Pubdate: Thu, 20 May 2010
Source: Nanaimo News Bulletin (CN BC)
Copyright: 2010, BC Newspaper Group
Contact:  http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/948
Author: Rachel Stern
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?196 (Emery, Marc)

POT PROTESTERS OCCUPY NANAIMO MP'S OFFICE

A handful of protesters descended on Nanaimo-Alberni Conservative MP 
James Lunney's office Wednesday to protest the extradition of Marc 
Emery and call for change in legislation regarding marijuana.

Mik Mann, who uses medical marijuana to treat his spinal arthritis, 
said the recent extradition of Emery made all the unresolved issues 
around marijuana bubble to the surface.

Emery is the leader of the B.C. Marijuana Party and sold marijuana 
seeds over the Internet to customers in Canada and the U.S. for more 
than 10 years. The U.S. government sought Emery to lay charges of 
drug trafficking.

Mann said he wants the Conservative government to stop the 
extradition, address issues around medical marijuana and ultimately 
legalize the substance.

"We are demanding they debate the marijuana issue in the House of 
Commons," he said.

Lunney said the protesters are mixing the issues, because Emery's 
extradition is a separate issue from medical marijuana use.

"Marc Emery is no hero in my eyes," said Lunney. "He flouted the law 
and he is paying the consequences."

The issue of medical marijuana and the Health Canada system for 
receiving marijuana for medical use is a complicated issue, because 
there are a lot of grey areas regarding legislation, he said.

Protester Neil Allard uses medical marijuana to treat his Myalgic 
Encephalomyelitis, alos known as chronic fatigue disorder. He decided 
to join the protest to show his displeasure with the Health Canada 
medical marijuana system.

"It's a disgrace," he said. "They don't help you. It's like they are 
adversaries who are kicking and screaming every length of the way to 
prevent people from getting into the program."

Nanaimo RCMP were called to the protest because staff at Lunney's 
office complained about some of the protesters screaming and the 
scent of marijuana.

Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said it was a lawful protest, 
but the smell itself was distracting Lunney's staff. The protesters 
left without incident shortly after police arrived.

Protesters will be on Nanaimo streets again Saturday (May 22) to 
protest Emery's extradition. The protest begins at 11 a.m. across 
from the Salvation Army.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom