Pubdate: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC) Copyright: 2009 Canoe Inc Contact: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837 Author: Alissa McArthur, Staff Writer EMERY'S FAREWELL TOUR The Prince of Pot hosted a farewell party/talk in Vancouver last night as part of his "Farewell Tour" before his incarceration in the U.S. this fall. Pot activist Marc Emery is touring Canada for a last hurrah in favour of legalizing marijuana before he pleads guilty to a charge of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana for selling marijuana seeds to Americans. Emery is turning himself in to the U.S. Department of Justice rather than await extradition and expects to spend up to five years in jail. Emery is resigned to doing hard time and, for now, is committed to spreading his message: Marijuana prohibition exacerbates gang problems. "Prohibition laws are manufacturing more sophisticated criminals," he said. "All jails are run by gangs, and these young 19-year-olds who go to jail for small-time [pot] charges are making gang ties and are expected to maintain gang activity once they get out." The activist is petitioning to serve his sentence in Canada, but once he enters prison in the U.S., his supporters will have to lobby on his behalf. If Emery serves his sentence in Canada, he would be eligible for early parole as a non-violent, first-time offender. In the U.S., he will have to serve the full five years. Emery will continue to run the B.C. Marijuana Party from jail, while his wife Jodie will take over their business, Cannabis Culture magazine. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr