Pubdate: Sat, 29 Mar 2008
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2008 The Canadian Press
Contact:  http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Marc+Emery

PLEA BARGAIN UP IN SMOKE

Canada Nixed a Deal: 'Prince of Pot'

VANCOUVER -- B.C.'s self-proclaimed "prince of pot" said yesterday the
Canadian government has nixed a plea bargain with U.S. authorities
that would have meant five years in prison.

Marc Emery was charged in the U.S. with selling seeds over the
Internet. He said he was willing to accept a five-year deal but the
Canadian government wasn't.

"I was willing to accept the deal that would put me in jail for five
years on a 10-year sentence, mostly served in Canada," Emery said at a
news conference in the Vapour Lounge, newly opened above the outlet
where he sells marijuana paraphernalia.

Michelle Rainey and Greg Williams, his associates and co-accused, are
wanted in the U.S. Reports say they have been offered sentences in the
three-to five-month range in exchange for guilty pleas.

"The Americans were receptive ..." Emery said. "All we needed was the
Conservative government to agree to this and they refused."

The U.S. government has been trying to extradite Emery on charges he
sold marijuana seeds over the Internet and sent them through the mail.

Emery said U.S. officials offered him a deal last fall that would
involve him pleading guilty on both sides of the border while
receiving a 10-year sentence that required him to serve five years
behind bars. Most of the prison time would be served in Canada, he
said.

Emery said Canadian authorities have known for years about his
business. "The government is far from innocent in this situation," he
said.

He said he has paid more than $500,000 in taxes between 1999 to 2005
"and I put on my income tax declarations that I was a marijuana seed
vendor.

"I used to send, and still do send, over 10 years now, every member of
Parliament gets a copy of my magazine and the seed catalogue in it."

The extradition case against Emery was put over earlier this month
until April 9. 
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