Pubdate: Mon, 06 Jul 2009
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2009 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Jamie Komarnicki, Staff Writer

'PRINCE OF POT' PREPARES FOR U.S. SURRENDER

Marijuana Activist Starts Farewell Tour In Calgary

Calling his U. S. pot charges a "great injustice," Canadian marijuana
activist Marc Emery says he hopes his looming prison sentence below
the border will stoke up support for the cannabis movement.

Emery, who gave up a four-year extradition battle on three drug
charges, launched a farewell tour in Calgary on Sunday. In September,
he plans to plead guilty in a Seattle courtroom to one charge of
conspiracy to manufacture marijuana.

The goodbyes are "bittersweet," Emery said in an interview before
taking part in several community events in Calgary on Sunday.

Emery, self-proclaimed the "Prince of Pot," has been arrested 23 times
in Canada and jailed 17 times in eight different provinces, he said.

The U. S. charges are the first time he has faced time in a prison
below the border, he said.

The drug charges stem from a joint U. S.-Canadian investigation into
his Vancouver-based mail-order business. In 2005, he was busted for
selling marijuana seeds to U. S. customers. Two of the charges --
conspiracy to distribute marijuana and conspiracy to engage in money
laundering--will be dropped in exchange for the guilty plea.

Emery believes U. S. authorities will push for a six-to eight-year
sentence, but he is asking for maximum five years and a transfer to a
Canadian prison, where he could apply for parole.

The charges come as the marijuana movement has stalled on the Canadian
political landscape. Major political parties have said they aren't
interested in any moves to legalize marijuana. Meanwhile, tens of
thousands of pot charges are laid each year.

Emery, whose high profile has often drawn the ire of authorities, says
he feels he's been made a political scapegoat with the charges.

He plans to make his time before going behind bars worthwhile by
writing a book and learning Spanish and French.

He says a worldwide tour is in the works once he has served his
sentence, where he'll try to build momentum for the cannabis movement.

"Sometimes being in jail, the right person like me can inspire people
to get angry, to get motivated, to do something, to take up the
cause," he said.

In particular, he's urging marijuana activists to vote in the next
federal election.

"I'm always shocked how many people who are in our movement still
don't vote, still don't think it's worthwhile."

Keith Fagin of the Calgary 420 Cannabis Community says he thinks the
jail term will inspire activists.

"It's not going to stop us. Each year we knock it up another
level."

Emery said the most difficult part of the sentence will be the
separation from his wife, Jodie Emery. 
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