Pubdate: Thu, 09 Apr 2009
Source: Georgia Straight, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 The Georgia Straight
Contact:  http://www.straight.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1084
Author: Carlito Pablo
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?196 (Emery, Marc)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

PRINCE OF POT MARC EMERY VOWS TO DEFEND HIS HEADQUARTERS

Vancouver's so-called Prince of Pot is vowing that he won't be smoked 
out of his downtown stronghold.

Marc Emery, leader of the B.C. Marijuana Party, will know after a 
hearing tonight (April 9) if city hall will issue licences or shut 
down his businesses on West Hastings Street.

"We're still going to litigate to stay there," Emery told the 
Straight. "We're not leaving."

A three-storey building at 307 West Hastings Street houses the 
world-famous Cannabis Culture Headquarters, a retail store selling 
pipes and bongs, shirts, books, and assorted items, as well as the 
offices of Cannabis Culture magazine and Pot TV. Across the street is 
a convenience store Emery opened last year.

"The previous three mayors-Philip Owen, Larry Campbell, and Sam 
Sullivan-have made arrangements.that we didn't need a business 
licence because we were doing good things, and it was complicated for 
them to try and license us, so they just said we didn't require one 
as long as we behave and maintain good order," Emery recalled.

Emery suggested that the police are behind attempts to get rid of him.

"Hastings Street is the corridor for the Olympics, and so all the 
VIPs and all the athletes would go by our store, and they don't want 
them to go by our store with all its signs on it that say 'Legalize 
marijuana' and all that sort of stuff," he said.

Vision Vancouver councillor Kerry Jang said he couldn't comment on 
Emery's suggestion that police are exerting pressure on city hall.

But Jang explained to the Straight that the council panel in charge 
of the business-licence hearing has to answer three questions in 
order to make a decision. First, is a business working within the 
law? Second, is it having an undue negative impact on the 
neighbourhood? Lastly, is the business costing the city money in 
terms of policing?
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom