U.S. WOMAN VOWS TO FIGHT EXTRADITION
Wanted In California For Growing Marijuana, Renee Boje Still Has Many
Avenues Of Appeal Left

An American woman living on the Sunshine Coast was ordered extradited
to the United States Wednesday to face charges in connection with
growing marijuana, but she is vowing to fight the order all the way to
the Supreme Court of Canada.

Renee Danielle Boje, 30, was released on bail after an uncontested
continuance of her previously posted $5,000 bond. She can remain in
Canada during what could be a lengthy appeal process lasting several
months.

Her lawyer, John Conroy, said it could be "quite some considerable
time" before Boje would be sent back to California.

He said the next phase of the judiciary system is a review of her
situation by Justice Minister Anne McClellan.

If the review is unfavourable to Boje, she can then appeal McClellan's
ruling through a judicial review, which would be heard in conjunction
with the appeal she filed Wednesday at the B.C. Court of Appeal.

Once those avenues are exhausted, Boje would have to take her case to
the Supreme Court of Canada to avoid charges of drug manufacturing,
distribution and conspiracy that carry a minimum 10-year prison sentence.

Boje still has a refugee claim pending because she believes she is the
victim of political persecution by U.S. federal authorities who do not
recognize rights that Californians voted themselves in a state-wide
1996 referendum that allows marijuana to be grown for certain medical
conditions.

Wearing a long blue dress and a white blouse, Boje's first reaction
upon leaving the B.C. Supreme Courthouse to address reporters was to
say: "I'm free."

Boje, who now resides in Robert's Creek, a small community just
outside Gibsons said she hopes the public will support her efforts to
remain in the country.

"It's now up to the people of Canada to show their support by sending
letters to the minister," said Boje outside the courthouse. "I feel
inspired to go on with this and set a precedent case."

Boje's friend Maury Mason, at whose home she has been staying for the
past year, said he was not surprised by the judge's decision Wednesday.

However, "we did hope somewhere along the line that someone could show
some logical compassion," he said.

Boje was arrested in July 1997 along with several other
medical-marijuana advocates after U.S. federal authorities discovered
thousands of marijuana plants growing at the Bel-Air mansion of cancer
patient Todd McCormick. Police claimed to have observed her and
another woman watering the pot plants one day.

Boje came to Canada in 1998 on advice from a lawyer after the U.S.
charges were briefly withdrawn. A further arrest by the RCMP in
connection with a marijuana-grow operation in Sechelt resulted in U.S.
authorities filing for her extradition.