POT ADVOCATE DENIED REFUGEE STATUS IN CANADA

VANCOUVER - A U.S. medical marijuana advocate who sought refugee
status in Canada had his claim rejected Monday.

Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board ruled that Steve Kubby did not
have a well-founded fear of being persecuted or tortured, or that
there was any risk to his life, if he returned to his home state of
California.

Kubby had said the 120-day jail term he was ordered to serve in
California on minor drug charges would be a death sentence.

He claimed if he did not smoke pot every hour, he would die from
complications from adrenal cancer.

Kubby fled to British Columbia in 2001 to avoid the jail sentence. He
then filed a refugee claim to avoid being deported.

The Board noted that California does permit the medical use of
marijuana in some cases.

The Board also ruled against the refugee claims of Kubby's wife
Michele and their two daughters.