OUT OF JAIL AND BACK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

He spent 100 days behind bars in the Fraser Regional Correctional Centre in
Maple Ridge but now that he's out, Marijuana activist Tim Felger wasted no
time in setting his sights on Mike de Jong.

Or rather, on de Jong's riding.

Felger intends to run for the Marijuana Party of B.C. in the May 17
provincial election against de Jong, the Liberal MLA who has represented
Abbotsford-Mount Lehman since 1994.

"I'm going to keep running till I get elected at something, so they better
get used to me," Felger said Monday.

Felger had been in custody since Jan. 6, when police searched his property
and apprehended 2,090 marijuana plants and growing equipment - 25 of the
plants were being grown for a local Health Canada medical exemptee, Brian
Carlisle.

Felger's bail was set at $150,000.

"You're not supposed to be denied reasonable bail. But the police came and
seized everything - my house, everything, so it was ridiculous for me to
even think about making bail," Felger said. "They let me out for $10,000, on
my word."

Felger said he had a lot to occupy his time while in prison and that he
learned from the experience.

"It took me 10 seconds in jail to realize that place is a rescue and recycle
centre for drug addicts," Felger said, and remarked on the overcrowded
conditions of the provincial institution. "That place was made for 360
inmates and there were 550 there. On one weekend, there were over 600
[inmates]."

But he is moving ahead, despite facing his third marijuana cultivation
charge in three years, and looking forward to the May 17 election.

"I'm a staunch environmentalist and I agree with 99 per cent of the Green
party platform," said Felger.

"But I'm sticking with the Marijuana Party because - and I think everyone
knows I feel this way - prohibition is making society more violent."

He said concentrating on the production of hemp on a global scale is
something he would push for, to reduce the effects of global warming.

"And if we do manage to survive all the global [warming] problems, we're
going to have problems keeping our freedom," said Felger, in reference to
his views on the powers of local police and governments. "The Marijuana
Party stand very firm on the issue of freedom."

As for election signs, which became an issue during the June federal
election, Felger dared Abbotsford mayor Mary Reeves to take down any of his
signs.

"The signs have been authorized by my agent. I dare Mary Reeves to take them
down because it's not up to her to decide what's legal and what's not,"
Felger said. "And if she takes them down again, I'll get a civil injunction
for her to put them back up."