Pubdate: Wed, 03 Aug 2005 Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON) Copyright: 2005 The Ottawa Citizen Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326 Author: Keith Fraser, The Vancouver Province Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) 'PRINCE OF POT' GRANTED BAIL IN FACE OF U.S. EXTRADITION VANCOUVER - The B.C. Marijuana party leader being sought for extradition to the U.S. on drug charges was granted bail yesterday in B.C. Supreme Court. But due to difficulties securing the necessary sureties, it remains unclear when Marc Emery might be freed. The 47-year-old activist was arrested in Halifax on Friday for allegedly selling marijuana seeds for use in U.S. grow ops. He also faces a charge of money-laundering. Dubbed the "prince of pot" by U.S. authorities, he was transferred to Vancouver and appeared in court along with co-accused Gregory Keith Williams, 50. B.C. Supreme Court Associate Chief Justice Patrick Dohm ordered Mr. Emery released on $10,000 in cash and four sureties of $10,000 -- at least three of them from B.C. property owners. "It's not easy, especially when you've got the (U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration) pulling the strings on the investigation. People tend to get a bit nervous," said Kirk Tousaw, campaign manager for the party. Under the conditions of his release, Mr. Emery must cease operations of his marijuana seed-selling business. Outside court, Mr. Emery's lawyer, John Conroy, noted Mr. Emery had been in business for nine years and Canadian authorities had done nothing to stop him. "Here we have a situation where they turn a blind eye locally and now they turn around and assist the U.S." He added that Health Canada has been counselling people seeking marijuana for medicinal purposes to check out the Internet, where Mr. Emery's website has been offering the seeds for sale. If convicted, Mr. Emery faces up to 21 years in a U.S. prison. He and Mr. Williams, a North Vancouver resident, are to appear in court Aug. 25 to fix a date for extradition. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth