Marc Emery may think of himself as a marijuana messiah, leading the long-suffering to deliverance from pot laws they believe unfairly punish them and restrict their freedom to smoke up. No stranger to ego, Emery may even believe he's the chosen cannabis crusader. But Canada's self-styled "Prince of Pot" - just released from a U.S. prison, after doing 4 1/2 years for selling marijuana seeds into the U.S. from Vancouver - makes a poor martyr for the kind of electoral backlash he imagines he will now inspire against the federal Conservative government he vilifies. [continues 290 words]
Is Marc Emery a secret agent for the Conservative Party of Canada? It sure looks that way. It's impossible that you have not heard of the World's Most Famous Pothead. But, in the event that you have been in a coma for the past while, consider this a primer, gratis. Marc Emery is from B.C. Presently, he is a guest of the U.S. prison system, but is returning to Canada this month. He got himself in prison by selling drug stuff in the U.S. His business was called Marc Emery Direct Marijuana Seeds, which pretty accurately describes what he does for a living. [continues 563 words]
Is Marc Emery a secret agent for the Conservative Party of Canada? It sure looks that way. It's impossible that you have not heard of the World's Most Famous Pothead. But, in the event that you have been in a coma for the past while, consider this a primer, gratis. Marc Emery is from B.C. Presently, he is a guest of the U.S. prison system, but is returning to Canada this month. He got himself in prison by selling drug stuff in the U.S. His business was called Marc Emery Direct Marijuana Seeds, which pretty accurately describes what he does for a living. [continues 562 words]
Is Marc Emery a secret agent for the Conservative Party of Canada? It sure looks that way. It's impossible that you have not heard of the World's Most Famous Pothead. But, in the event that you have been in a coma for the past while, consider this a primer, gratis. Marc Emery is from B.C. Presently, he is a guest of the U.S. prison system, but is returning to Canada this month. He got himself in prison by selling drug stuff in the U.S. His business was called Marc Emery Direct Marijuana Seeds, which pretty accurately describes what he does for a living. [continues 564 words]
Depending on your point of view, Marc Emery could be styled a valiant crusader against injustice who has devoted his working life to battling the intrusive activities of an overbearing state, or a self-absorbed troublemaker and self-promoter who ensures his regular space in the spotlight by breaking the law. Either way, Mr. Emery has been released from U.S. custody after serving a five-year sentence for conspiracy to manufacture marijuana and is expected to return to Canada within weeks. He has already declared himself a victim - once again - and announced plans to seek revenge on the Conservatives in Ottawa by campaigning hard for Justin Trudeau's Liberals in the 2015 election. [continues 716 words]
VANCOUVER - The Liberals may be leery of the idea, but when marijuana activist Marc Emery ends his four-year U.S. prison term on Wednesday, he has vowed an all-out, cross-Canada campaign to rally votes for Liberal leader Justin Trudeau. "The star power we could bring to the campaign alongside Trudeau, that's powerful in an election when nothing else seems to get out the vote," said Jodie Emery, recently returned from her last visit with her husband at Yazoo City Federal Prison in Mississippi. [continues 560 words]
Vancouver dispensaries test limits of Canada's pot laws We do have a priority-based approach to policing here in Vancouver A woman stands outside Vancouver's Canna Clinic, offering passersby free in-house medical consultations. One of Vancouver's 30-plus marijuana dispensaries, many of which have opened in only the last 12 months, Canna Clinic sells pot-infused ketchup, olive oil and brownies, as well as pre-rolled blunts and two dozen strains of pure B.C. Bud. The only catch is that prospective buyers have to present photo I.D., sign a form pledging not to share, and receive a diagnosis from an onsite naturopath confirming they have any ailment ranging from cancer to ADHD to sleep disorders. [continues 1211 words]
Marijuana Activist and Media Owner Jodie Emery Sees 'Tipping Point' For Legalization On a Thursday in early June, Jodie Emery has an episode of her web series to film, potential employees to interview and blog posts to edit. The next day, there's a flight to Texas, where she's speaking at a conference organized by the U.S. non-profit National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. The following week, she'll visit the United States federal prison in Mississippi for about the 80th time in four years, where her husband, Marc Emery, widely known as the Prince of Pot, is currently incarcerated for selling marijuana seeds. [continues 724 words]
Canada's Prince of Pot is getting ready to roll into town. Marc Emery is counting down to July 9, with 50 days to go in a five-year sentence in a Mississippi jail for selling marijuana seeds to U.S. customers from his Vancouver shop. On his blog, Emery laid out his plans for his return to Canada, including a reunion with wife Jodie Emery and large public parties in Toronto and Vancouver. "After five days in southern Ontario, Jodie and I will fly back to Vancouver for a big Vancouver party at the BCMP or the art gallery plaza or both!," Emery wrote Monday, referring to the headquarters of the B.C. Marijuana Party on Hastings Street and the Vancouver Art Gallery, site of the annual 420 smoke-in. [continues 208 words]
Nearly 2,000 Revellers Light Up at Annual 4/20 Rally Close to 2,000 people gathered at the Legislative Building grounds on Sunday, their eyes impatiently on the time, awaiting for 4:20 p.m. to strike. A countdown, followed by boisterous cheering and a cloud of smoke marked Winnipeg's effort in the annual 4/20 celebration, the pro-marijuana rally that is recognized worldwide. An interview with Bill Vander-Graff, a retired cop and licensed medical marijuana user, came to an abrupt halt at 4:20 so he could relish in the festivities. [continues 358 words]
Thousands of marijuana enthusiasts on Sunday flooded the streets of downtown Vancouver, the city that nearly 20 years ago birthed the stoner holiday that is 4/20. Vancouver's April 20 celebration has come a long way from its inaugural event in 1995. Then just a small gathering of less than 200 people, the event's biggest logistical challenge was finding a long enough extension cord to reach from Marc Emery's Cannabis Culture headquarters (then a store called Hemp BC) to Victory Square park, where it was held for its first few years. [continues 602 words]
Pro-pot advocates marched from city hall to the legislature on Saturday to promote grow-your-own medical marijuana. After a legal reprieve Friday, a group of 25 people braved the chilly air to raise awareness of new Health Canada rules that are posed to stop people from being able to grow marijuana in private residences. Organizer Steven Stairs, who is also CEO of the Marijuana Party of Canada for Kildonan/St. Paul, said they also wanted to raise awareness on the recent action taken by police against area head shops. [continues 210 words]
MP Sends Flier to Constituents Slamming Trudeau's Plan to Legalize Pot OTTAWA - The Tories are trying to smoke out some details about Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau's promise to legalize marijuana if his party forms government. Conservative MP John Williamson has sent constituents in his New Brunswick riding a flyer that slams Trudeau's policy, saying the "Liberals plan to sell marijuana in N.B. stores." "I'm trying to take Trudeau's argument to its logical conclusion," Williamson said Monday. "If the point is not to make marijuana available in stores, what's the point of legalizing it?" [continues 189 words]
