Pubdate: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2008 Calgary Herald Contact: http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66 Author: Herald News Services Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?196 (Emery, Marc) POT CRUSADER'S PLEA DEAL NIXED A tentative deal between Marc Emery and the U.S. government over money laundering and drug charges has been nixed by Ottawa, the marijuana crusader said Thursday. Emery says the federal Conservatives have refused to go along with a proposal that would have seen him spend five years behind bars for selling marijuana seeds through the mail. Under the defunct pact, Emery was to plead guilty on both sides of the border and accept a sentence of 10 years imprisonment on the understanding he would serve half, mostly in Canada. "All that was required for this deal was a rubber stamp from the federal government," Emery said. "They have, instead, rejected the deal without explanation . . . it is clearly political." There was no immediate confirmation of Emery's claim from the federal government. The longtime cannabis crusader said he originally agreed to the jail time in part to spare his associates and co-accused Michelle Rainey and Gregg Williams from prosecution. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin