Pubdate: Fri, 30 Sep 2005 Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Copyright: 2005, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://www.canoe.com/NewsStand/EdmontonSun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135 Author: Darcy Henton, Legislature Bureau Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Marc+Emery (Emery, Marc) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) MARIJUANA SEED MAGNATE HAS UNLIKELY SUPPORTER Legal Challenge to Block U.S. Extradition Plan A former Ontario crusader against sexual abuse is attempting to throw a wrench in U.S. plans to extradite Canada's self-proclaimed "Prince of Pot." David McCann, who triggered one of the largest sexual abuse investigations in Canadian history in 1990, plans to lay criminal pot-related charges against Marc Scott Emery and two of his supporters at a Vancouver courthouse today. McCann, 57, who owns a Granville Island art shop, said yesterday that he is taking the step because he is strongly opposed to Canada extraditing Emery to the U.S. to face a possible life sentence for something governments in Canada have condoned. He believes that if Emery is facing charges in Canada, the U.S. won't be able to extradite him for operating a marijuana seed company. "I am not supporting a drug pusher," McCann told the Sun. "I am saying we need to have a much better debate in Canada about whether we want to continue the war on drugs or deal with it as a health issue." McCann says the war on drugs has failed, and it's time Canadians took another approach. Emery, Michele Rainey-Fenkarek and Greg Keith Smith were arrested on July 29 after police raided Emery's store following an 18-month investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. McCann, who sued successive Ontario premiers to obtain an apology for victims of abuse at two Ontario institutions, retained Vancouver lawyer Peter Leask to assist him in laying charges of conspiracy under the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act. Emery, 47, said he understands why McCann is launching the private prosecution. "I would much rather be in front of a Canadian jury in a Canadian court," he said. "It would probably still keep me out of the seed business for the rest of my life, alas, but it certainly would lay people's fears of a sovereignty intrusion to rest." McCann negotiated a $17-million reconciliation agreement for abuse victims with the province of Ontario and the Catholic Church a decade ago. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake