Pubdate: Wed, 13 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: Dalson Chen
Page: A16

'HIS HIGHNESS' PRINCE OF POT CHEERED IN CANADIAN RETURN

WINDSOR,Ont.- Marc Emery, the B.C. marijuana activist known as the
"Prince of Pot," is back on Canadian soil, given a raucous welcome by
supporters Tuesday after serving his U.S. jail sentence for selling
marijuana seeds to Americans.

Loud cheers and large clouds of pot smoke arose as Emery, 56, arrived
in this border city after completing his five-year term. Scores of
supporters chanted Emery's name, hailing him as "his highness."

Attendees waved flags, wore pro-pot costumes and clothing and openly
smoked marijuana.

Several Windsor police officers observed from nearby but did not
intervene except to ask people to stay on the sidewalks and off the
roads.

James Lloyd, co-founder of the Hamilton Cannabis Club, offered Emery a
custom-made pair of sneakers printed with an image of Emery smoking a
joint. "He's a knight," Lloyd said of Emery, a London, Ont., native.
"He's leading the way."

Emery said he is throwing his support behind Liberal Leader Justin
Trudeau in the 2015 federal election. "I have a lot more confidence in
him than I have in any other Canadian politician," Emery said after
crossing the tunnel from Detroit under the escort of U.S. marshals.

"I believe (Trudeau) will follow through and make marijuana legal in
Canada - because it's the right thing to do, for one. It has the
majority of Canadians supporting it, for another. And it's going to
make history."

The news conference marked Emery's first moments in Canada since his
incarceration on drug charges by the U.S. government in September
2009. He finished his sentence in July. "I guess (prison) has a
redemptive quality," he said. "I feel good ... I did good things with
my time. I learned to become a bassist in a rock 'n' roll band ... I
read an extensive amount, I kept my mind agile."

Emery wasted little time renewing his declarations on his favourite
issue, urging spectators - and the pot-smoking public - to "get
serious" about politics and vote in the next federal election. "We are
going to go all in and put our faith in the Liberal Party of Canada in
the next election, because I do believe they are sincere that they
will legalize marijuana."

Before a cheering crowd, and with his wife, Jodie, by his side, Emery
promised to "get rid of this pernicious prohibition."

"I will say this - I deplore and loathe (Prime Minister) Stephen
Harper. I think he's an evil man," Emery said.

Jodie Emery wants to run in next year's federal election for the
Liberals in her home riding of Vancouver East. "Marijuana prohibition
is doomed to fail," she said. "It's only a matter of time before every
state - and all of Canada - legalizes marijuana."
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MAP posted-by: Matt