OUT OF JAIL, INTO ELECTION MODE

He spent 100 days in the joint, but pro-marijuana activist Tim Felger is
now ready to make a renewed push to legalize a joint of a different kind.

Until his release last Friday, Felger had been in Maple Ridge's Fraser
Regional Correctional Centre since Jan. 6 after more than 2,000 marijuana
plants were seized from his property.

However, just days after returning home, Felger voiced his intention to run
for provincial office against Liberal incumbent Mike de Jong
(Abbotsford-Mt. Lehman) on May 17.

Speaking Tuesday morning, Felger did not believe voters should hold his
prison stint against him.

"I hope it is taken as an indication that I am willing to go to prison in
the name of freedom - I am putting my money where my mouth is," Felger said.

Felger said that while in jail, he met many people who had committed
environmental crimes. And while he agreed with much of what they had to
say, he said one factor persuaded him to again represent the Marijuana
Party rather than defect to the Greens.

"It does not do any good to save the environment if we lose our freedom,"
Felger said.

"Prohibition has been making society more violent. All the police are doing
is displacing crime. They clean up an area and have heavy enforcement but
all they do is move that crime to another location . . . Abbotsford is
getting more and more violent."

Felger believes government funds could be better spent than by focusing on
the marijuana war.

"We are in the midst of global warming - it is all doom and gloom coming at
us. Not only are we not doing anything to prevent it, but the money that we
desperately need is being wasted on prohibition."

Felger also says he will not be deterred should he not beat de Jong.

"I will run again next time," Felger said, citing November's municipal
election as a possibility.

"I think I have a good shot of making city council . . . I think people are
realizing that prohibition enforcement is not the way to go." Felger's bail
was set at $150,000 but he claims to have been released for $10,000.

And even though he has taken a financial hit, he says he will still be
running an extensive campaign - starting with the placement of election signs.

"I double dare (Mayor) Mary Reeves to take them down this time. If she
does, I'll make sure I get a civil injunction to make her personally put
them back up."

When asked about the future of the party, Felger says he can can only talk
for himself.

"I thought about the Greens because they now support marijuana. I could sit
with the Green Party, or even the NDP if I hold my nose, but I could never
sit with the Liberals," he said.

"As for the future of the Marijuana Party, I really don't know what will
happen. If I have to switch parties then I would do so - and I would do it
in that order."