N.S. MAN WHO FOUGHT TO SMOKE MARIJUANA IN JAIL WILL APPEAL PRISON SENTENCE

HALIFAX (CP) - A Nova Scotia marijuana activist who lost a battle for the
right to smoke pot in prison last month is appealing his jail sentence.
Michael Ronald Patriquen, 49, was sentenced to six years in prison Sept. 10
for conspiring to traffic marijuana in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

The former Marijuana Party candidate holds federal licences to grow and
possess marijuana for medicinal use.

However a Nova Scotia judge struck down Patriquen's attempt to have his
marijuana privileges extended to his jail cell.

Patriquen filed a handwritten appeal Tuesday, alleging the trial judge
erred on several grounds.

Among them is Patriquen's argument that the judge neglected some of the
activist's Charter rights.

Patriquen, who has a criminal record dating back to 1976, was part of a
marijuana ring that operated in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland between 1998
and 1999. Police once found $26,000 cash in a secret compartment in his
car, and $100,000 in his luggage after a trip from Newfoundland.

They seized more than 300 plants from three Nova Scotia growing operations,
and $13,380 hidden in a stereo speaker in Patriquen's home.

As part of his sentencing, the federal Crown gets to keep that money.