BRIERE CAMPAIGNS FROM JAIL

A B.C. Marijuana Party candidate currently in prison kicked off his
campaign for a Surrey provincial seat Monday.

Don Briere, incarcerated in Abbotsford for violating parole, has decided to
take another run for the riding of Surrey-Tynehead.

"I'm a victim of the war on marijuana and Ottawa's failed criminal
prohibition," Briere said in a release Monday. "My time in prison has only
reinforced my belief that our laws need to change, and change quickly."

Elections BC's Jennifer Miller confirmed there's nothing prohibiting Briere
from running, and District Electoral Officer Jerry Della Mattia said
Briere's nomination is just being reviewed. All 25 people who nominated him
must be eligible to vote in the riding.

Miller said she isn't aware of any other time in history that a candidate
for B.C. office has run from behind bars.

A representative from the Office of the Clerk refused to comment on how
Briere would conduct office from prison.

This is Briere's second run at the riding and he suggested to The Leader
four years ago at his sentencing that he would be back.

Briere was sentenced to four years in jail on Oct. 10, 2001 for running a
highly sophisticated marijuana growing and cross-border pot smuggling
operation that generated millions of dollars in illicit profits.

He served 14 months and was free on parole when he was arrested last year
with what Vancouver Police said was six pounds of marijuana and $6,000 in cash.

At the time, Briere was involved with the "Da Kine Smoke and Beverage Shop"
and had told The Leader that the store was set up by the Canadian Sanctuary
Society.

The Commercial Drive store was subsequently shut down after repeated raids
by police.