Pubdate: Wed, 25 Aug 2004
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2004, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.canoe.com/NewsStand/EdmontonSun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Canadian Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?196 (Emery, Marc)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

PROTESTS ERUPT AFTER ACTIVIST JAILED OVER JOINT

SASKATOON -- Pro-pot activists are staging protests and writing
letters after well-known marijuana supporter Marc Emery was sentenced
to three months in jail for passing a single joint. Emery's supporters
gathered at Saskatoon's provincial court building yesterday to protest
the jail sentence, which came last week after Emery pleaded guilty to
trafficking.

"We'll be here every day until Marc Emery is released," said protest
co-ordinator Dana Larsen of Vancouver, editor of Emery's Cannabis
Culture magazine.

"I don't think this will succeed in getting Marc out early, but I
think it will draw attention. Our goal really is to stop this from
happening to anybody else."

Emery, president of the B.C. Marijuana party, was charged with
trafficking after he passed a joint while speaking at a political
rally at the University of Saskatchewan earlier this year.

While it was Emery's 11th drug-related conviction, it was the first
time he has been sentenced to jail.

The B.C. Marijuana party has also begun a letter-writing campaign to
federal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler. In July, Prime Minister Paul
Martin promised to reintroduce legislation to decriminalize possession
of 15 grams of pot or less.

"The sentence, viewed by many as extreme, has evoked outrage in the
marijuana community," said the party in a release.

"Mr. Emery has the dubious distinction of being the first person in
Canada to be charged and convicted of trafficking for passing a joint."

Larsen said he wants to prevent others from being jailed for simply
passing a joint.

"I think most Canadians would think that's pretty extreme ... and
would look upon Saskatoon as a backward place because of that, like
the Alabama of Canada," he said.

"I don't think anyone else has ever been convicted of trafficking this
quantity before."

Seven people joined Larsen yesterday. They carried a pot-leaf version
of the Canadian flag and handed out flyers entitled Free Marc Emery.

Jay Crowter said he plans to be at the courthouse as often as possible
until Emery's release.

"It kind of scares me (that) a guy can go to jail for something so
simple as passing a (marijuana) cigarette," he said.

Emery's lawyer, Leanne Johnson, said her client won't appeal the
sentence, but could be released early for good behaviour.

"He'll probably only serve one-third of his sentence," she said.
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