Pubdate: Wed, 03 Aug 2005 Source: National Post (Canada) Copyright: 2005 Southam Inc. Contact: http://www.nationalpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286 Author: Keith Fraser, CanWest News Service Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) 'PRINCE OF POT' WANTED IN U.S. WINS BAIL Faces Extradition VANCOUVER - The B.C. Marijuana party leader being sought for extradition to the United States 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. 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. Late Tuesday, Kirk Tousaw, campaign manager for the party, said the judge had approved one surety from a relative of Mr. Emery in Ontario, but they were having trouble finding three B.C. landowners. "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." He said he expected Mr. Williams, 50, a resident of North Vancouver, to be released on five sureties worth $5,000 each. Under the conditions of his release, Mr. Emery must cease operations of his marijuana seed-selling business, which is partly operated through the Internet. Outside court, his 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 site has been offering the seeds for sale. If convicted, Emery faces up to 21 years in a U.S. prison. He and Williams are to appear next in court Aug. 25 to fix a date for extradition. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth