Pubdate: Thu, 10 Jul 2003
Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB)
Copyright: 2003 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.fyiwinnipeg.com/winsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503
Author: Natalie Pona
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?196 (Emery, Marc)

POT PRINCE POPPED

Marijuana Crusader Emery Busted For Cop-Shop Toke

Drop That Enormous Bong, You're Under Arrest.

B.C. marijuana activist Marc Emery was taken into custody yesterday 
afternoon after taking a hoot off a giant water pipe during the Winnipeg 
leg of his Great Canadian Smokeout tour.

The self-proclaimed Canadian Prince of Pot lit the device outside the 
police force's Princess Street headquarters.

"Emery knows police were going to make a martyr out of him. That's the ugly 
truth," said Chris Buors, a Winnipeg member of the Marijuana Party of Canada.

"But he's an old hand at it," Buors said. "Jail only scares people who 
haven't been there. To put people in a cage because of a plant is ugly."

A crowd of about 50 gathered in front of police headquarters to hear 
Emery's message.

'LAWFUL CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT'

Buors helped Emery organize the rally, intended to proclaim what they say 
is the "lawful constitutional right to possess and smoke marijuana."

"Every pot smoker secretly dreams of showing up at the cop shop and blowing 
a reefer," Buors said.

Buors said Canada's pot laws put innocent people behind bars.

"I was a happy railroader for 30 years until I got busted for cannabis," he 
said. "And the only way I could get my job back was to admit I was a sick 
man, which I wasn't going to do."

Emery was arrested after sparking the monster device under the watchful 
eyes of waiting police, said Sgt. Ray Perry.

"We gave them five minutes grace for Mr. Emery to pass on his message to 
the crowd," Perry said.

"Anyone caught smoking marijuana after that was arrested."

Buors wasn't arrested. He didn't light up a doobie.

"My heart's in the battle 100%, but I was asked to take charge of the rally 
if (Emery) got arrested."

Staff Sgt. Gary Simpson said Emery would spend the night in jail because 
he's not a Manitoba resident. Emery was also detained because he swore to 
police he would light up another joint the second he was released from 
custody, Simpson said.

One other person was detained for questioning after lighting a reefer in 
front of police, Simpson said.

The man claimed he had a medical marijuana permit, Simpson said.

"He may or may not have a legitimate permit. The guys are checking it out," 
he said.

Yesterday's rally kicked off Emery's Summer of Legalization Tour, which 
includes similar rallies in cities across the country.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom