Pubdate: Tue, 06 Oct 2009
Source: Other Press, The (CN BC Edu)
Copyright: 2009 The Other Press
Contact:  http://www.theotherpress.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2684
Author: Kristina Mameli

MARC EMERY: "PLANT THE SEEDS OF FREEDOM; OVERGROW THE
GOVERNMENT!"

Vancouver's own "Prince of Pot," Marc Emery, turned himself in to
authorities at the B.C. Supreme Court Monday. He currently sits in a
Port Coquitlam penitentiary awaiting extradition to the U.S. to begin
a five-year sentence for selling marijuana seeds to Americans.

Nothing will be done until Justice Minister Rob Nicholson signs
Emery's extradition order, which could take anywhere from two weeks to
two months.

Emery, 51, has been fighting extradition since 2005, when he and two
others were indicted on conspiracy to distribute marijuana and
conspiracy to engage in money laundering. Both of those charges were
dropped in exchange for his guilty plea on the charge of conspiracy to
manufacture marijuana in connection with his $3 million-a-year
catalogue business between 1998 and 2005. U.S. officials agreed to
allow him to serve his time in Canada, but Ottawa rejected that
proposal. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration even admitted that
Emery's extradition was politically motivated in a press release
issued on July 29, 2005.

At a press conference just before he turned himself in, Emery voiced
his disgust for the Conservative government's lack of support.

"As a Canadian being sent abroad for an activity I did here in
Vancouver, I have to say I'm disappointed in my government; a little
disappointed in my country. But I remain a very positive and proud
Canadian patriot and I'm proud of my overgrow the government
revolution."

He has taken the five year bargain and turned himself in willingly in
order to avoid a potential 30 year to life sentence abroad. A post on
Emery's Facebook page says, "I am in jail at North Fraser Pre-trial
Centre as of September 28th, and my wife Jodie is posting the updates
I give her. The Justice Minister of Canada has to extradite me before
I go to U.S. prison, tell him to not extradite me!
www.CannabisCulture.com "

NDP Leader Jack Layton and MPs Libby Davies and Bill Siksay have
written letters to the Justice Minister calling Emery's extradition
"wrong" and encouraging the Conservatives to allow him to serve his
time in Canada.

A visibly distraught Jodie Emery told CBC News that the Conservative
government "refused to protect my husband, a Canadian citizen, and
they're sending him to a foreign country. This government does not
stand up for Canadians at home, they do not stand up for Canadians
abroad and my husband is just one of many-I am one of many who are
suffering from this. It's pain inflicted by a prohibition that doesn't
make any sense."

A vigil for the incarcerated marijuana activist will be held at the
North Fraser Pre-Trial Centre in Port Coquitlam from 12-6 p.m. every
day until Emery is either freed or extradited.
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