'BOOKSTORE' OWNER LIKELY TO BE BUSTED

The fate of Victoria-based medical marijuana advocate Ted Smith is up in
the air once again, as Crown Counsel determines whether to lay charges
after pot was seized last week at the shop known as Ted's Books.

Smith, coordinator for the Cannabis Buyers' Clubs of Canada and president
of the Victoria Hempology 101 Society, claims that since his and other
compassionate marijuana supply clubs are still awaiting the results of
legal challenges to The Constitution, the courts have given his operation
freedom to sell products to people with permanent medical problems.

But Sgt. Darren Laur, who heads up the targeted policing division for the
Victoria police, says no such loophole exists for the pot buyers' club.

"I think it's really important to understand that there is no understanding
between ourselves and Ted's Books to allow him to do what he's doing," he
says. "The key point here is he is breaking the law."

Laur says the police fully expect charges to be laid against Smith and two
other individuals on the scene Jan. 3 at Ted's Books when officers, acting
on a tip, seized seven pounds of marijuana and other related products.

Victoria police are concerned that the marijuana being sold through Ted's
Books, the Johnson Street shop used as a headquarters for Smith's two
organizations, is being re-sold on the street. And, Laur says, there are no
checks and balances to ensure that doesn't happen.

Laur notes his department has arrested a number of people for possession
for the purpose of trafficking who have membership cards for the pot
buyers' club.

Last week's incident came about, according to Smith, when a club member he
alleges had been re-selling the pot became angry that Smith had cancelled
the man's membership. It was allegedly that man who called police and told
them they could find a large amount of marijuana being cut up "in plain
view" on the premises.

Upon entering, Smith says, the officer asked if Smith had a permit to sell
the marijuana for medical purposes. Smith and the club do not, and he was
forced to relinquish the pot, a supply of marijuana baked goods and the
membership list of the club.

The club has about 800 members, says Smith, with afflictions ranging from
hepatitis C and AIDS to chronic physical pain from work or car accidents.
It has been supplying pot to members for six years.

Laur says Smith is not licensed through the federal government's medical
marijuana program to distribute pot in any form. At present there is no
licensed distributor in Greater Victoria, only one in Manitoba, says Laur.

However, he says THC, the chemical in marijuana that produces the desired
effect, has been available through doctors' prescriptions for years.