HEMPOLOGY 101'S LEADER RETURNS TO UVIC CAMPUS

Marijuana smoke drifted lazily from a crowd of students gathered on a
University of Victoria lawn Wednesday afternoon.

However, the president of the Hempology 101 Club, resisted the temptation
to light up.

"No, not me. I am needing to be far more careful so I don't get arrested
again," said Ted Smith, Victoria's high-profile and outspoken champion of
marijuana, who was fined $500 earlier in the day for trafficking in marijuana.

It was the first time in four years that Smith had been allowed to return
to UVic, where the club meets every week, and he was greeted with cheers
and applause.

"I am very happy and glad to be back. It's something I didn't expect. I
thought I could be going to jail today," he said.

Smith was arrested by Saanich police undercover officers investigating a
complaint from campus security, after a club rally in November 2000 where
he passed out a few marijuana cigarettes. A condition of his release on
bail was that he stay away from UVic.

Now, with the conviction on the books and no order to stay away, Smith
intends to again take up the reins of Hempology 101.

While students inhaled deeply and carefully passed joints to friends, Smith
told smokers to make sure no evidence was left for undercover police officers.

"We're going to make sure every roach gets smoked down to the last little
bit of resin. The only evidence will be the smile you walk away with," said
Smith, exhorting any undercover police officers to "repent" and join the
fight to change Canada's marijuana laws.

However, during the half-hour meeting there was no overt sign of campus
security or police.

The public smoking is an act of protest, said blue-haired Rebecca, who
would not give her last name. "If I just wanted to smoke pot I would do it
with a smaller group of friends," she said.

A protest rally organized by Smith will be held at noon today outside
Victoria MP David Anderson's office at 970 Blanshard St. "This will only
signal the beginning of our fight to change the laws," Smith said.

In provincial court, Judge Judith Kay rejected the calls for an absolute
discharge from Smith's lawyer. Smith knew what he was doing was against the
law, Kay said.

"His behaviour can only be characterized as poking his finger in the eye of
the law."

Kay convicted Smith on Jan. 20 of trafficking in marijuana in amounts under
three kilograms.

Smith is a longtime advocate for the use of marijuana as medicine for
people suffering incurable diseases or conditions such as hepatitis C or
epilepsy. He is a founder of the Victoria Cannabis Buyers' Club, which
supplies medicinal marijuana to people who can supply proof of incurable
illness or condition.

Smith told Kay he has no job and no permanent home. He said he lives off
the charity of others, sleeping on couches or in basements while he
continues his work advance the cause of marijuana.

Wednesday's sentence was the second for Smith in recent weeks.

Last month he was convicted of possession of cannabis resin for the purpose
of trafficking in connection with cookies seized at the Cannabis Buyers
Club in 2002. He was handed a nine-month conditional discharge.

He will be back in court in March for trial on a charge of trafficking
arising from a gathering at the Victoria Public Library in 2000. It is
contended marijuana cookies were passed.