TAXMAN HOUNDS HEAD OF MARIJUANA PARTY

Nova Scotia Marijuana Party founder Michael Patriquen, serving a six-year
prison sentence for conspiring to possess and traffic in marijuana, is now
being hounded by the taxman. The 49-year-old Middle Sackville man was in
Dartmouth provincial court Wednesday to enter pleas to two counts of
attempted federal income tax evasion, but the case was put over until Oct.
1 to allow him more time to consult with a lawyer. Mr. Patriquen is charged
with evading taxes of $24,026 on unreported business income of $99,049 in
1998. He's also accused of evading taxes of $17,344 on unreported income of
$78,858 in 1999.

Mr. Patriquen is charged with evading taxes of $24,026 on unreported
business income of $99,049 in 1998. He's also accused of evading taxes of
$17,344 on unreported income of !78,858 in 1999. The offenses are alleged
to have occurred between Dec. 31, 1997 and May 1, 1999.

Crown attorney Jacqueline Henry declined Wednesday to reveal the nature of
|Mr. Patriquen's business.

"This is a matter before the court and we will be leading evidence on the
source of this income at trial," she said.

Last month the parole board denied Mr. Patriquen's request for exceptional
release from prison.

The father of two has been in prison since September 2002. he has been
fighting to use his legally prescribed marijuana in jail for neck and back
pain sustained in 1999 car accident. Despite having health Canada's
permission to legally possess and consume marijuana, Mr. Patiriquen is not
allowed to have any in jail.

Correctional services, which has the right to ban cannabis use in federal
prisons also claimed it can't legally buy the drug.

But that changed on July 9, when Ottawa announced it would sell marijuana
to those with federal exemptions.

Mr. Patriquen has applied to the Federal Court to force correctional
services to honor his Health Canada exemption.