Pubdate: Sun, 11 Sep 2005
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2005, The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.globeandmail.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Amy Carmichael
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?196 (Emery, Marc)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

POT ACTIVIST RALLIES SUPPORT

Vancouver -- Marc Emery took a quick hit from a joint as his fans smoked 
and screamed for his freedomin front of the U.S. consulate.

The self-proclaimed Prince of Pot, faces extradition for seed sales -- a 
crime that isn't prosecuted in Canada -- and up to life in prison if 
convicted by a U.S. court.

In the same breath, supporters gathered around him demanded sovereignty for 
Canada and the world-wide legalization of pot under a billowing cloud of 
smoke from spliffs being waved in the air.

People everywhere are outraged and scared it could happened to them, 
declared Mr. Emery, 47.

"I want to tell you," he shouted above the yells, "you are part of a great 
awareness. Today, 40 cities around the world, from Warsaw, Moscow, Russia, 
London, Paris, Madrid, Italy, they are rallying at Canadian consulates 
around the world. In Melbourne, Australia, and Sydney, Canadian embassies 
are being picketed!"

He said Canada has made a huge mistake.

"The government is threatening to extradite me to the U.S. to certain death 
for doing something no one has ever gone to jail for, that people only ever 
receive minor fines for."

Mr. Emery said there are about 50 pot seed companies in Canada selling 
seeds every day. The businesses, people who buy from them, people who smoke 
pot, believe in Canadian sovereignty, are all appalled he said. Mr. Emery 
referred to a poll by the Globe and Mail that showed the majority of 
Canadians are opposed to his extradition.

"People understand if it happens to me, it can happened to a New Zealander, 
a Mexican person. It can happen to an Australian or a person in England or 
Paris.

"Americans don't honour treaties. We've seen that with softwood lumber. 
They can spear people away from any of these countries and put people away 
for long draconian periods of time."

Police officers looked on as Mr. Emery spoke and clouds of pot smoke 
billowed above the crowd. One officer commented that it was a nice day and 
that he was glad it didn't rain.

A number of parents stood in the crowd with babies in strollers. Greg 
Popler had his two-year-old son with him as he joined in to support Mr. Emery.

"For me this is more about Canadian sovereignty. I support the legalization 
of all street drugs, but I'm most against the idea of the U.S. being able 
to take Canadians down to face their brand of justice, which is different 
from ours."

Mr. Emery's extradition hearing starts Sept. 16 in B.C. Supreme Court.

The 47-year-old long-time pot activist is accused of selling marijuana 
seeds to Americans through the Internet and the mail, conspiracy to 
manufacture marijuana and conspiracy to engage in money laundering.

His co-accused are Michelle Rainey-Fenkarek and Gregory Keith Smith.

The trio was arrested in July after Vancouver police raided Mr. Emery's pot 
paraphernalia store following an 18-month investigation by the U.S. Drug 
Enforcement Administration.

Mr. Emery was picked up in Lawrencetown, N.S., while speaking at a music 
festival to raise funds for a medical marijuana organization.

He was detained in a Halifax-area jail cell for several days before being 
transferred to Vancouver.

During his brief tour and incarceration on the East coast, Emery made quite 
an impression. Supporters rallied for him in Halifax in front of city hall 
Saturday.

"Halifax is important for this demonstration because this is where Marc 
Emery was arrested originally . . . and this whole procedure started," said 
Marc-Boris St-Maurice.

Mr. St-Maurice, who founded the Marijuana Party before jumping to the 
federal Liberals, said if Mr. Emery broke the law he should be prosecuted 
in Canada.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom