MEDICAL-MARIJUANA ACTIVIST CONVICTED OF TRAFFICKING

VICTORIA - A medical marijuana activist who lit up several joints at a
pro-marijuana rally at the University of Victoria in November 2000 was
found guilty of trafficking Thursday and now faces a maximum of five
years in jail.

Leon Edward (Ted) Smith, 35, who runs a medical-marijuana buyers' club
out of a downtown Victoria bookstore, argued in Victoria provincial
court that he is the victim of discrimination because he is a pot
smoker and a political activist.

He told the court police and the Crown violated his rights to equality
guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

But provincial court judge Judith Kay disagreed with Smith's
arguments, ruling that his rights and freedoms under the Constitution
were not violated. "I find that none of Smith's freedoms have been
infringed," she said. "He was arrested not for his thoughts but for
his actions."

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Feb. 2.