Pubdate: Thu, 14 Aug 2014
Source: London Free Press (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 The London Free Press
Contact: http://www.lfpress.com/letters
Website: http://www.lfpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/243
Author: Giuseppe Valiante
Page: B1

EMERY DOUBTS GRITS WILL BACK HIS WIFE

MARIJUANA ACTIVIST: Marc Emery, known as the Prince of Pot, fears his
notoriety may cause problems for wife Jodie, seeking the Liberal nod
in Vancouver East

OTTAWA - Marijuana activist Marc Emery promises to campaign for the
federal Liberals, but he says the party doesn't seem to want anything
to do with him.

One day after his release from U.S. prison, Emery said the Liberals'
anxiety about him is causing problems for his wife, Jodie Emery, 29,
who is running for the Liberal nomination in the Vancouver East riding.

"I think (the Liberals) are nervous about me and it's reflected in the
way they are treating my wife," he said Wednesday in Toronto. He
didn't elaborate. Marc Emery walked into Canada Tuesday a free man,
after serving 4 1/2 years in a Louisiana prison for selling millions
of marijuana seeds to the U.S. from his B.C. business.

His pro-pot activism - and the millions he made selling seeds - earned
him the title Prince of Pot.

A Liberal Party spokesperson wouldn't comment directly on Jodie's
upcoming campaign, only saying "(The Liberals) have open nominations
in every riding and any Canadian can apply."

Emery said if the party runs a "transparent" nomination campaign in
Vancouver East, Jodie will win.

"I'm very popular in that community and I have no doubt I can get
hundreds of signatures," he said. But Emery doubts the race will be
clean.

However, he said he won't stop campaigning nationally to get people to
vote Liberal. Emery said the Liberals are the only party that
advocates for marijuana legalization, despite concerns the position
could alienate certain immigrant communities.

The Grits should forget about Chinese and Jewish voters because they
will likely go Conservative, Emery said.

"The law-and-order and so-called right-wing agenda is appealing to the
more reactionary immigrant groups that come to Canada," he said.

The Liberals should instead focus on "French Canadians, English
Canadians, young professional people and urban people."
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MAP posted-by: Matt