Pubdate: Tue, 08 May 2012
Source: Abbotsford Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 The Abbotsford Times
Contact:  http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1009
Author: Rochelle Baker

ABBY MARIJUANA ADVOCATE'S POT TRIAL FIRES UP THIS WEEK

Marijuana activist Tim Felger's trial for allegedly selling pot to
teenagers out of his former store in downtown Abbotsford starts this
week.

Felger and Natasha Healy were charged with drug offences after
Abbotsford Police raided the Da Kine shop on Essendene Avenue on May
13, 2009, following an undercover operation.

The trial is scheduled to get underway on Tuesday in Chilliwack
Supreme Court and is expected to run for the rest of the week.

Felger is charged with one count of possession of marijuana for the
purpose of trafficking and six counts of trafficking.

Healy is charged with three counts of trafficking marijuana.

Felger has repeatedly and unsuccessfully run for various levels of
government on a platform to legalize drugs and has staged numerous
marijuana smoke-ins at his store and in local parks over the years.

His Da Kine store, which sold drug paraphernalia, displayed signs
decrying the drug war and calling for an end to drug prohibition, was
closed after he was charged and following a protracted battle with the
city.

After losing his Abbotsford business licence, Felger moved his
operations to Mission. He opened the Das Bhang Convenience Store and
Political Office on Horne Street in the fall of 2010.

He was arrested and charged with a second set of drug trafficking
charges after Mission RCMP arrested him in February 2011. Similar to
the APD operation, the Mounties and an undercover operator worked a
sting and arrested Felger for allegedly selling pot out of the Das
Bhang store.

The RCMP launched the investigation after getting complaints about
drug trafficking from residents and business owners in the downtown
core.

Felger faces two counts of possession for trafficking and two counts
of trafficking. He is to appear in Chilliwack Supreme Court for a
pre-trial conference on the Mission charges on Wednesday.

Felger has been charged and convicted of drug offences
previously.

In January 2002, police raided his Bradner Road property and
discovered almost 3,000 pot plants. Felger was charged with the
production of marijuana and possession for purposes of trafficking. He
eventually pleaded guilty to the production charge and served six
months in jail.

The police seized more than 2,000 marijuana plants after another raid
of his Bradner Road home in January 2005. Felger was convicted of
production of marijuana, what he claimed was a medical grow, and was
ordered to pay a $210,000 fine 
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