Pubdate: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Copyright: 2003, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135 Author: Lori Coolican POT ACTIVIST HAS COPS SMOKIN' In-Your-Face Protester Headed Here After Being Arrested By Calgary Police Fresh from a brief detention by Calgary police yesterday, Marc Emery is headed for the steps of Edmonton's downtown police headquarters today with weed in hand. The Vancouver-based pot activist is calling this season "the summer of legalization." "I'd say this summer there have been the fewest number of arrests for possession of marijuana as there has ever been for 35 years. And that's because there's confusion among law enforcement about the real status of marijuana," the pot activist said in an interview before Calgary cops arrested him for toking up outside their headquarters yesterday. He was released from custody after about 15 minutes, and is set for a first court appearance Sept. 10. COUNTRYWIDE CAMPAIGN Emery has been smoking pot in front of cops all over the country, with mixed reactions. So far he's been read his rights in Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg - where he was put in leg irons - Moncton and St. John's, Nfld. Police in Halifax, Toronto and Charlottetown have left him alone. Edmonton police have said they likely won't respond to the stunt, which is planned for 4 p.m. today. Emery doesn't know if that will change after Calgary's response. "There are a lot of courts to be heard from yet, but currently there is no cannabis in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and several courts have validated that," Emery said. He says the officer who arrested him yesterday told him, "You may be right, but we've been instructed to arrest you." "You have quite an opportunity here, is what I'm trying to point out to all these various jurisdictions. If the government would just accept that marijuana's legal - as it is - then they can proceed to make it safer for all Canadians and create a win-win situation." Last fall a Senate committee recommended legalizing pot after concluding it's "substantially less harmful than alcohol." An Ontario court ruled in January there are currently no laws against possession of small amounts. Emery predicts the federal government will "introduce a package to re-criminalize marijuana" sometime this fall, but hopes the Supreme Court will overturn it in a decision expected over the winter. BATTLE SHAPING UP "It's going to be a battle - and even if we win it'll still be a battle," he said. "Parliament will always try and criminalize people's lifestyles." His cross-country smoke breaks have attracted as few as 12 and as many as 200 supporters in other cities. Although he never issues press releases, word gets out. Alberta Marijuana Party leader Dave Dowling said his group's board will be at the Edmonton protest, and volunteers have been distributing posters around the city. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart