POT PROMOTER ALL PUFFED OUT

A well-known marijuana advocate was arrested Thursday, along with five
other people, following a drug bust that involved the Abbotsford Police
emergency response team (ERT).

Tim Felger has made it no secret he's in favour of the legalization of
marijuana.

Following drug-related charges in January of 1999 (they were later stayed),
he erected on his Bradner property a four-foot by eight-foot sign that
proclaimed: "Legalize marijuana now."

"The whole thing is a joke," said Felger of the war on drugs following his
arrest on Thursday.

"The only way to solve it is to stop treating it as criminal."

The 45-year-old man was a co-organizer of the two celebrated smoke-ins at
Mill Lake in the late 1990s.

He'd like to organize more rallies in Abbotsford, but says: "The people of
Canada and of Abbotsford are pretty apathetic.

"I'm really concerned with the way things are going internationally because
they are limiting people's . . . rights."

In the past few years, Felger has faced a number of criminal charges.

In 1999 and 2000, he faced two assault charges, two breach charges and one
charge of uttering threats.

In January of 1999, he faced charges of unlawful production of a controlled
substance, trafficking and careless storage of a firearm.

All previous charges against him have been stayed.

Police brought in the ERT when they executed the drug warrant at Felger's
property, in the 4500-block of Bradner Road, because it was believed to be
"high risk."

Const. Shinder Kirk said officers were concerned people in the barn had
long-barreled rifles.

Two people were initially arrested and four more, believed to be barricaded
in the barn, were arrested by 4 p.m.

Police later said that not all four were in the barn when they were arrested.

Kirk did not know the ages and genders of those arrested, or if all were
charged.

He also could not confirm if weapons were found in the barn, but said
ammunition was located during a search of the property.

Police removed the infamous sign displaying a cannabis leaf during
Thursday's raid, something Felger calls a violation of his charter rights
and his right to free speech.

He also says it's a "clear display of childish behaviour."

Kirk speculated the sign was removed because it "showed some intent."

But Felger said the sign will be back - and said it will be even bigger.
Kirk said almost 3,000 pot plants were seized in the raid. If the plants
reached maturity and were harvested quarterly, they would have netted
Felger more than $5 million annually, based on a $2,500 per pound street
value, according to the police.

Felger estimates street value at $1,700, something not worth growing for
profit - the reason, he said, his grow was operating at about half
capacity. "I wasn't growing for profit, said Felger, who describes himself
as a medicinal and recreational user.

"There's no money in it."

Felger said he's facing cultivation and trafficking charges and said he was
released about eight hours after arrest.

Kirk could not confirm yesterday if charges were laid.