Pubdate: Fri, 29 May 2009
Source: Abbotsford Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 The Abbotsford Times
Contact:  http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1009
Author: Rafe Arnott
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/people/Tim+Felger

DA KINE DOORS SHUT FOR NOW

Felger May Lose Business Licence After Drug Charge

Local political junkie, businessman and pot advocate Tim Felger may 
lose his business licence to operate the head shop Da Kine after 
being charged with possession of marijuana and six counts of 
trafficking in a controlled substance.

Felger was arrested May 13 in a police sting operation at his Da Kine 
store on Essendene Avenue after he sold small amounts of pot to an 
undercover officer on several occasions.

Felger was in custody when the large windows that front his shop were 
smashed in by vandals, but Felger remains unfazed by it all, saying 
if he loses his licence for Da Kine he'll open up a sign shop 
instead. "I'll spend my days making signs and putting them up on 
public property," he said, laughing.

Pot advocate Tim Felger stands outside his store, Da Kine, in 
downtown Abbotsford. The store is closed and the business owner is in 
danger of losing his business licence after a recent drug charge.

Discussing what transpired, Felger said, "Well, they arrested me for 
selling pot and I thought we had an understanding with the police 
department and with the mayor that we were going to make marijuana 
the lowest priority [for arrests], and we made a police board 
presentation, and they did not tell me 'no, don't start selling pot.'"

Felger said that local law enforcement was aware that he and some of 
his associates have a functional medical-marijuana distribution 
facility up and running, and that they would be selling pot to 
individuals as young as 16 years old, as long as the youths had 
parental consent.

"These kids that are 16 right now, will be eligible to vote in 2011 
for the civic election, " said Felger, who accused the Abbotsford 
Downtown Business Association of filing all the complaints and 
threatened to subpoena some of its members.

Abbotsford Police spokesman Ian MacDonald said the sting operation 
came about after a number of complaints were received by police from 
the public about pot being sold to youth and students from the Da Kine shop.

"This wasn't a police initiated response at all in the beginning . . 
. but our drug squad initiated a project, and as a result of the 
project we confirmed the allegations from the community."

According to Felger, even if he cannot run a store, he will still 
maintain a political office at the Da Kine location. "They can't stop 
me," said Felger.

He is scheduled to appear in court again on Monday, and is 
representing himself, but was vague about where the proceedings would 
continue from there, adding that if he did get jail time for the 
charges, "So what? I don't care. It isn't going to stop me.

"Every arrest is a badge of courage, and every [jail] sentence is a 
medal of honour."
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