POT ACTIVIST BACK ON CAMPUS AFTER FOUR YEARS

Ted Smith Returned To The University Of Victoria On Feb. 2, And It Only
Cost Him $500.

Smith was fined $500 for distributing "marijuana cigarettes" at a Hempology
101 meeting in 2000. He was convicted Jan. 20 for trafficking marijuana in
amounts under three kilograms for passing out joints at weekly Hempology
101 meetings. The club, of which Smith is the president, meets at 4:20 p.m.
Wednesdays near the Petch fountain.

Undercover officers arrested Smith after they infiltrated the weekly
seminar and took some roaches as evidence.

One of the conditions of Smith's bail was that he not step foot on the UVic
campus. Now that the trial is over, he is free to return. Cheers and
applause greeted him at the Feb. 2 Hempology 101 meeting, which marked the
first time he had been to campus in four years.

Smith is a long-time advocate of medical marijuana. He founded both
Hempology 101 and the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club, which provides
marijuana to people who can prove they have an incurable disease or illness.

When Smith took the stand in court, he explained his actions. "My intention
was to engage and inform about cannabis," Smith said, "and the history and
philosophy of probation."

Judge Judith Kay rejected the defence's call for an absolute discharge,
saying that Smith knew that what he was doing was a crime, and that a $500
fine would deter Smith and others.

Outside the court, Smith pledged to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.