FORMER POT PARTY CANDIDATE SENT TO JAIL

Donald Briere has been sentenced to four years in a federal
penitentiary for his role in a major marijuana grow operation.

Briere was arrested in March 1999 when police found 113 kilograms of
marijuana worth about $650,000 and $50,000 worth of marijuana grow
equipment in a Surrey warehouse.

Briere, a Marijuana Party candidate for Surrey-Tynehead in the May
provincial election, pleaded guilty last year to several offences
involving the multi-million dollar indoor pot operation, along with
weapons-related charges.

On Wednesday morning, Surrey Provincial Court Judge Gurmail Gill read
the related charges against Briere, including cultivation, possession
for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a prohibited weapon (an
assault rifle) and unsafe storage of ammunition.

"Given all of the foregoing, Mr. Briere was a very busy man," Gill
said, noting the grow operation was large and sophisticated.

"(Briere) was at the top, or very near the top," Gill said. "It's
unfortunate that he chose to exercise his considerable talent in the
way he did."

At 10:56 a.m., Briere, 50, was taken from the Surrey courtroom in handcuffs.

He could be paroled in just over a year. He is prohibited from owning
a firearm for 15 years.

Briere said in an interview Tuesday that his goals haven't changed,
and that if he's released in time for the 2005 election, he'll run
again, likely in Tynehead.

"Absolutely," Briere said. "I belong to the B.C. Marijuana Party for
the reason of legalization."

If and when pot is legalized, Briere plans to use his cultivation expertise.

"It's a business I wish to stay in," Briere said, adding that the
federal government is already allowing medicinal use of marijuana.