POT ACTIVIST STAYS FREE

Marijuana trafficker David Malmo-Levine has been given the opportunity to
fight for a change in Canada's drug laws from outside a jail cell.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Victor Curtis sentenced the political activist
to a year in jail for trafficking, to be served in the community. If he
meets all the usual conditions as well as two special conditions - avoid
possessing or trafficking in marijuana, and get a job - he should stay out
of jail.

During his two-day sentencing hearing, Malmo-Levine, 26, testified he
intends to resume operating the Harm Reduction Club, an association for
marijuana smokers. He said he didn't keep records, but estimated he sold
$100,000 worth of the illegal herb in the five months before a Vancouver
police raid Dec. 4, 1996, at the club in his east Vancouver basement.
Police confiscated 316 grams of marijuana and some money.

Malmo-Levine said he used his profits from selling marijuana to cover his
living expenses and the costs of running the club.

Throughout his three-week trial, he argued that Canada's law on marijuana
is unconstitutional, and that the club helped rather than harmed people by
selling them drugs under safe circumstances.

Malmo-Levine also said most Canadians want marijuana decriminalized -
something the LeDain commission recommended in 1971 - but MP's haven't
shown the courage to do it.

Defence counsel Peter Durovic said he will seek leave to appeal the
conviction and he admires his client's courage in his struggle to change
the law. " I just hope the law is changed soon so my children will never
find themselves in Mr. Malmo-Levine's position," said Durovic.