Pubdate: Fri, 26 Dec 2014
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Page: A17
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: Gord McIntyre

SWEET LIFE FOR PRINCE OF POT SINCE HIS RELEASE FROM JAIL

Life for Marc Emery has been grand since July 9, the day he was
released from custody in the U.S. and crossed the border to Windsor
after nearly 41/2 years behind bars.

"It's been the most wonderful time," he said.

"Everybody's been really nice to me across Canada and
Europe.

"If you go to jail, it makes your work more relevant, I guess, the
idea that you sacrificed."

He's taken his advocacy to Europe, where he's been presented with
three lifetime achievement awards.

He's knocking on doors in Vancouver East for his wife Jodie, who is
seeking the Liberal nomination for the riding the NDP's Libby Davies
has represented since 1997 and for which she has said she will not
seek another term.

Free of the "junk" he was fed in jail - he rotated through three
facilities in the U.S. South - Emery ballooned to an unflattering 189
pounds before devoting himself to a health and fitness regimen that
now has him weighing in at 165.

Jodie, who has been with Emery for a decade, made 80 trips for a total
of 163 days of visitation while her husband was incarcerated.

Including long travel days, Emery pointed out, Jodie gave up about 11
months of her life in her devotion to visiting.

"She's not nearly as stressed now that I'm back," he said. "She used
to worry about me. "But prison was good for me." He read. He declined
prison dope - getting caught would have extended his sentence.

Nothing traumatic happened to him. No violence, no
assault.

No family member died while he was locked up, so he didn't have to
miss a loved one's funeral.

"And the love I share with my wife is stronger than ever. We feel like
newlyweds again after 101/2 years together.

"So since my release, it's been a lovely, lovely time."

Nor has it escaped his notice that the pot landscape has shifted
considerably since he was put behind bars.

In Washington state, where the attorney general once prosecuted him,
that same office has written legislation to legalize marijuana.

Canadian politicians and police who once demonized him now lean toward
decriminalizing marijuana.

"I seems like every enemy I had has come over to the side of light." 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D