Pubdate: Wed, 09 Jul 2014
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/letters.html
Website: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Ishmael Daro
Page: A9
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?196 (Emery, Marc)

PRINCE OF POT PLANS ADVOCACY TOUR AFTER RELEASE

Marc Emery, the poster child for marijuana legalization, will be 
released from a U.S. prison Wednesday, and sometime in August, the 
self-styled Prince of Pot will be back in Canada to smoke his first 
joint since 2010.

Emery has spent most of his time in a federal prison in Yazoo City, 
Miss., sentenced to five years after pleading guilty to one count of 
conspiracy to manufacture marijuana (he ran a seed-selling business 
in Vancouver). His last official day in custody is July 9, but his 
deportation back to Canada will take several weeks.

A lot has changed in the debate over marijuana prohibition in the 
intervening years. Two U.S. states are now issuing recreational pot 
licences; medical growers are reaping profits; and investors are 
exploring opportunities.

When Emery was first arrested almost a decade ago, the Drug 
Enforcement Agency heralded his seizure as a "significant blow" to 
the legalization movement. On Monday, Washington state distributed 
for the first time licences to 24 shopkeepers who will hawk legal 
marijuana, while New York simultaneously became the 23rd U.S. state 
to authorize pot as medicinal treatment.

In Canada, federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has said he favours 
legalization. If he were to become prime minister, he would bring 
Emery's lifelong dream within reach.

Now 56, Emery calls the 2015 federal election "pivotal" and has vowed 
to travel the country in support of the Liberals with his wife Jodie, 
also a prominent activist against prohibition.

Even the Conservative government, which oversaw his extradition 
south, has softened its tune on pot. After bringing in more punitive 
drug laws in 2010, Justice Minister Peter MacKay now says the 
government is working on legislation that could make possession of 
small amounts of pot an offence punishable by fine, not jail.

But Emery says his lifelong fight for legalization is not over. "I've 
been a spokesperson, a radical, an activist since 1980," he told 
Canada. com via email from Yazoo. "It's what I do well. I've run for 
office 12 times since 1979. I've been in retail since 1971. I enjoy 
meeting the public, I like public speaking, I have a unique place in 
Canadian history and the mission remains tantalizingly close to being 
accomplished, but we aren't there yet."

The Emerys plan a 30-city, cross-Canada advocacy tour, as well as 
speaking engagements and meetings with officials in Spain, Austria, 
Ireland and Uruguay.

Perhaps surprisingly, the Prince of Pot says he hasn't missed getting 
high while in prison. Unannounced urine tests mean he hasn't dared 
smoke anything even when it was available, lest it cost him early 
release for good conduct. But he will take up his old hobby as soon 
as he gets back to Canada. "I will be consuming cannabis at the same 
enthusiastic rate in Canada, and in the same exhibitionistic way, as 
I did in my peak years," he said.

The Emerys won't sit on the political sidelines in 2015. Jodie says 
she may seek the Liberal nomination in the riding of Vancouver East, 
where the couple's seed store is located, and Marc plans to campaign 
for the Liberals across the country, even if it "might make Mr. 
Trudeau a bit nervous."

"I am easily the most recognized marijuana legalization activist in 
the world," Emery said. "I have to make good use of my reputation in 
the cannabis culture, and no job is more important than defeating 
prohibitionist regimes, and electing governments committed to the 
liberty of our people."

His estimated return to Canada is between Aug. 10 and 25.

- - with files from The Canadian Press 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom