Pubdate: Thu, 03 Feb 2005
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Judith Lavoie and Richard Watts
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

HEMPOLOGY 101'S LEADER RETURNS TO UVIC CAMPUS

Marijuana smoke drifted lazily from a crowd of students gathered on a 
University of Victoria lawn Wednesday afternoon.

However, the president of the Hempology 101 Club, resisted the temptation 
to light up.

"No, not me. I am needing to be far more careful so I don't get arrested 
again," said Ted Smith, Victoria's high-profile and outspoken champion of 
marijuana, who was fined $500 earlier in the day for trafficking in marijuana.

It was the first time in four years that Smith had been allowed to return 
to UVic, where the club meets every week, and he was greeted with cheers 
and applause.

"I am very happy and glad to be back. It's something I didn't expect. I 
thought I could be going to jail today," he said.

Smith was arrested by Saanich police undercover officers investigating a 
complaint from campus security, after a club rally in November 2000 where 
he passed out a few marijuana cigarettes. A condition of his release on 
bail was that he stay away from UVic.

Now, with the conviction on the books and no order to stay away, Smith 
intends to again take up the reins of Hempology 101.

While students inhaled deeply and carefully passed joints to friends, Smith 
told smokers to make sure no evidence was left for undercover police officers.

"We're going to make sure every roach gets smoked down to the last little 
bit of resin. The only evidence will be the smile you walk away with," said 
Smith, exhorting any undercover police officers to "repent" and join the 
fight to change Canada's marijuana laws.

However, during the half-hour meeting there was no overt sign of campus 
security or police.

The public smoking is an act of protest, said blue-haired Rebecca, who 
would not give her last name. "If I just wanted to smoke pot I would do it 
with a smaller group of friends," she said.

A protest rally organized by Smith will be held at noon today outside 
Victoria MP David Anderson's office at 970 Blanshard St. "This will only 
signal the beginning of our fight to change the laws," Smith said.

In provincial court, Judge Judith Kay rejected the calls for an absolute 
discharge from Smith's lawyer. Smith knew what he was doing was against the 
law, Kay said.

"His behaviour can only be characterized as poking his finger in the eye of 
the law."

Kay convicted Smith on Jan. 20 of trafficking in marijuana in amounts under 
three kilograms.

Smith is a longtime advocate for the use of marijuana as medicine for 
people suffering incurable diseases or conditions such as hepatitis C or 
epilepsy. He is a founder of the Victoria Cannabis Buyers' Club, which 
supplies medicinal marijuana to people who can supply proof of incurable 
illness or condition.

Smith told Kay he has no job and no permanent home. He said he lives off 
the charity of others, sleeping on couches or in basements while he 
continues his work advance the cause of marijuana.

Wednesday's sentence was the second for Smith in recent weeks.

Last month he was convicted of possession of cannabis resin for the purpose 
of trafficking in connection with cookies seized at the Cannabis Buyers 
Club in 2002. He was handed a nine-month conditional discharge.

He will be back in court in March for trial on a charge of trafficking 
arising from a gathering at the Victoria Public Library in 2000. It is 
contended marijuana cookies were passed.
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