AMERICAN WOMAN AWAITS EXTRADITION DECISION

Nightmares about abuse in prison and separation from her son have plagued
Renee Boje for more than four years as she awaits a decision on her
extradition to the United States.

Boje, a Commercial Drive resident and American citizen, was arrested on
charges involving medical marijuana in California in July, 1999. She fled
to Canada on the advice of counsel and the U.S. sought to extradite her
back to the States. Her appeal against the extradition has been on hold in
B.C. Supreme Court since 2000, pending an appeal by Boje to the federal
justice minister. Boje's fate now rests with Irwin Cotler, the most recent
minister of justice.

"It would be nice if I had a decision because it has been weighing over me
for the past seven years and my family for over three years," said Boje.
"If I could have my life back and live in peace and freedom it would be great."

The delay has been beneficial, allowing Boje to start her own business,
marry and start a family. If extradited to the U.S. she will face from 10
years to life in prison without parole, which according to her lawyer John
Conroy is a "grossly disproportionate sentence." Boje will also not be able
to use medical marijuana as her defense if tried in the U.S.

"It's more a personal persecution than a prosecution in the U.S.," said
Conroy. "If the [U.S.] can't meet principles of fundamental justice, it
would be unjust to send her back."

Abbottsford Conservative MP Randy White, the drug policy critic for the
Conservative party, feels that by living in Canada Boje is giving U.S.
citizens the "green light" to avoid drug laws in their own country and come
to Canada. Since she has also made a refugee appeal, he says bona fide
refugees will not get the attention they require.

"There is no such thing as a U.S. refugee under the United Nations
Convention," said White. "We go through the mockery to pay the bills in the
court room and refugee board. It's shameful and distasteful."

Boje and her husband Chris Bennett also face financial debt. They have
already racked up $50,000 in legal fees and will need another $250,000 to
appeal a negative decision. Bennett, who manages Pot-TV, says his income
supports his wife and their three-year-old son, Shiva. Boje's shop, Urban
Shaman, is just starting to break even.

Conroy says he can't understand why Boje's case is so important because the
crime is not serious. He says it is not possible to predict what will
happen but the longer the minister takes to make a decision the harder it
will be.

"Boje's connections in Canada are much greater than they were," said
Conroy. "Her being married to a Canadian and having a child adds a whole
new dimension to the issue."