Pubdate: Wed, 03 Aug 2005
Source: Metro (CN BC)
Copyright: Metro 2005
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3775
Author: Jeff Hodson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?196 (Emery, Marc)

PRINCE OF WEED TEMPORARILY FREED OVER DEEDS WITH SEEDS

The Prince Of Pot Is Out Of The Joint.

Awaiting an extradition hearing to the United States that could see him 
face a jail term of 20 years, Marc Emery, pot activist and head of the B.C. 
Marijuana Party, was released yesterday on $50,000 bail.

Emery, who was arrested in Halifax on Friday, is charged in the U.S. along 
with two others for conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, conspiracy to 
distribute marijuana seeds and conspiracy to engage in money laundering.

The charges stem from an 18-month investigation that saw a U.S. agent buy 
marijuana seeds from Emery and his associates Greg Williams and Michelle 
Rainey-Fenkarek.

Supporters filled the courtroom, during yesterday's B.C. Supreme Court bail 
hearing. Others wore costumes and waved colourful flags on the sidewalks 
outside the Vancouver Law Courts.

Emery's lawyer, John Conroy, told Associate Chief Justice Patrick Dohm that 
he was concerned with the "unfairness" of the charges.

He said the sentence Emery faces in the U.S. would be a cruel and unusual 
punishment and a violation of his Charter Rights in Canada.

He noted that Emery's seed business had operated openly for many years 
without any action on the part of the Vancouver Police Department. And 
what's more, Conroy said, Health Canada recommends people with medical 
marijuana exemptions purchase their seeds through the Internet.

Crown counsel argued against granting Emery bail, saying he was a "flight 
risk if released" because of the lucrative nature of his marijuana seed 
business.

Conroy produced bank receipts from Emery's many ventures -- Marc Emery 
Direct marijuana seed business, the Internet site PotTV and the magazine 
Cannabis Culture.

Justice Dohm granted set bail at $50,000, a $10,000 deposit as well as four 
$10,000 assurances.

Williams and Rainey-Fenarek were also granted bail of $25,000 each.
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