AILING MARIJUANA CRUSADER DEPORTED TO CALIFORNIA

American medical marijuana crusader Steve Kubby was deported back to
California on Thursday, where his lawyer says he faces a "death penalty."

"I'm being forced into a medical experiment -- this is a very serious
threat to me," a shaky Kubby said at the Vancouver Airport as he
leaned on his wife, Michele, for support. "My wife likens it to
taking insulin away from a diabetic."

A Federal Court judge rejected Kubby's final appeal to stay in
Canada. Four years ago, Kubby got a 120-day sentence in jail near
Sacramento, for possession of peyote and a magic mushroom stem.

Michele told court her husband, who has adrenal cancer and has used
pot to ease his symptoms for nearly 20 years, would die if he
returned to California to serve out a drug sentence. He and his
family, including two children, fled to Canada in 2001, claiming refugee status.