Pubdate: Sat, 06 Aug 2005
Source: London Free Press (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 The London Free Press
Contact:  http://www.lfpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/243
Author: Tiffany Crawford, Canadian Press
Alert: Is Canada a United States Puppet? www.mapinc.org/alert/0314.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Marc+Emery (Emery, Marc)

EMERY COMPARES SELF WITH GANDHI, KING

VANCOUVER -- Pot activist Marc Emery, facing extradition to the United
States, says he's prepared to suffer in prison if it leads to the
legalization of marijuana as he compared himself with Gandhi, Martin
Luther King and Nelson Mandela after his release from jail yesterday.

"If I thought my death or my lifetime imprisonment even at great
suffering would bring about the liberation of hundreds, thousands and
millions of people around the world who are oppressed, I am looking
forward to that," Emery said.

Emery, released on $50,000 bail, is fighting extradition to the United
States on charges that could send him to prison for at least 10 years
and possibly life.

Emery said the people he admires most -- Gandhi, father of India's
independence, anti-apartheid leader Mandela and King, the revered U.S.
civil rights leader -- spent time in prison for their beliefs.

"Their lives were still only one life compared to the millions that
received hope and relief of suffering," he said.

Emery, leader of the B.C. Marijuana Party, had been in custody since
being arrested a week ago on U.S. charges of conspiracy and
money-laundering related to selling marijuana seeds over the Internet.

Although sentenced to three months on a pot charge in Saskatchewan
last year, Emery could face between 10 years and life in a U.S.
federal prison if extradited and convicted in the United States.

U.S. authorities, who refer to Emery by his nickname the Prince of
Pot, said they mounted an elaborate investigation and sting operation
against him, including using undercover officers to purchase seeds
that were then used to grow pot plants. They allege he advised agents
how to smuggle the seeds across the border.

Even before Emery, 47, and two other pot activists were arrested on
U.S. extradition warrants, he said he had become suspicious about his
nosy American clients.

"Eventually I had an understanding that they were (undercover agents)
because they started asking me about buying marijuana and I thought
that was very odd because I never have sold marijuana," he said.

"Eventually I realized perhaps they are finalizing an investigation,
but that cannot change anything."

Emery spent a week in custody because it took time to raise the
necessary security to post bonds.

Although selling viable marijuana seeds is also a crime in Canada, no
one has been charged in years. Critics also contend the U.S. sentence
would be unduly harsh for a non-violent offence. 
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