SMITH FEARS JAIL TIME

Staying out of jail is proving to be a challenge for Ted Smith.

"I'm not in jail yet," says Smith. But he expects he may be heading there soon.

Smith is the coordinator of the Vancouver Island Cannabis Buyers Club on
Johnson Street in Victoria, which provides marijuana to people for medical
purposes.

Smith is currently facing a charge of possession of a controlled substance
(marijuana) for the purpose of trafficking.

On Jan.3, Victoria police arrested Smith in his store, Ted's Books, which
doubles as the Vancouver Island Cannabis Buyers Club. Smith, who was
arrested along with another person who was allegedly caught rolling a
marijuana cigarette.

Smith, one of the most prominent pot-as-medicine advocates in Victoria,
fears that when he goes to court to face the charge on Feb. 27, he will
wind up going to jail if found guilty, noting that he's been charged with
four pot-related offences on three separate occasions in the past including
the recent charge that is before the courts.

Smith told the Weekend Edition Tuesday that he could wind up in jail today
(Friday), when he attends a bail hearing.

Robert Moore-Stewart, Smith's lawyer in the case, was reluctant to comment
since the case is currently before the courts.

But he did say that Smith has a "legitimate concern."

"I'm concerned about Ted and I'm concerned about other people in his
predicament," says Moore-Stewart.

Because of the possibility of jail time, Smith is trying to get his hands
on as many letters of support as he can from members of the community who
support his attempts to provide marijuana to people for medicinal purposes.

"People like myself are putting ourselves at risk obviously to help people
with this medicine," says Smith.