Pubdate: Fri, 05 Aug 2005
Source: Kamloops This Week (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Kamloops This Week
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1271
Author: Dale Bass
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Marc+Emery (Emery, Marc)

BLACK MARC FOR CANADA

It comes as a bit of a shock to friends when I tell them I know Marc Emery.

After all, he's the self-proclaimed prince of pot and I have never 
tried any illegal drug - in fact, the idea of sticking burning leaves 
in your mouth bewilders me.

I met Marc when he was the owner of City Lights bookstore, back in my 
hometown of London, Ont.

Even then, he was controversial, taking on laws he thought were 
ridiculous, speaking out on issues in which he believed.

He ran for city council - and lost. He demanded the downtown 
improvement association be done away with because he objected to the 
levy on his store.

A libertarian in his first political incarnation, he later formed his 
own political movement, the Freedom party.

He eventually got tired of fighting with authority and moved to 
Indonesia in 1992. He returned to Canada and decided to challenge the 
marijuana laws, opening the Cannabis Cafe in Vancouver and later 
starting his online business.

He created the Marijuana Party and became its head. He's run for 
government under its banner and thinks nothing of debating people who 
don't agree with his beliefs.

There is no half-way with Marc.

He's always been a lightning rod for controversy, but this time, the 
bravado and self-confidence has taken a major hit as he faces 
possible extradition to the United States to face drug-trafficking 
and money-laundering charges, stemming from his online business 
selling marijuana seeds - which, it must be said, is legal in Canada.

They are ridiculous charges and we, as Canadians, should be ashamed 
our judicial system rolled over when the Americans came calling, and 
let them use us to arrest someone for doing something our own legal 
system says isn't a crime.

To the Americans, Marc is evil incarnate, a purveyor of the dreaded 
drug many Americans continue to believe destroys lives.

Up here, he's an amusement, a man who may in time be proven right as 
our own government moves toward a more accepting attitude - and 
requisite changes in law - toward marijuana.

Some of Marc's critics, no doubt chortling at his comeuppance, point 
out that, were he charged with murder, we'd think nothing of having 
him extradited to the U.S. to face those charges.

It's a ridiculous argument.

Of course we would because, when it comes to murder, Canadians and 
Americans share the same beliefs.

But when it comes to marijuana use, we don't.

We allow marijuana use for medical reasons; the Americans decry the 
drug as a demon destroying its citizenry.

To allow the Americans to enforce their archaic attitude onto our 
justice system is to make a mockery of it, and to go into court and 
request no bail be allowed is just taking the U.S. reefer madness 
much too seriously.

Marc's party, in a press release issued earlier this week - no doubt 
the start of a lengthy campaign to support its leader - pointed out 
that his arrest, which leaves him facing potential life terms in an 
American prison, came just days after the B.C. Court of Appeal said a 
two-year sentence for growing 100 marijuana plants was harsh, 
replacing it with probation.

Marc's fiancee says he's stressed by the charges he and two 
colleagues are facing.

Of course he is.

His situation is one we should never have allowed to happen. Canada 
is not the 51st state and we are not governed by American laws.

We all need to loudly declare it and support Marc, not because we 
agree or disagree with what he does, but because, if it could happen 
to him, it could happen to anyone. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake