure that doesn't happen.

Laur notes his department has arrested a number of people for possession 
for the purpose of trafficking who have membership cards for the pot 
buyers' club.

Last week's incident came about, according to Smith, when a club member he 
alleges had been re-selling the pot became angry that Smith had cancelled 
the man's membership. It was allegedly that man who called police and told 
them they could find a large amount of marijuana being cut up "in plain 
view" on the premises.

Upon entering, Smith says, the officer asked if Smith had a permit to sell 
the marijuana for medical purposes. Smith and the club do not, and he was 
forced to relinquish the pot, a supply of marijuana baked goods and the 
membership list of the club.

The club has about 800 members, says Smith, with afflictions ranging from 
hepatitis C and AIDS to chronic physical pain from work or car accidents. 
It has been supplying pot to members for six years.

Laur says Smith is not licensed through the federal government's medical 
marijuana program to distribute pot in any form. At present there is no 
licensed distributor in Greater Victoria, only one in Manitoba, says Laur.

However, he says THC, the chemical in marijuana that produces the desired 
effect, has been available through doctors' prescriptions for years.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart