COOKIE LADY CHARGES DROPPED

Cannabis-Loaded Gingersnaps Caused Stir at Wreck Beach

VANCOUVER-- All charges have been dropped against the naked cookie
lady whose cannabis loaded gingersnaps became a cause celebre at Wreck
Beach.

On Thursday the Crown informed Mary Jean Dunsdon's lawyer, John
Conroy, that all remaining charges against her were being stayed.

Dunsdon -- known as Watermelon to her fans on Wreck Beach -- had won
three court cases after being charged with selling cookies laced with
cannabis resin four years ago.

Conroy successfully argued that resin wasn't found in the cookies when
examined by RCMP forensic experts -- just cannabinoids -- and she
hadn't been charged with possession of cannabinoids.

One judge threw out the first charge because of unlawful seizure of
evidence and two other judges acquitted her following trial.

Until this week she was still facing charges of breaching an
undertaking not to go to Wreck Beach.

She had signed the undertaking to stay away from the beach as a
condition of being released from custody but sneaked back and was
spotted by police.

Conroy said she regards the beach as her church.

"The Crown won't be pursing the breach charges so she'll be able to
attend her church again," said Conroy.

However, the notice staying the charges included a warning that the
RCMP would be on the watch for her selling cookies at the beach and
was prepared to enforce the law regarding possession of cannabis products.

Dunsdon, a standup comic and cook, sent an e-mail to The Vancouver Sun
saying she plans to focus on extending her popular cookie brand and
"newfound legal expertise to the medical marijuana market for patients
who prefer to ingest than smoke.

"And I thought my cookies tasted good, but victory tastes sweeter."