Pubdate: Sun, 16 Sep 2007 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 The Province Contact: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Paula Beauchamp, CanWest News Service Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?196 (Emery, Marc) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/grant.htm (Krieger, Grant) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Marijuana - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal - Canada) WHITE HAT FOR 'PRINCE OF POT' Calgary Airport Volunteers Honour Marijuana Activist CALGARY -- Canada's "Prince of Pot" has joined the ranks of singer Dolly Parton, Prince Philip and Gov.-Gen. Michaelle Jean. Arriving in Calgary for a two-day visit yesterday, Marc Emery, Canada's best-known marijuana activist, was white-hatted by the Calgary airport's official White Hat Volunteers. "I'm the Prince of Pot," he said. "That's a royalty, a monarchy of sorts, so I guess it fits." Yesterday's warm welcome, arranged by Emery's supporters, comes in stark contrast to his visit to Calgary in 2003, when he was arrested for marijuana possession. Emery is in Calgary to show his support for medical-marijuana crusader Grant Krieger -- charged with trafficking after mailing seeds to fellow multiple-sclerosis sufferers -- raise awareness of his own extradition proceedings and raise money for looming court battles. Emery has been jailed 17 times for marijuana-related offences. He now faces a U.S. extradition hearing on Nov. 5 for selling thousands of marijuana seeds to Americans through his Internet business. Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier, who often gives out white hats to distinguished visitors, said: "Just because white hats are available for sale, it doesn't mean everyone should get one," he said. Meanwhile, Lorn Sheehan, chairman of the board of directors of Calgary Tourism, said Calgary should show hospitality to a broad range of people. "If you white-hat absolutely terrible people, it could devalue it," he said. "But if this man is walking the streets, he can't be that terrible." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake