Pubdate: Tue, 05 Aug 2014
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html
Website: http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Nick Eagland
Page: A6
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?196 (Emery, Marc)

TRUDEAU, JODIE EMERY GRILLED AT BBQ

Vancouver: Pro-Marijuana Liberal Leader, Pro-Pot Activist Discuss 
Potential Candidate's Political Fortunes

A sunny afternoon in the park almost brought pro-Liberal pot activist 
Jodie Emery and pro-pot Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau together for 
the first time - almost.

Trudeau attended the B.C. Day Liberal barbecue in Vancouver's Douglas 
Park on Monday with B.C. Liberal candidates and supporters, where 
Emery made an appearance.

She told The Province she was "impressed" by Trudeau's speech to 
attendees, though she didn't get the chance to meet him.

Emery is planning to run for the Liberal Party of Canada in the 
Vancouver East riding, which has been held by NDP MP Libbie Davies 
since 1997. To do this, Emery will need the support of Trudeau, who 
would get the final word on her eligibility.

"I understand the leader has to sign off on all candidates if they 
win their nomination race," she said.

"If I do win that, I imagine he would probably allow me to join the 
team, but, of course, there's no doubt I have some nerves about it."

Trudeau was unclear about where he stands on Emery's political 
ambitions. After speaking following the event about his policies on 
marijuana control and regulation, Trudeau skirted questions about 
Emery's potential as a Liberal.

"I've never met her, but I recognize that there are a lot of 
Canadians who are very passionate about particular issues and want to 
take their activism into politics, and I encourage everyone to look 
at politics as a way of making a difference," Trudeau told the media. 
"I certainly don't have anything to say on her status as someone who 
could or couldn't be a candidate - there's a whole process to go 
through on that and I'm going to allow the process to function ... "

Russ Miller, vice-president of the Vancouver East Federal Liberal 
Riding Association, said he was "very optimistic" about Emery's 
chances. It was he and association president Mark Elyas who 
approached Emery to run in the first place.

"I'm supporting Jodie because I've known her for a long time now," 
Miller said. "We've been holding lots of events and any of the 
cannabis-oriented events, we've invited Jodie to come speak at. When 
the open nomination process started, we figured she'd make a great 
addition to it ... " Emery is waiting for nomination papers and once 
those are filled out, the vetting process will begin.

Emery is planning a 2015 cross-Canada tour in support of the Liberals 
with husband and pot activist Marc Emery, who will be released from a 
U.S. prison later this summer after serving nearly five years for 
selling mail-order cannabis seeds to an American buyer.

She said she's running against the Conservatives to exact "political 
revenge" - she blames the Harper government for her husband's 
treatment - but also hopes to help unseat Harper for "what he does to 
families and all the reasons we care about this country."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom