SMOKERS ARRESTED IN POT PROTEST

Two pot-smoking protesters were arrested in Abbotsford yesterday after 200
people rallied for the legalization of marijuana.

Tim Felger was sucking on a marijuana cigarette when two police officers
approached him in the crowd.

"You can arrest me, but you can't have my joint," yelled Felger as police
forcibly escorted him to a police wagon at Mill Lake.

Felger was standing in a circle with seven other pot smokers when the cops
moved in. The other six hid their joints, but Felger defiantly puffed in
front of the police.

Police ignored the covert smokers but were forced to arrest Felger, Const.
Dale Cresswell said.

"I think we were very tolerant," Cresswell said. "We had no choice but to
arrest him. It's illegal to be in possession of marijuana. We don't make
the laws, we enforce them."

Abbotsford police sent more than 12 officers to the protest.

A couple who owned a dog shot by police two weeks ago at their child's
birthday party were among those who came to smoke pot at the protest.

Jason Rowsom and Sandra Marshall said they're sick of marijuana being the
target of police raids.

"If God says it's OK to smoke pot, then it's OK," said Marshall. "It's
right in the Bible that Jesus did it. Why can't we?"

After the arrests, the protesters began to trickle away.

"Arresting those guys put a real downer on this whole thing," said Tom
Luger, 18.

Charged with possession of marijuana is Tim Felger. Charged with
obstruction of justice is David Malmo-Levine.