HOLY SMOKE OWNER NABBED BY POLICE

Paul DeFelice Arrested And Charged By Nelson
Police For Alleged Trafficing

An idyllic Saturday evening had a chaotic ending for Holy Smoke
Culture Shop co-owner, Paul DeFelice, who upon closing up shop last
Ju1y 15, found himself surrounded by police and arrested on a warrant
for two counts of trafficking a controlled substance in early June.

After being taken to police headquarters in Nelson, four police
officers executed a search warrant of the Holy Smoke Culture Shop,
resulting in the seizure of marijuana, hashish, documents and currency.

"An SUV came scooting out of nowhere, which is not what I expected in
quiet Herridge Lane, having cops racing at me, and by the time I
realized what was happening, there was a bunch of cops pouring out in
uniform, flashing IDs and putting cuffs on me behind my back, which I
thought was kind of weird," said DeFelice from his home last
Wednesday. "Then I realized there was nobody watching -they boxed me
and backed me into the shadows and nobody could see from the street,
nobody could see from the lane, and I was feeling pretty freaked out,
so I started yelling at the top of my lungs for a witness."

With the arrival of a neighbour to witness the arrest, DeFelice was
taken into lock up, where be spent four hours before being released.
Nelson police say the arrest was part of a wide-spread inquiry into
narcotics issues in the region.

"The Nelson Police had taken a larger probe into the drug activities
within the city," said Nelson police sergeant, Steve Bank, who added
the arrest was based on police investigations and complaints from the
public. "There were a number of other premises that were explored;
hotels, bars, and licensed premises where we probed drug activity.
Holy Smoke just happened to be one of them as well."

Though the arrest was harrowing, DeFelice is welcoming the attention
this arrest has received in the media.

"My business partners and I started this store as an action, rather
than a business, none of us have ever run a retail store, or ever had
any aspirations to, so I really give credit to Marc Emery for starting
up an activist retail store so we could advance the movement while
making a living and educate as well," he said. "It is my favourite
topic, and that's why I say I welcome the platform and the spotlight -
I'll make use of it. If they set a table for me, I'll sit down and
eat, and have seconds, and dessert, and coffee, and more."

According to Nelson police, the investigation is ongoing, and further
arrests are imminent. DeFelice will face the charges in Nelson's
courthouse on October 3, 2006.