'Prince of Pot' to learn his fate from Ottawa
Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 3:30 pm
'Prince of Pot' to learn his fate from Ottawa
By Katie Mercer, The Province May 10, 2010 8:03 AM
APRIL 20, 2009 - Marc Emery lights up at the annual "4-20" pot rally held at the Vancouver Art Gallery and attended by thousands of marijuana advocates and aficinados.
APRIL 20, 2009 - Marc Emery lights up at the annual "4-20" pot rally held at the Vancouver Art Gallery and attended by thousands of marijuana advocates and aficinados.
Photograph by: Jack Simpson, For The Province
Canada’s self-proclaimed “Prince of Pot” could soon find himself in a U.S. prison if the justice minister today decides to extradite him.
Marc Emery’s bail conditions require him to turn himself into police custody in Vancouver this morning as Justice Minister Rob Nicholson must decide whether to forge ahead and sign
his extradition order.
The pot activist, who some consider a homegrown hero, was sentenced last September in the U.S. to five years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana.
The charges against Emery and two associates stemmed from a lucrative mail-order, pot-seed business run out of his Cannabis Culture Headquarters on Hastings Street in Vancouver.
The pot activist believes Nicholson has delayed making a decision since Emery was granted bail last November because it could be a political liability for the federal Conservative government.
“I think he would rather say yes if they had a majority government where there would be no repercussions, but we could have an election called in two weeks or even in the fall,” Emery said.
But that doesn’t stop Emery from hoping the minister has “a tin ear” and sends him packing to the U.S. within 48 hours of his surrender Monday.
“I think he would be astute to delay it for some time, but it would actually be better for the movement if he extradited me because that would have a reaction that will be noticeable and will have repercussions in the next election,” he said.
While Nicholson decides whether or not to apply for an extradition extension, Emery will wait in a court jail cell. He could find himself back out by 4 p.m. or spending the night in the North Fraser Pretrial Centre.
If Emery is sent to the U.S., he hopes he will be able to transfer back to Canada to serve his time.
“If he sends me away, it will anger millions of Americans and millions of Canadians,” Emery said. “I need them to be angry, otherwise we won’t get any change on this drug war.”
Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/news/Prince+ ... z0nXb17OWJ
By Katie Mercer, The Province May 10, 2010 8:03 AM
APRIL 20, 2009 - Marc Emery lights up at the annual "4-20" pot rally held at the Vancouver Art Gallery and attended by thousands of marijuana advocates and aficinados.
APRIL 20, 2009 - Marc Emery lights up at the annual "4-20" pot rally held at the Vancouver Art Gallery and attended by thousands of marijuana advocates and aficinados.
Photograph by: Jack Simpson, For The Province
Canada’s self-proclaimed “Prince of Pot” could soon find himself in a U.S. prison if the justice minister today decides to extradite him.
Marc Emery’s bail conditions require him to turn himself into police custody in Vancouver this morning as Justice Minister Rob Nicholson must decide whether to forge ahead and sign
his extradition order.
The pot activist, who some consider a homegrown hero, was sentenced last September in the U.S. to five years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana.
The charges against Emery and two associates stemmed from a lucrative mail-order, pot-seed business run out of his Cannabis Culture Headquarters on Hastings Street in Vancouver.
The pot activist believes Nicholson has delayed making a decision since Emery was granted bail last November because it could be a political liability for the federal Conservative government.
“I think he would rather say yes if they had a majority government where there would be no repercussions, but we could have an election called in two weeks or even in the fall,” Emery said.
But that doesn’t stop Emery from hoping the minister has “a tin ear” and sends him packing to the U.S. within 48 hours of his surrender Monday.
“I think he would be astute to delay it for some time, but it would actually be better for the movement if he extradited me because that would have a reaction that will be noticeable and will have repercussions in the next election,” he said.
While Nicholson decides whether or not to apply for an extradition extension, Emery will wait in a court jail cell. He could find himself back out by 4 p.m. or spending the night in the North Fraser Pretrial Centre.
If Emery is sent to the U.S., he hopes he will be able to transfer back to Canada to serve his time.
“If he sends me away, it will anger millions of Americans and millions of Canadians,” Emery said. “I need them to be angry, otherwise we won’t get any change on this drug war.”
Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/news/Prince+ ... z0nXb17OWJ