http://www.mapinc.org/renee.htm is the link to Renee Boje articles

AMERICAN MEDICAL MARIJUANA ADVOCATE RETURNS TO B.C. COURT

VANCOUVER - An American woman fighting extradition to California to
face drug charges stemming from a medical-marijuana grow operation was
in court briefly Wednesday.

Final arguments began in the extradition hearing for Renee Boje,
30.

The New York artist faces drug manufacturing, distribution and
conspiracy charges, which carry a minimum 10-year sentence.

But Boje's lawyer, John Conroy, argued Wednesday that there was no
proof his client was involved in a conspiracy to traffic the drugs.

"There's no evidence she's the member of a conspiracy," Conroy
argued.

He has also said statements she allegedly made to police after her
arrest weren't voluntary.

Conroy has also argued the charges are political, arising from U.S.
federal opposition to California's medical-marijuana policy.

Boje was arrested in 1997 along with medical-marijuana advocates Todd
McCormick and Peter McWilliams and several others after federal
officials found thousands of marijuana plants growing at a Bel-Air
mansion and three other leased locations in Los Angeles County.

Boje was arrested after police claimed to have observed her and
another woman watering some of the pot plants one day.

They also observed her smoking a bong, according to police
reports.

But "there is no evidence what was in the bong," Conroy
said.

McWilliams, a self-help publisher who suffers from AIDS and cancer,
said he uses pot to fight nausea and stimulate his appetite while he
takes AIDS-fighting drugs.

McCormick also suffers from cancer.

They are accused of growing the pot and trying to sell it to the Los
Angeles Cannabis Buyers Club, which has dispensed the drug since
Californians voted in 1996 to legalize it for medical use.

But a U.S. federal judge ruled McWilliams and McCormick could not use
the defence of medical necessity at their trial because while
California's Proposition 215 allows the personal use of marijuana for
medical purposes, U.S. federal law does not and state laws don't
apply to federal offences.

Boje came to Canada last year on advice from her lawyer after the
charges were briefly withdrawn.

She was arrested last February when RCMP raided a Sechelt, B.C.,
marijuana-grow operation where she was staying. U.S. authorities
then requested her extradition.

The case returns to court Dec. 21 for final arguments.

Boje had claimed refugee status in Canada on political grounds, but
the claim has been denied by the Immigration and Refugee Board.

Boje said Wednesday she will appeal.