[medpot]

Miramichi Leader

Letters to the Editor

Letter

Explanation wanted


Published Friday October 2nd, 2009
Letter to the editor
A7


This letter is addressed to Justice Minister Rob Nicholson.

As a concerned Canadian citizen, I feel that an explanation is in order from the Conservative government as to how they can justify collecting taxes on Marc Emery's marijuana seed selling business, then have him sent to a U.S. prison to serve a five year sentence for a crime which would have otherwise landed him a fine here in Canada.

It is my understanding that an offer was made by U.S. authorities that would see Mr. Emery serve his sentence in a Canadian facility; however, the Minister of Justice has opted to deny him this opportunity. I believe the failure of this government to keep Mr. Emery in Canada — where he belongs — sets a dangerous precedent in which our very sovereignty is called into question.

Mr. Emery is a political prisoner and a victim of the U.S.-led "War on Drugs", which is now widely regarded as a failure, yet continues to be waged against peaceful Canadian citizens. It is also commonly understood that the criminalization of marijuana diverts tax revenue to organized crime, limits its availability to those requiring it for medicinal purposes, and puts a strain on our already over-burdened justice system.

I am respectfully requesting both an explanation of this government's stance on Mr. Emery's extradition, and an explanation as to why this government continues to ignore mounting evidence that the legalization of marijuana would benefit our society.


Peter Myles Barnaby,

Eel Ground

[medpot]

Prince George Citizen

Letters to the Editor


EDITORIAL


Emery's overgrowth goes to pot


Written by Citizen staff
Wednesday, 30 September 2009


Marc Emery has certainly reaped what he sowed.

He wasn't just B.C.'s self-anointed 'Prince of Pot'; for most of his life, he's also been the commander-in-chief in a one-man drug war against the Canadian and U.S. government. His battle plan was simple: 'overgrow' the government by producing so much marijuana and so much public pressure that law enforcement would be so stretched the powers-that-be would have no choice but to legalize it.

Smoking pot is still illegal but Emery's campaign was colourful and effective: he's staged rallies, founded a political party, a magazine and claims to have helped grow 1.1 million pounds of marijuana in the United States through his seed-selling business.

This week, the empires finished striking back. In the culmination of four-year legal extradition battle that's been a financial drain on him and even threatened his friends, Emery surrendered to Canadian authorities and, barring an unlikely act of mercy from the federal Conservatives, will be sent to Washington state to spend five years in jail. It's part of a deal that Emery agreed to earlier this year in exchange for extradition charges being dropped against two of his colleagues.

Emery is 51. While Ian Mulgrew of the Vancouver Sun may have gone a little too far calling him Canada's first 'marijuana martyr', five years hard time in a U.S. jail is a harsh punishment for what's he's done.

Of course, the Prince of Pot picked the fight but that fact only confirms the most salient point about Emery's case: whatever its legal niceties, his incarceration is a purely politically-motivated act perpetrated by the U.S. government and abetted by Canadian authorities. As Paul Willcocks pointed out in 2005, police officers here could have turned down a DEA request to devote time and resources to the Emery extradition and prosecutors could have done likewise.

Instead Canadian police poured a year into aiding the U.S. effort, despite the fact the law Emery broke in this country - seed sales - has not been enforced since 1968 and despite a court ruling that an appropriate punishment for drug offences of his type is about a month in jail. Bush-era appointee and DEA boss Karen Tandy summed up why Emery was targeted succinctly, his arrest "a significant blow" to " the marijuana legalizaiton movement ... Drug legalization lobbyists now have one less pot of money to rely on."

To recap, Emery thumbed his nose too often at the U.S., so, via the DEA, Uncle Sam beat him up while Canada helped hold his arms behind his back. And our government decided to use your tax dollars and your public servants in this noble cause.

So Goliath stomps on David and no surprises but thanks again to Mr. Emery for teaching an anesthetized Canadian populace another lesson in the price - and power - of dissent.

The Conservatives could try to have Emery serve his sentence in Canada but it's doubtful - this is a government that continues to condone the seven years of torture the teenager Omar Khadr suffered in Guantanamo Bay. The case does however let out the flatulent nature of the Tory's sovereignty noises; the hydrocarbons and minerals that lie under the Arctic Ocean are worthy of this nation's protection and best efforts but Canada's citizens are merely inconveniences to be sacrificed at the merest whiff of political expediency.

There's more indignation and outrage to be wringed out of the Emery case but it would strident, hollow and weak; Emery is going to jail for his beliefs, while this editorialist is going to bed.

But perhaps it's best to end on a defiant note and paraphrase that sage of the silver screen Richard Gere. Think about whatever you hate most about government - the HST, social cuts, the breaks for big business, the lying, the graft, the genial, patronizing, complacent corruption - and then think of all the times you were told you can't fight city hall.

You can. Marc Emery did, for decades. Because two governments that control a pair of the most powerful countries on earth hate him - yet there he stands.

[KanMan]

medpot, on Oct 2 2009, 06:03 AM, said:

But perhaps it's best to end on a defiant note and paraphrase that sage of the silver screen Richard Gere. Think about whatever you hate most about government - the HST, social cuts, the breaks for big business, the lying, the graft, the genial, patronizing, complacent corruption - and then think of all the times you were told you can't fight city hall.

You can. Marc Emery did, for decades. Because two governments that control a pair of the most powerful countries on earth hate him - yet there he stands.

Agreed we can fight city hall and we can win too!

First fight with city hall for Calgary 420 was in April 2006. I was threatened by officials I would be ticketed and if necessary arrested and charged if I insisted on going ahead with a planned 420 (April 20 / 2006) celebration at a city park located at the corner of a very busy intersection of 17 ave. and 8 street S.W. in Calgary. I was told that this type of an event was not appropriate in Calgary and would not be tolerated! I continued to be defiant (quoting from the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms) and the threats went on to the point I would be stopped by city hall at all costs. Fast forward to April 20 / 2006 the day of the 420 celebration and low and behold there were 8 uniformed Calgary Police Service (CPS) mountain bike patrol officers lined up waiting for our arrival to the park. I walked right in front of the CPS line with large sign and printed handouts and proceeded to setup for the 420 celebration. Next was to march back and forth in front of the CPS line of officers chanting slogans. Within 10 minutes and no ticket and no arrest people started to show up for the 420 celebration. Finally a $100.00 ticket was issued for disturbing the peace in the park. The 420 celebration at the park still continued as well. Fast forward to our day in court, $300.00 for a lawyer and 7 people that attended the rally at court to testify. The CPS sergeant was the first on the stand to testify. A few questions from the lawyer and the judge promptly quashed the $100.00 ticket and that was that. Best $300.00 ever spent. No more of this type of an event was not appropriate in Calgary from the city about future rallies/protests at least until 2009. More on that later.

Next fight was directed towards Alderman Craig Burrows. The City of Calgary Municipal Election vote was announced for Oct. 15 / 2007. Alderman Craig Burrows decided it was in his best interest to introduce a new bylaw in regards to (so called) drug paraphernalia sells on September 10 / 2007, see ald_Craig_burrows_proposal.pdf. In affect put on a show he was a big bad drug war warrior that was hell bent on stopping (so called) drug paraphernalia sells in Calgary. Eight Calgary 420 volunteers mobilized and campaigned against Alderman Craig Burrows for less then 5 weeks and his (so called) drug paraphernalia bylaw proposal with nothing more then truthful facts about cannabis prohibition and the failed drug war. Oct. 15 Craig Burrows lost his bid to be reelected to city council in the City of Calgary Municipal Election.

Next Alderman to try to introduce a bylaw to stop (so called) drug paraphernalia sells in Calgary shortly after the 2007 City of Calgary Municipal Election was Alderman Ric McIver. I wrote Alderman Ric McIver a letter letting him know about the less then 5 week Calgary 420 to out previous Alderman Craig Burrows and included we have close to three years to campaign against him. Low and behold the (so called) drug paraphernalia bylaw never went any further.

All was good with our public and private events until a courier showed up at the Calgary 420 Activist Center on April 22 / 09 to deliver a letter from Calgary City Hall, see City_Hall.pdf. "Current policy and Bylaw 28M91 does not permit this type of activity to be held at the Calgary Municipal Building Complex."

Once again quoting from the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms the city was told Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms does not allow this bylaw to be enforced. Once again the Worldwide Marijuana March went ahead as planned. This was the 5th annual Worldwide Marijuana March in the City of Calgary.

So yes we can fight city hall and we can win too!



FREE MARC EMERY!!!

Keith

[medpot]

The Montreal Gazette

Letter

Canada must defend the 'Prince of Pot'


The Gazette October 2, 2009 4:04 AM



Marc Emery kisses his wife goodbye.
Photograph by: IAN SMITH, CANWEST NEWS SERVICE, The Gazette


Re: "Canada's 'Prince of Pot' awaits extradition to U.S." (Gazette, Sept. 29).

I agree with your editorials about the need to protect our citizens who are stranded or in custody abroad. But it is equally important to protect our citizens while on Canadian soil, and refrain from extraditing them to a country where they will face harsh penalties for an act many Canadians do not believe is a crime.

I am referring to the plight of Marc Emery. Regardless of your stand on marijuana, it is tough to defend extraditing a man to the United States simply for selling marijuana seeds, an act that Canadian authorities have deemed worthy of one $2,000-fine over the last decade. He faces five years in jail in the U.S.

Seeing photographs of him leaving his ailing wife before heading off to jail is heartbreaking, and it just doesn't make any sense. It is unfathomable that the Canadian government has done nothing to stop it.

Jason Castonguay

Montreal

© Copyright © The Montreal Gazette

[medpot]

The Vancouver Sun


Letter

Marc Emery's fate


Vancouver Sun October 2, 2009 1:06 AM


Canadian marijuana activist Marc Emery is now officially a political prisoner. If health outcomes determined drug laws, instead of cultural norms, marijuana would be legal.

At a time when state and local governments are laying off police, firefighters and teachers, the U.S. government is prepared to spend a small fortune incarcerating Emery for five years. The Canadian government should be ashamed of its role in this travesty. There is no justification for criminalizing citizens who prefer marijuana to martinis.

Robert Sharpe

Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy,Washington, D.C.


© Copyright © The Vancouver Sun

[cheryl9608]

Don’t give me tired moral arguments against pot’s use. More crime and depravity is committed by drunks than stoners. Ask a cop who they would rather deal with. If he or she is being honest, they’ll confirm they have far more problems from drunks than potheads.

So true. We would not need have the number of officers in this country if not for alcohol. Of course, some of the biggest abusers of alcohol are cops so ...

[medpot]

Alberni Valley Times


Letter

Marc Emery faces serious danger in U.S. prison



Alberni Valley Times
Published: Friday, October 02, 2009


Re: 'Prince of Pot' Starts His Jail Time

Something that Marc Emery and his followers seem unable to admit to is that he has a very strong chance of being murdered in jail.

Charismatic people like Emery make friends easily, but they also make enemies just as fast. Evil rumors have already been spread about Emery on Facebook and other web forums, so it would be naive to think that someone - a guard or inmate - won't take a very serious dislike to him, and want to make a name for himself by "taking The Prince out."

Emery talks about spending his jail time writing his memoirs and learning new languages, but sadly, I predict that he will not live to see 2010. There is a 50 to 75% chance that we have just sent one of our own citizens to his death in a foreign jail for selling seeds: seeds that Revenue Canada took tax dollars from, and which Health Canada officials told me personally to buy from Emery.

So much for our sovereignty.

Russell Barth

Nepean, Ontario




© Alberni Valley Times 2009

[Canada Dale]

Hi Gang
Hey I'm sure by the time they get Marc settled in wherever they send him too that he will like to hear from us mail wise
But I doubt he wants to hear a bunch so sorry your in jail and a lot of pity
I think while he does his time he will like notes from people telling him what they are doing about ending prohibition and about current activism happening
With him being in prison because of his own (and ours) fight against prohibition you can bet he wants to hear good news about what's happening on the outside against prohibition legalization etc
Anyone agree???
Just my thot's
"CanadaDale"

[medpot]

medpot, on Sep 29 2009, 04:58 PM, said:

Alberni Valley Times

Letter

Criminalization of drug use actually increases abuse


Alberni Valley Times
Published: Friday, October 02, 2009


Re: Sept. 29 ("There's more collateral damage than victories in this war on drugs")

Canadian marijuana activist Marc Emery is now officially a political prisoner. If health outcomes determined drug laws instead of cultural norms, marijuana would be legal. At a time when state and local governments are laying off police, firefighters and teachers, the U.S. government is prepared to spend a small fortune incarcerating Emery for five years.

The Canadian government should be ashamed of their role in this travesty. There is no justification for criminalizing citizens who prefer marijuana to martinis. It's a fact: marijuana prohibition has failed. The U.S. has higher rates of marijuana use than the Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available. Canada should Just Say No to the American Inquisition.


Robert Sharpe, Policy advisor

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, DC




© Alberni Valley Times 2009

[medpot]

The Nanaimo Daily News

Letters to the editor: letters@nanaimodailynews.com

Letter

Emery has been a strong leader for his community



The Daily News
Published: Saturday, October 03, 2009


Re: 'King of Pot's punishment was no surprise' (Daily News, Sept. 29)

Marc Emery was expecting to get punished. What he was not expecting was that the Canadian government would hand him over to the U.S. government. Emery is a political activist and thought -- quite reasonably -- that he would get his opportunity to make his case in front of Canadian judges within the Canadian legal system.

Secondly, the Canadian government has been ignoring the LeDain Commission report and it's recommendations of legalization of possession and cultivation for the last 37 years. The Canadian government has been ignoring the Senate report and it's recommendations of legal cannabis sales for the last seven years. No reason has been given by the government for ignoring the science and experts on this issue.

Rather that sit around and watch millions of harmless Canadians go to jail, waiting in vain for an irrational and irresponsible government to do something, Emery stood up and organized his community. He is as guilty as a person selling grape seeds over the border during alcohol prohibition.

David Malmo-Levine

Vancouver




© The Daily News (Nanaimo) 2009

[medpot]

The Nanaimo Daily News

Letters to the editor: letters@nanaimodailynews.com


Prince of Pot's arrest starves advocacy groups



The Daily News
Published: Saturday, October 03, 2009


Re: 'King of Pot's punishment was no surprise ' (Daily News,Sept. 29)

Your editorial regarding Marc Emery contained several mistakes and, frankly, misses the point entirely.

Emery was not arrested, indicted and sought for extradition by the United States because of his marijuana seed business.

Emery used his profits to pay for marijuana policy reform efforts in the U.S. and in Canada. Efforts that have largely been successful in pushing the debate forward and changing attitudes. That is why he was targeted for extradition.

Don't take my word for it. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration crowed about it on the day Emery was arrested, putting out a press release claiming victory over "marijuana legalization groups" that would no longer have Emery's money to assist their efforts.

You are also wrong about the legal implications of the extradition treaty. In this case, Canada has an Extradition Act, which permits the minister to refuse to surrender Canadians for a variety of reasons.

It also requires the minister to refuse surrender if the person is sought for a political prosecution. Emery's supporters are simply calling on the minister to follow the law: hardly an act that subverts the treaty between the countries.

Emery is a calculating businessman, a social entrepreneur who put every dime of his profits into his cause, kept nothing for himself and now will pay the price for his political advocacy. It has little to do with seeds and everything to do with fear.

Kirk Tousaw,

executive director,

Beyond Prohibition Foundation

Vancouver




© The Daily News (Nanaimo) 2009

[medpot]

Drug War Chronicle (U.S.)


Feature: Marc Emery Jailed in Canada Pending Extradition to US



from Drug War Chronicle, Issue #602, 10/2/09


Canadian "Prince of Pot" Marc Emery turned himself in to Canadian authorities Monday and is in custody in Vancouver pending extradition to the United States. The Canadian Justice Minister is expected to sign extradition papers within a matter of weeks, and then Emery will be driven to the border, handed over to US authorities, shackled, and sent to a federal detention center in the Seattle area. Shortly after that, Emery is set to plead guilty to a single count of marijuana distribution, with an expected sentence of five years in a US federal prison.


Marc and Jodie Emery
(courtesy Cannabis Culture)

Emery and two employees of his cannabis seed selling business, Greg Rainey and Michelle Williams, were arrested in July 2005 by Canadian police honoring a US arrest warrant charging the trio with marijuana distribution and conspiracy for selling seeds to customers in the US. They faced decades or even life in prison under draconian US federal marijuana laws. Earlier this year, Rainey and Williams accepted a plea bargain in which they pleaded guilty to a single count and were sentenced to probation in Canada.

With his employees' legal situation resolved, Emery then cut his own deal. But that doesn't mean he's changed his ways. At a press conference outside the BC Supreme Court in Vancouver Monday just before he turned himself in, Emery was in typical "Prince of Pot" form.

"I'm disappointed in my government, but very proud of my 'Overgrow the Government' revolution," Emery told supporters. "This terrible, insidious prohibition has been propped up by Liberal and Conservative governments for 45 years. It's a public policy with no public benefit, and it has caused so much misery, heartbreak, and torment for so many Canadians."

Emery urged supporters to lobby the Canadian Justice Ministry to not sign his extradition order -- something that is admittedly unlikely -- or, barring that, to make the government pay at the polls in the next election. "And if they do sign they must be punished in the next election," he said.

In the event that he is imprisoned in the US, Emery is urging supporters to demand that he be returned to Canada to serve his sentence. "I would be out on the streets in a year from now if I am transferred back to Canada as a first-time nonviolent offender in the Canadian system," he told the crowd.

Emery showed no remorse -- in fact, quite the opposite. "I'm proud of everything I've done; I only regret that I wasn't able to do more," Emery continued. "I did sell those seeds so people would overgrow the government, and I gave away $4 million that kick-started a worldwide movement. I'm the 'Prince of Pot' for a good reason. And there is no victim here; there are no dead people in my revolution."

"Plant the seeds of freedom. Overgrow the government, everyone," Emery yelled as he was led away by sheriffs.

Beginning in the mid-1990s, Emery carved out a niche for himself as a cannabis entrepreneur and legalization advocate in Vancouver, but his activism extends back to his native Ontario, where, as a libertarian bookseller, he brought cases against Canadian censorship laws that then blocked magazines such as High Times from being sold in the country. After moving to Vancouver, Emery set up the Cannabis Culture shop, Cannabis Culture magazine, and the Marc Emery Seed Company.

A constant gadfly to law enforcement and drug warrior politicians on both sides of the border, Emery's mouth, his money, and his commitment to the cause enabled him to become one of the most well-known voices worldwide for ending pot prohibition. Emery founded the BC Marijuana Party and crisscrossed Canada to spread the word about "Overgrowing the Government," and profits from his seed sales help fund drug reform groups and activists in both Canada and the US.

That didn't win him any friends with the DEA or US federal prosecutors, who indicted him on marijuana distribution charges after busting some American growers who had obtained their seeds from him. Then DEA head Karen Tandy crowed over his arrest, describing it as a blow to the legalization movement, but then quickly backtracked in the face of accusations that his arrest was politically motivated.

While Emery is behind bars awaiting extradition to the US, his friends and supporters are mobilizing. Their immediate objectives are three-fold: to urge the Justice Minister to refuse to sign the extradition papers, to urge the US sentencing judge to give him a short or non-custodial sentence, and, in the event he is sentenced to prison time in the US, to urge the Canadian Public Safety Minister to approve his transfer to a Canadian prison.

To that end, supporters have set up a web site, No Extradition, with instructions on how to contact the relevant authorities. They are also planning vigils at Emery's current BC jail digs and a demonstration in Seattle when he arrives there for sentencing.

"We're planning it right this second," Seattle Hempfest executive director Vivian McPeak said Thursday. "It's kind of difficult without having a date certain, but we're trying to get it so we're ready to go when it happens. There will probably be a rally at the federal courthouse," he added, noting that protest information would be posted on the Hempfest web site after tomorrow.

"This is terrible," said Jeremiah Vandemeer, an editor at Emery's Cannabis Culture magazine, which recently switched from print to an all online format. "It is an affront to Canadian sovereignty that Marc will be handed over to the US government and its prison system. If he committed any crime, he should have been prosecuted here in Canada."

In fact, Emery has been prosecuted in Canada for his seed sales, back in 1998. In that case, he was fined $2,000, with not a day of jail time. Since then, the Canadian government had been happy to ignore his seed sales and accept his tax payments from his seed business.

"It's terrible to see my friend and boss put behind bars for something in which there are no victims," said Vandemeer. "It's difficult, but we're getting through it, and we all have that extra resolve to work that much harder to get him back home."

Emery's young wife, Jodie, will be playing a key role, both in keeping Cannabis Culture and the Cannabis Culture Shop going and in waging the campaign to win his release. "Our campaign is about Free Marc Emery, but this is really about freeing everybody in prison for cannabis," she said Wednesday.

"There is a lot of pressure up here, and different political actors are starting to voice their support," she said. "There is all sorts of activism, and it's just starting. We will start holding vigils outside his prison beginning Saturday and going on every day after that. We're having postcards made today that people can send to flood the ministers with mail. I'm hearing that the Minister of Justice's office is being flooded with phone calls, and people are pledging that they will call every day."

But while Jodie Emery the cannabis activist is planning the campaign, Jodie Emery the figuratively widowed wife is feeling the pain. "It's horribly rough," she said. "During the day, I can keep busy. It's only when I get home and I'm alone and I realize that he's gone that it really hits me. I cry a lot," she confessed. "Even if you think Marc is a loudmouth or got what was coming to him, think of what it does to the people who love him."

Sensitized by her experiences, Jodie Emery is broadening her activism. "This has motivated me to start speaking up for the families of prisoners," she said. "There are hundreds of thousands of nonviolent drug offenders in prison right now, nameless and faceless except to their loved ones. I want to speak up for all the drug war widows. We want to put faces and names to the people suffering endlessly year after year."

The historical record will show that Marc and Jodie Emery know how to wage a campaign of agitation. Now, the question is whether they can use those skills to raise awareness not just of the injustice done to Emery, but to all the rest of the drug war incarcerated.

[medpot]

CKNW - Christy Clark interviews Marc Emery from Jail



Christy Clark


Click here

Interview with Marc starts at around 7:25 min

[medpot]

Pacific Free Press


The Corruption of Canada


Written by Chris Cook
Saturday, 03 October 2009 12:08


The Corruption of Canada
by C. L. Cook





Last week, Canadian authorities decided to turn over Canadian citizen Marc Emery to United States of America drug warriors in answer to spurious charges that government made against Emery's mail-order marijuana seed selling activities from his home base in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

Marc Emery - Awaiting five year sentence in U.S. prison

Emery is now in Canadian custody awaiting the thirty day appeal window for the minister's responsible signature to toss him over the border. Ian Mulgrew, of the conservative Canwest Global media chain wrote a worthy account by way of background on this abrogation of justice. Here's the link to Mulgrew's piece.

Though the latest Canadian sacrificed to the maw of American "Justice," Emery is certainly not the first. In fact, Canada has yet to refuse extradition of any but Vietnam era draft dodgers to the United States, despite that country's long and inglorious record of cooked cases, forced "confessions," and its grossly misapplied "plea-bargain" system that routinely imprisons innocents who, seeing no way to defend themselves against the power of the State, accept sentences lesser than the outrageously excessive "mandatory minimum" punishments prosecutors promise.

Another judicial ploy experienced by those caught up in the grotesquely arcane and patently unjust justice system south is the threat of arrest of friends and especially partners for failure to "confess" in open court. In Emery's case, two of his co-accused were treated lightly and spared the trip to the lower 48.

It was Marc Emery, the infamously political 'Prince of Pot,' they really wanted.

Yes, Emery's crime is a distinctly political one. He has vociferously opposed the marijuana prohibition in Canada and the U.S. for many years, publishing Cannabis Culture, a magazine extolling the virtue of the "sacred herb" and denouncing its detractors, and sent his seed catalogue to politicians of all stripes, on both sides of the border. He also launched Pot-TV, a web-based program covering both the political and social debate around marijuana, and serves as leader of the Marijuana Party in British Columbia, (a position he's promised to maintain from within the penitentiary).

So far, there is no indication the Canadian government recognizes the political nature of the prosecution of Marc Emery, (and there's little hope a Harper administration will), but that failure is not unusual given the dismal history of cross-border legal cooperation practiced by both ruling parties in parliament.

snipped

[medpot]

Prince George Citizen

Letters to the Editor

Letter

Criminal justice?


Written by Tyler Lindsay
Prince George
Friday, 02 October 2009


It's hard not to be amused by the three examples of our justice system and our Conservative government's tough stance on crime. Swindle people out of $9.6 million and get banned from trading securities. No fine because they don't have the money. Smuggle 329 bottles of fine wine into Canada from the U.S. and make a donation to Calgary's food bank and avoid a criminal record if you're a B.C. businessman. But the 'Prince of Pot', five years in an American slammer for openly sending marijuana seeds in the mail. Send a Canadian citizen to a U.S. jail. No sense upsetting the Yanks. After all, they've given us Iraq, Afghanistan, the worst financial meltdown since the great depression and let's not forget the Softwood Lumber Agreement (read debacle). Perhaps it is time for the Citizen to do some investigative reporting and do a cost/benefit analysis of the 'war on drugs'. Ask the staff from the Pastry Chef if we're winning the battle and who pays for their vehicle repairs. Last but not least, what idiot would pour the wine down the sewer? Why not have a public auction and have the funds go to the food bank? Better yet, give the homeless a glass of fine red with their Christmas meal.

Tyler Lindsay
Prince George

[medpot]

Lethbridge Herald (AB)

Letter

Government turned its back on a tax-paying Canadian


Written by Tamara Cartwright
Saturday, 03 October 2009


I sat and watched the Canadian government bow down and take my friend Marc Emery away this week, to a fate unknown. Our constitution seems to mean nothing to Mr. Harper and his goons.

This will happen again and maybe it will be you, or someone you love. Marc paid his taxes to the government for many years and they didn’t have any issue taking it. Now they turn their backs on a tax-paying Canadian. You may not all agree with what his business was, but it was still a business that gave its money to the government. I am very sad to say I am ashamed to be Canadian today.

We have no sovereignty, we have no rights, we vote and the Conservatives still get in and dictate and abandon the citizens.

I don’t want to hear anything more about his stimulus packages, I want to see him and Ed gone . . . close down more long-term care beds, put our seniors on the streets, put a tax-paying citizen in jail, where he may never come out of, as he fights organized criminals and they are putting him in a jail full of them! If he is killed in that prison, how well will you sleep at night?

Some of you may say fine. I say it could be your son, your daughter or you the drug war has failed. Prohibition is the harm!

Open your eyes!


Tamara Cartwright

President, Southern Alberta Cannabis Club

[medpot]

The Evening News (NS)

Letters to the Editor: dglenen@ngnews.ca


Last updated at 11:09 PM on 02/10/09

Emery’s incarceration denies fundamental rights


The News


To the editor,

The Prince of Pot is going to prison in the United States for selling seeds. Did the seeds in the mail pose a threat to public safety? Hell no. Marc Emery is going to jail because marijuana is not a fundamental right. Lawyers and judges do not recognize marijuana as property. Never mind that the right to acquire property is a fundamental right. Never mind that Mr. Emery is being deprived of his liberty, a legitimate fundamental right.

We are supposed to be protected from unreasonable regulation of our fundamental rights. The courts have declared marijuana is not a fundamental right. Judicial review is by the rational basis test. It is rational for the government to come into your home with a search warrant seize liberty and property for violating the marijuana laws. Marijuana users are not recognized as persons because only persons are protected from unreasonable laws.

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

1. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.

7. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.

8. Everyone has the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure.

Lawyers and judges do not recognize basic fundamental rights to property, to privacy and to liberty are affected by the enforcement of these criminal laws. Neither does Mr. Emery.

Michael J Dee
Windham, Me.

[medpot]

The Vancouver Sun

Letters to the Editor: sunletters@vancouversun.com.


Poll shows Canadians split over extradition of 'Prince of Pot'


By Ian Mulgrew, Vancouver Sun October 5, 2009 2:08 AM


Canadians are divided on the extradition of Marc Emery to the U.S. to face five years imprisonment for selling marijuana seeds.

In an online survey of a representative national sample of Canadians, 46 per cent of respondents agree with extraditing Emery, while 48 per cent disagree.

Surprisingly, 52 per cent of respondents believe Emery and other Canadians should be extradited even if the punishment they face abroad is more severe than the punishment meted out in Canada for the same crime. On this question there are sizable majorities in Alberta (58 per cent), British Columbia (56 per cent) and Quebec (54 per cent). Still, 41 per cent disagree.

But many believe the five-year sentence for manufacturing marijuana that Emery faces is too harsh. Forty-five per cent (including 53 per cent of British Columbians), take that view. One-third (33 per cent) think the sentence is correct, and 16 per cent deem it too lenient.

The B.C. Court of Appeal said last year that the appropriate sentence for someone like Emery convicted of selling marijuana seeds by mail was a month or two in jail, and a year's probation.

In the questions designed to gauge awareness of four high-profile court cases involving extradition, a surprising 44 per cent of respondents stated that they did not know who Emery was.

Ronald Allen Smith -- the Red Deer, Alta. native now on death row in Montana for slaying two people -- had an even lower level of name recognition, with 56 per cent not knowing who he is.

Only 13 per cent of Canadians, by comparison, did not know of Omar Khadr, the Canadian held at the Guantanamo Bay on terrorism charges.

Just 11 per cent say they do not know of Roman Polanski, the film director who pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor in 1978 and who was detained last month in Switzerland on an outstanding warrant.

About two in five (44 per cent) would only send Canadians to face trial and jail time in a foreign country that does not have a corrupt justice system.

Angus Reid Strategies conducted the online survey from Oct. 1 to Oct. 2 among 1,286 randomly selected Canadian adults who are panelists for the company.

The margin of error -- which measures sampling variability -- is plus or minus 2.7 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

The breakdowns for B.C. are based on a sample of 407 respondents, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.

The pollsters oversampled in order to get a much better take on the issue than the standard survey would allow.

The results were statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada.

Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

Emery was indicted four years ago by a U.S. federal grand jury on charges of money laundering and distributing marijuana seeds.

He has agreed to plead guilty to a lesser charge -- of manufacturing marijuana -- in a Seattle court in exchange for a five-year prison term.

The self-styled Prince of Pot is in custody awaiting the expiration of a 30-day appeal period after which the federal justice minister is expected to sign the removal order to transfer him to the U.S.

imulgrew@vancouversun.com


© Copyright © The Vancouver Sun

[medpot]

LibbyDavies.ca



Libby calls on Justice Minister to stop extradition of Marc Emery


October 2, 2009 Open Letters to Ministers & Public Officials
September 28, 2009

The Honourable Rob Nicholson
Minister of Justice
105 East Block
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6

Dear Minister Nicholson,

I write once again to ask that you stop the extradition of Canadian Marc Emery to the United States and allow him to serve his prison sentence in Canada.

Canadian law enforcement officials have for a decade ignored Mr. Emery’s well publicized activities. I have expressed to you on many occasions my vehement opposition to sending Mr. Emery or any Canadian to face harsh punishment in another country when we have agreed as a society that these actions are not worthy of prosecution in Canada. Yet, your government has refused to intervene on Mr. Emery’s behalf and he will now serve a five year prison term in the United States.

It is my understanding that the United States government will allow Mr. Emery to remain in Canada to serve his sentence if the Government of Canada agrees. I therefore urge you to act in best the interest of this Canadian citizen and in the interest of Canadian sovereignty and allow Mr. Emery to serve his sentence in Canada.

I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible on this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Libby Davies, MP
Vancouver East
NDP Spokesperson for Drug Policy

Cc: The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister

[papapuff]

Vancouver Courier



Seeds of ridiculousness


What happens to a person when their daily dose of weed is cut off? It’s a question that won’t be hard to answer now that the government has handed over marijuana advocate Marc Emery to the United States in an extradition case that should embarrass all Canadians. If you thought Canada was a sovereign nation, you probably think economists are useful people.

Emery, as we all know, is off to face a few years of hard jail time for selling marijuana seeds to American buyers. They sent him money, he sent them seeds in the mail. What an evil, evil man he is. He may as well be injecting crack-cocaine into the veins of 12 year olds.

A few years back, we interviewed Emery for, what else, a pot-related story and asked him how many joints a day he smoked. He told us four. Impossible, we shot back. Yes, four, he repeated. We’ve been baked too many times to count, but if we smoked four bombers a day we’d be fit for a rubber room. We long ago stopped smoking marijuana. It just stopped being rebellious—and fun. We’re not sure if it was really ever much fun. Oh wait, yes it was, but at a certain point it stopped feeling good and we started sounding like a clichéd pot head, that or we just sat silently in the corner of room unable to stop grinning like an idiot. In fact, and maybe this is due to the high THC content, marijuana left us feeling crappy, so we said adios to Maryjane for good.

In this province, we feel like the odd-man out admitting that. Funnily enough, most people we know who indulge in the illegal weed, much the way we occasionally indulge in a beer or glass of wine, are articulate, intelligent folk—like Emery. (If only our gin-swilling dad, with a penchant for hitting, had switched from booze to weed while we were little, our family might have experienced less trauma. Just a thought.)

Crap all over Emery if you will, but for a man who claims to smoke as much as he does, he always sounds intelligent.

So bring Emery home—if only to see how he’s doing without his daily dose.



Oct 05 2009, 09:07 PM by teamk&k

[medpot]

papapuff, on Oct 5 2009, 02:44 PM, said:

I also posted the same article from the Vancouver Courier a few days ago, but the link was discontinued on the same day.

This is why I deleted it.

I wonder why they did this?

Oh well, THANKS for reposting with a live link papapuff!


Marc

[Afka]

That Poll where they had high numbers of respondents voting "Yes" to sending people to other countries if their punishment is harsher... What kind of idiots are they? They should be sent to the Arab Emirates or Pakistan, to get punished for not wearing their head scarves or being out without their Man guardian or drinking alcohol.

[Poter Principle]

You're showing us how Keith.

Thanks for posting that.

peace and pot

[medpot]

Bay Area Indymedia (California)


Marc Emery: Political Prisoner


by Cannabis Culture (repost)
Monday Oct 5th, 2009 11:45 AM


CANNABIS CULTURE - Marijuana activist and Cannabis Culture Publisher Marc Emery surrendered to Canadian authorities Monday, September 28th and was escorted to jail to await a transfer to the United States where he is expected to serve a 5-year prison sentence for selling marijuana seeds.

The 'Prince of Pot' held a press conference in front of the British Columbia courthouse where he spoke to supporters and journalists. After an emotional speech from Emery and his wife Jodie, Marc hugged many of his friends and made his way into the courtroom.


marc-emery_no-extradition...

Watch video of the full press conference.

Mainstream Media correspondents were on-scene and began reporting on the event shortly after Marc was 'committed' by the judge and taken from the courtroom.

Read media reports about Marc's case below, or go to this MedPot.net Forums thread with almost all media coverage of Marc's incarceration.

Read more about the DEA's political persecution of Marc Emery and find out how to help Marc come home.

Please call the Canadian Minister of Justice, Rob Nicholson, and (politely) tell him that you and thousands of other Canadian voters are opposed to Marc Emery's extradition to the USA: 613-992-4621.

Click here to see photos of the press conference on Flickr

http://www.cannabisc...m/v2/content/...

Marc & Jodie Emery
by Free Marc! Monday Oct 5th, 2009 11:51 AM


marc-jodie-emery_09-27-09...


http://www.cannabisculture.com

[medpot]

medpot, on Sep 29 2009, 05:34 AM, said:

The Nanaimo Daily News

Letters to the editor: letters@nanaimodailynews.com

Letter

Marc Emery is just the latest prohibition victim



The Daily News
Published: Tuesday, October 06, 2009


Re: ''Prince of Pot's' punishment was no surprise (Daily News, Sept. 29)

For the record, Marc Emery is not the "self-proclaimed" Prince of Pot.His royal title was first bestowed by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, and later popularized by CNN.

Several factors make Emery's case unique, and different from that of a common "drug pusher." Emery donated his profits to individuals and organizations working to reform cannabis laws. Canadian and U.S. authorities were aware of this. In a press release following Emery's arrest, Karen Tandy, of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, announced, "Hundreds of thousands of dollars of Emery's illicit profits are known to have been channeled to marijuana legalization groups active in the United States and Canada. Drug legalization lobbyists now have one less pot of money to rely on."

Extradition laws require that signatory countries need not honour them when "the conduct in respect of which extradition is sought is a political offence or an offence of a political character."

Given that dozens of Canadians are currently doing what Emery did -- shipping cannabis seeds to the U.S. with impunity -- it seems fair to conclude that Emery's arrest was politically motivated.

Further, extradition laws require what is called "dual criminality."

The offender must have committed a crime punishable by two or more years of incarceration in both countries. While selling cannabis seeds is technically an imprisonable offence in Canada, only one other Canadian has ever been charge with the crime, and he was fined $200. Emery openly exported seeds and paid taxes as a self-proclaimed cannabis seed vendor for several years.

When charged by Canadian authorities in 1998, Emery was fined $2,000.

Emery's "crime" is different than that of an adult who lures children across the border over the internet in that no one was victimized. It was equivalent to selling wine grape seeds to Americans during alcohol prohibition.

Emery's arrest, extradition and incarceration are not the least bit surprising to those of us who agree that cannabis prohibition is politically motivated, expensive, wasteful, hypocritical, ineffective, disproportionately enforced, unjust and patently absurd. Emery's case grotesquely illustrates what innumerable parliamentary committees, criminologists, economists and social activists have been saying ad nauseam for decades.

Matthew Elrod

Victoria




© The Daily News (Nanaimo) 2009

[medpot]

Lethbridge Herald (AB)

Letters to the Editor


Letter

Prince of Pot deserves a better fate


Written by Teresa Olfert
Monday, 05 October 2009


Is sovereignty dead? After the arrest of Marc Emery last week, many Canadians have been wondering this very point. Marc Emery is known world wide as the “Prince of Pot” he surrendered himself to the Canadian government and is awaiting extradition to the U.S.A. Marc Emery was totally transparent on his seed dealing with the Canadian Government, he even wrote on his tax forms “Marijuana seed vendor.” Did you know that Marc paid over half a million dollars in taxes to the Canadian government, or that Health Canada sought his advice and guidance when creating the Medical Marijuana program, that they even went as far as recommending him to their patients to purchase their seeds?

Marc never went to the America to sell his seeds, he simply had American customers buy his product online. Now if we were to prosecute every handgun shop that had one of its guns make it to Canada and kill someone, how would America react to this? They would be very angry and upset, as we should be. The D.E.A has no place in Canada, we are our own nation with our own government. This double standard is becoming more and more apparent. Why not arrest Prime Minister Harper for benefiting from the proceeds of crime if they are so sure they are in the right. It won't happen, it’s a crazy idea, as is the fact that a generous, kind and caring Canadian citizen is sitting in a jail waiting to be sent to the United States of America for five years for selling a seed that is legal in his home country. I am disgusted with our country and its leaders. It’s a shame how prohibition has clouded our better judgement.

[medpot]

The Vancouver Courier

Letters to the Editor: blink@vancourier.com


Prince of Pot's partner vows to carry on business


Janaya Fuller-Evans, Vancouver Courier
Published: Tuesday, October 06, 2009


Jodie Emery, wife of the Prince of Pot, is moving ahead with business plans for the Cannabis Culture Headquarters store. Emery is replacing her husband as sole director of Avalon Sunsplash Ltd., the parent company of Cannabis Culture, following his arrest last week.

Marc Emery was taken into custody at B.C.'s Supreme Court on Sept. 28. He faces the possibility of extradition to the United States on charges of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana and is expected to plead guilty in return for a five-year sentence.

A previous licence application to the city for the business at 307 W. Hastings St. was denied last summer, in part because of her husband's previous convictions on drug-related charges. The new application should be filed within the next two weeks, according to Emery, who said she's "almost 100 per cent certain" the application will go through, as the majority of city council's problems with the business concerned her husband's involvement.

Emery doesn't have a criminal record, she said. A search of B.C. court records did not turn up any charges or convictions against Emery. Council can refuse licence applications if the applicant has been convicted of a crime within the past five years, particularly if the crime relates to the proposed business.

Emery is also maintaining her political career as policing critic for the Green Party of B.C., and is slated to run in the Vancouver South riding in the next federal election. She said the campaign is intended to inform the public about her platform, not necessarily to win seats.

"I'm not running to get votes. I'm running to get the message out," Emery said. Avalon Sunsplash's additional business application for the 420 Convenience Store at 316 W. Hastings St. was denied, and the store was shut down, last year.

The company withdrew an application for the Hastings Pot Block's upstairs administrative offices last July because there was no need for a business licence for the political headquarters of the B.C. Marijuana Party, according to lawyer Kirk Tousaw.

Tousaw, who is representing Avalon Sunsplash, said he expects the licence for Cannabis Culture's retail store to be approved. "I can't think of a reason why the city would refuse a business licence," said Tousaw, who is also executive director of the Beyond Prohibition Foundation.

Cannabis Culture attracts tourists and reflects the culture of the Hastings neighbourhood, according to Tousaw. He added that there are at least half a dozen similar stores in Vancouver. "Tourists leave, maybe having bought some hemp clothes or literature," Tousaw said. "I don't think the city should be in the business of [restricting commerce]."

Vision Coun. Geoff Meggs said city staff would review the application when it comes in. He added that he does not have any reservations about the licence application right now but will form an opinion once staff has presented the relevant information to council.

"I can't say I have any at this point, not knowing anything behind it," Meggs said. Marc Emery's lawyers are filing a submission to fight his extradition to the U.S. Tousaw said it could be a month or more before a decision is made.

janayafe@gmail.com





© Vancouver Courier 2009

[medpot]

medpot, on Oct 6 2009, 09:32 PM, said:

See also;

Torch passed to Prince of Pot's wife

Same article posted in the same newspaper - different title and dated October 7

[medpot]

medpot, on Oct 5 2009, 08:25 PM, said:

Quote

Read media reports about Marc's case below, or go to this MedPot.net Forums thread

WOW, a Californian media mentioning OUR Forums...isn't this GREAT?

That's surely something to be proud of!

Frankly, I don't give a damn if I don't make a single penny with our website and forums - as there is no amount of money which can buy such recognition and appreciation.

Thanks for recognizing OUR MedPot.net Forums, Bay Area Indymedia from California!

Our salutations!


Marc

[medpot]

medpot, on Oct 5 2009, 06:20 AM, said:

Re: NS: LTE: Emery’s incarceration denies fundamental rights

See also: Emery denied his freedom posted today in the Springhill Record (Nova Scotia) - same letter..different title

Marc

[medpot]

Bay Area Indymedia (California)


Facts About Marc Emery. DEA Release Admits Extradition Politically Motivated


by via NoExtradition.net


Wednesday Oct 7th, 2009 5:05 PM

Marc Emery was taken into custody on Monday, September 28th. Marc is being held in Canada until the Justice Minister signs the extradition order to send him to the USA. Tell the Justice Minister to refuse the extradition of Marc Emery!


640_free_marc-emery_butto...
original image ( 845x860)


• Marc Emery is a Canadian citizen who never went to the USA as a seed seller.

• Marc Emery operated his seed business in Canada at all times, with no American branches or employees.

• Marc Emery declared his income from marijuana seed sales on his income tax, and paid over $580,000 to the Federal and Provincial governments from 1999 to 2005.

• Marc Emery is the leader of the British Columbia Marijuana Party, a registered political party that has regularly participated in elections.

• Marc Emery has never been arrested or convicted of manufacturing or distributing marijuana in Canada, as he only sold seeds.

• Marc Emery gave away all of the profits from his seed business to drug law reform lobbyists, political parties, global protests and rallies, court litigation, medical marijuana initiatives, drug rehabilitation clinics, and other legitimate legal activities and organizations.

• Marc Emery helped found the United States Marijuana Party, state-level political parties, and international political parties in countries such as Israel and New Zealand.

• Marc Emery has been known as a book seller and activist in Canada for 30 years, fighting against censorship laws and other social issues long before he became a drug law reform activist.

• Marc Emery has been a media figure for 20 years with regards to marijuana and drug law reform. He is very well-known to Canadian, American and international news media organizations.

• Marc Emery operated his business in full transparency and honesty since its inception in 1994, even sending his marijuana seed catalogue inside his magazine "Cannabis Culture" to each Member of Parliament in Canada every two months for years.

• The US Drug Enforcement Administration admitted in a press release from Administrator Karen Tandy that his July 29th, 2005 arrest was based on drug legalization efforts -- a copy of the document can be viewed at http://www.cannabisc...icles/4685.html --

"Today's DEA arrest of Marc Scott Emery, publisher of Cannabis Culture Magazine, and the founder of a marijuana legalization group -- is a signficant blow not only to the marijuana trafficking trade in the U.S. and Canada, but also to the marijuana legalization movement. His marijuana trade and propagandist marijuana magazine have generated nearly $5 million a year in profits that bolstered his trafficking efforts, but those have gone up in smoke today. Emery and his organization had been designated as one of the Attorney General's most wanted international drug trafficking organizational targets -- one of only 46 in the world and the only one from Canada. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of Emery's illicit profits are known to have been channeled to marijuana legalization groups active in the United States and Canada. Drug legalization lobbyists now have one less pot of money to rely on."

http://www.NoExtradition.net

[medpot]

medpot, on Oct 5 2009, 06:32 AM, said:

Re: Poll shows Canadians split over extradition of 'Prince of Pot' (quoted link above)

See also: The Prince of Pot's future

Same article posted in the Windsor Star today - different title

[S^N]

The Province


Editorial


'Pot critic' is dream job for Marc Emery


The Province October 7, 2009


The Denver Westword, a weekly newspaper in Colorado, is looking for a marijuana critic. Its website recently posted this ad: "Calling all potential pot reviewers: Westword wants you! Do you have a medical condition that necessitates marijuana? Do you have a way with words?" Don't think this is a joke.

For users of medical marijuana in the beautiful "Rocky Mountain High" state, the issue of quality from one seller to another is a considerable concern.

$250 gets you the doc's OK This new and inspired job of "pot critic" comes at a time when the number of individuals allowed to use medical marijuana in Colorado is, shall we say, growing at an alarming rate.

Like in California, there are websites in Colorado that list doctors who will give you a medical note for pot based on such dubious symptoms as headaches and hangovers. All you need provide is the $250 doctor's fee.

Users are then required to buy pot from one of the state's licensed dispensers. The dispensers, in turn, are not required to meet certain standards with regard to the quality of the product.

Hence, the need for a critic.

Selling pot to anyone with a medical claim, no matter how dubious that claim, would seem to be the obvious direction for the pot industry to grow in most jurisdictions.

If governments allow anyone with a headache to smoke pot, providing he or she gets a doctor's note and buys the product from a licensed dispenser, then the government can, in turn, tax the hell out of everyone involved.

It's a win/win.

We have the perfect candidate As for the Westword and its inspired idea of hiring a freelance "pot critic," clearly the newspaper knows the sort of individual it wants on the beat.

Good writer, knowledge of the publishing industry, expansive knowledge of marijuana, both as a grower and a user.

Sounds like the dream job for our Marc Emery.

Plus, he's already down in the States.

OK, so it's prison, but that will end soon enough and the man is going to have to find work somewhere.



© Copyright © The Province

[papapuff]

BCLocalNews



PoCo pot protest


Published: October 08, 2009 10:00 AM
Updated: October 08, 2009 10:29 AM



Bruce Forrest is one of a group of protesters keeping vigil outside of the North Fraser Pre-trial Centre in Port Coquitlam, where marijuana activist Marc Emery is awaiting extradition to the United States for selling marijuana seeds through a mail order business.

[medpot]

The Evening News

Letters to the Editor


Last updated at 11:14 PM on 09/10/09

Emery was charged for work toward drug policy reform


The News


To the editor,

Re: Emery's incarceration denies fundamental rights, October 3, 2009

Michael J Dee wrote the Prince of Pot is going to prison in the United States for selling seeds.

I must strongly disagree.

Yes, Marc Emery sold cannabis seeds to willing customers. He also paid taxes of over $580,000 to the federal and provincial governments, from 1999 to 2005, on those seeds.

However, Marc Emery, if extradited, will not be going to prison in the United States because he sold seeds. There are many cannabis seed sellers, in Canada and the United States, who won't be going to jail.

Marc Emery was charged because he is a political activist working for drug policy reform.

Marc gave away all of the profits from his seed business to drug law reform lobbyists, political parties, global protests and rallies, court litigation, medical marijuana initiatives, drug rehabilitation clinics, and other legitimate legal activities and organizations.

The US Drug Enforcement Administration admitted in a press release from Administrator Karen Tandy that his July 29th, 2005, arrest was based on his marijuana legalization efforts:

Hundreds of thousands of dollars of Emery's illicit profits are known to have been channelled to marijuana legalization groups active in the United States and Canada. Drug legalization lobbyists now have one less pot of money to rely on.

It is Canada's shame that our Conservative government wants to extradite Marc Emery to a foreign country.

If a Canadian has broken the law in Canada, he or she should be given a fair jury trial in Canada.

I urge all loyal Canadians to protect our sovereignty and insist that all MPs oppose any extradition of Marc Emery to a foreign country.

Herb Couch
Nelson, B.C.

[medpot]

Western Standard


Sunday, October 11, 2009

NDP on the extradition of Marc Emery


In an email to marijuana legalization advocate Jacob Hunter, NDP leader Jack Layton restates his party’s opposition to the extradition of libertarian publisher and activist Marc Emery.

Here’s the email:

Thank you for your message regarding the extradition of Marc Emery to the United States.

Several years ago, when this matter became public, we voiced our opposition the extradition of Mr. Emery. We believed then, as we do now, that it is wrong to extradite our citizens for an offence that would not - and, in this situation, did not - result in him being charged in Canada.

Emery is currently being held at the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam on charges related to selling marijuana seeds. The extradition process is expected to take about a month, and marijuana policy reformers are using this time to petition Conservative Justice Minister Rob Nicholson to reject the U.S. extradition request.

While Layton has proven himself to be an unreliable ally in the movement to repeal Canada's marijuana prohibition, the party's continued opposition to Emery's extradition is welcome news to drug policy reformers.

Posted by Matthew Johnston


Posted by Western Standard on October 11, 2009

[medpot]

Western Standard


Sunday, October 11, 2009


Does Emery’s pending extradition meet the legal standard?


In a letter the editor of The Daily News, marijuana legalization activist and B.C. Marijuana Party candidate Matthew Elrod raises an interesting legal point on the pending extradition of Marc Emery:

Extradition laws require what is called “dual criminality.”

The offender must have committed a crime punishable by two or more years of incarceration in both countries. While selling cannabis seeds is technically an imprisonable offence in Canada, only one other Canadian has ever been charge with the crime, and he was fined $200. Emery openly exported seeds and paid taxes as a self-proclaimed cannabis seed vendor for several years.

When charged by Canadian authorities in 1998, Emery was fined $2,000.

Posted by Matthew Johnston

Posted by Western Standard on October 11, 2009

[medpot]

The Winnipeg Sun

Letters to the Editor: letters@wpgsun.com

Letter

Monday, October 12, 2009


TORY HYPOCRITES


The Conservatives are hypocrites. It's OK for them to drink (and allegedly drive), but not OK for adults to choose a safer alternative to alcohol.

The Conservatives are risking our Canadian sovereignty by extraditing Canadian citizen Marc Emery for running a transparent seed-selling business that paid taxes for 10 years in Canada. Call Justice Minister Rob Nicholson and ask him not to extradite a Canadian citizen to the States for a "crime" committed here.

MARIANNE KOCHAN

EDMONTON

There's a joke in there about the fool on the hill ...

[medpot]

Great letter!

Quote

It's OK for them to drink (and allegedly drive)

Marianne must be talking about ex Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer, but there's no mention of cocaine.

Perhaps it was edited out of her original letter..like some Conservative newspapers often do.

I'm glad that the "safer alternative to alcohol" part went through though.

And as Marianne suggested; Call Justice Minister Rob Nicholson and ask him not to extradite a Canadian citizen to the States for a "crime" committed here.


Marc

[medpot]

BC: Column: B.C.'s business case for legalizing marijuana

Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:28:20 -0700

Link: http://www.biv.com/search/results.asp?fhre...ch=Marc%20Emery

Newshawk: Free Marc Emery: http://www.freemarc.ca/
Pubdate: 06 Oct 2009
Source: Business In Vancouver (BC)
Email:
Website: http://www.biv.com/
Address: 1155 West Pender Street, Suite 500, Vancouver, BC V6E 2P4
Fax: (604)688-1963
Copyright: 2009 BIV Publications Ltd.
Author: Peter Ladner
Column: At Large

B.C.'s business case for legalizing marijuana

I'm writing this on the day marijuana entrepreneur Marc Emery is being taken
in handcuffs to the U.S. to plead guilty for selling marijuana seeds from
his multimillion-dollar Vancouver-based mail-order business.

Leaving aside all the galling issues about U.S. legal control over a
Canadian business, the arrest of a Canadian citizen who has never visited
the U.S., the inexplicable length of his expected sentence - five years
incarceration in the U.S. for a one-month offence in Canada - the victimless
nature of his crime and the self-defeating wounds he inflicts on himself
from incendiary pro-pot campaigning, his case highlights the role of pot as
the elephant in the B.C. economy.

A 2004 Fraser Institute study roughly estimated the B.C. marijuana crop's
value at around 2% to 4% of the province's GDP. That was before the
recession. Go to any small town in B.C., look around at the pine-beetle kill
and the shuttered mills and ask yourself what's still selling.

As economic cutbacks continue to slice up our social infrastructure, it's
time to look more seriously at the futility of paying vast sums to keep pot
illegal: last week's Union of B.C. Municipalities motion asking for more
federal money to fight gangs is only the latest indicator of how our
widely-flaunted anti-pot laws are hurting communities financially - as well
as generating crime and disrespect for the law. Pot sales are fuelling the
franchising of Hell's Angels subsidiaries in small towns all over the
province as other economic opportunities dry up.

Who pays and who benefits from keeping pot possession a criminal offence?
Ordinary citizens pay, in police, fire-inspection, court and jail costs,
while access to the plant stays as high as ever.

As the Fraser Institute study concluded: "The broader social question
becomes not whether we approve or disapprove of local production, but rather
who shall enjoy the spoils." The current beneficiaries are organized
criminals, small-time dealers, illegal growers, police, lawyers and related
law-enforcement industries.

Legalizing and taxing pot would immediately save money. An open letter
signed by 500 U.S. economists, including Milton Friedman, suggested that
replacing pot prohibition with taxation and regulation in the U.S. would
save $7.7 billion annually and generate $6.2 billion a year in new revenue
if legalized marijuana were taxed like alcohol or tobacco. The Washington
legislature is looking at a 2010 bill that would reclassify possession from
a crime to a civil infraction with a $100 penalty. A legislative committee
estimates a net financial gain of $17 million a year if the bill passes.

Tobacco-like controls, regulations, age restrictions and warning labelling
would mitigate abuse. Police could cut back forces and focus on real
dangers.

There are a multitude of barriers to making this happen, not least of which
is jeopardizing our relationship with our American neighbours. But how long
are they going to hang onto anti-drug laws that have turned their southern
flank into a drug state run by warlords? Pressure to decriminalize is very
much alive south of the border. As far back as 1972, a bipartisan
Congressional commission recommended decriminalization. Fourteen states
representing a third of the U.S. population have since decriminalized
marijuana use. Cities like Seattle have officially made adult marijuana use
the "lowest law-enforcement priority."

B.C. has an edge in the pot business. Give Emery credit for putting
Vancouver on the international map as a pot hot spot. Canada already has
more than 2,000 federally sanctioned medical-marijuana growers - some in
grow-ops near you. We have expert growers in every municipality in the
province. Just think if they could grow in greenhouses instead of converting
wood-frame homes into agricultural fire traps.

The current economic crisis adds financial punch to the already strong
arguments for ending this harmful charade and spending our scarce public
dollars on creating benefits, not breeding crime. .

- --------------------

Peter Ladner () is a founder of Business in Vancouver and a
former Vancouver city councillor.

[medpot]

The Other Press, BC Edu.

editor@theotherpress.ca

Issue #35 Vol. 35, October 6th, 2009

News

Marc Emery: “Plant the seeds of freedom; overgrow the government!”


By Kristina Mameli


Vancouver’s own “Prince of Pot,” Marc Emery, turned himself in to authorities at the B.C. Supreme Court Monday. He currently sits in a Port Coquitlam penitentiary awaiting extradition to the U.S. to begin a five-year sentence for selling marijuana seeds to Americans.

Nothing will be done until Justice Minister Rob Nicholson signs Emery’s extradition order, which could take anywhere from two weeks to two months.

Emery, 51, has been fighting extradition since 2005, when he and two others were indicted on conspiracy to distribute marijuana and conspiracy to engage in money laundering. Both of those charges were dropped in exchange for his guilty plea on the charge of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana in connection with his $3 million-a-year catalogue business between 1998 and 2005. U.S. officials agreed to allow him to serve his time in Canada, but Ottawa rejected that proposal. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration even admitted that Emery’s extradition was politically motivated in a press release issued on July 29, 2005.

At a press conference just before he turned himself in, Emery voiced his disgust for the Conservative government’s lack of support.

“As a Canadian being sent abroad for an activity I did here in Vancouver, I have to say I’m disappointed in my government; a little disappointed in my country. But I remain a very positive and proud Canadian patriot and I’m proud of my overgrow the government revolution.”

He has taken the five year bargain and turned himself in willingly in order to avoid a potential 30 year to life sentence abroad. A post on Emery’s Facebook page says, “I am in jail at North Fraser Pre-trial Centre as of September 28th, and my wife Jodie is posting the updates I give her. The Justice Minister of Canada has to extradite me before I go to U.S. prison, tell him to not extradite me! www.CannabisCulture.com”

NDP Leader Jack Layton and MPs Libby Davies and Bill Siksay have written letters to the Justice Minister calling Emery’s extradition “wrong” and encouraging the Conservatives to allow him to serve his time in Canada.

A visibly distraught Jodie Emery told CBC News that the Conservative government “refused to protect my husband, a Canadian citizen, and they’re sending him to a foreign country. This government does not stand up for Canadians at home, they do not stand up for Canadians abroad and my husband is just one of many—I am one of many who are suffering from this. It’s pain inflicted by a prohibition that doesn’t make any sense.”

A vigil for the incarcerated marijuana activist will be held at the North Fraser Pre-Trial Centre in Port Coquitlam from 12–6 p.m. every day until Emery is either freed or extradited.

[medpot]

Opinion250.com

Letters to the Editor: ben@opinion250.com


The Undermining of Sacrifice


By Submitted Article

Sunday, October 18, 2009 04:42 AM


by Justice Wallace Gilby Craig ( retired)

Citizenship Contains Rights, Obligations


Citizenship is an entwinement of rights and obligations.

It is that inner voice which keeps us on the straight and narrow, and moves us to do our duty as members of the community.

The ultimate test of good citizenship occurred twice in the 20th century: in the Great War of 1914 -1918, and the Second World War of 1939-1945.

At 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 we stand, silent, in solemn remembrance of men who were killed in the two wars: 60,000 young men in the Great War, and 42,000 in the Second World War. A great many more sustained lifelong incapacitating injuries.

After 1945, demobilized soldiers, sailors and airmen struggled through the transition to civilian life in a new Canada, a land of opportunity, an industrial state that had manufactured all manner of military equipment and sophisticated products. In 1939, Canada’s cupboard was empty, in 1945 it was full; and in the aftermath of the war Canada’s economy continued to expand and diversify.

It was a remarkable transition for a million young Canadians: from the depths of the Great Depression to a savage global war, and then back home to enjoy duty’s reward: freedom under law and order in a democratic country.

I often wonder about ordinary young Canadians and whether a glimpse into the experiences of one veteran is typical of others.

On Oct. 4, a single page in The Province riveted me to its every word. Under the kicker Jim English: 1924- 2009, the headline read Bridge builder fought with Devil’s Brigade; Coalmont Survivor of Second Narrows Bridge Collapse Was ‘Bulletproof.’

It was a fitting tribute to Jim English by Staff reporter Susan Lazaruk. English died in September just before his 85th birthday. Lazaruk portrayed English as a strong and modest man who, when called upon, could do extraordinary things; an exemplary citizen in all respects.

Like so many others working in downtown Vancouver in 1958, I watched the slow progress of the building of a six-lane bridge across Burrard Inlet’s Second Narrows; its seemingly unsupported steel girders extending further and further high above dark and turbulent waters below. On June 17, 1958, word spread that the bridge had collapsed, sending me to a vantage point to stare, stunned, at the devastation of a downed bridge.

Eighteen workers were killed, 79 were injured. English plunged to the bottom of the narrows and floated to the surface suffering from extensive bruising, a broken tailbone and a gash on his face. As soon as he recovered from his injuries, English was back on the Second Narrows Bridge continuing his lifelong passion for building bridges.

English’s physical strength and toughness was hard-earned during his boyhood. He left home at age 11 to work and board on various farms near Prince George. In 1939, 15-year-old English put adolescence and farming aside and joined the Canadian army.

As a battle-tested foot soldier and sniper, twice wounded, English won transfer to the First Special Service Force, a brigade made up of three elite regiments – a mingling of 700 Canadians with 1700 Americans. Their intensity in combat soon earned them the nickname of The Devils Brigade – inspired by their blackened faces and daring courage.

English’s luck as a soldier returned with him to Canada. On March 27, 1948, he married Ruby Ready, a union that continued for 60 years until Ruby’s death on Christmas Day 2008.

In 1945, when English and all his comrades-in-arms returned home they settled into making Canadian communities civil and peaceable.

Yet within one generation, just 30 years after the war ended, a deviant drug subculture began insinuating itself into society.

And during the last 10 years local drug users have become increasingly vocal and organized, propagandizing as the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users and claiming an inherent right to use illicit drugs without moral and ethical constraint. Their ultimate goal: decriminalization of illicit drugs.

Anomalous users of cannabis are on a parallel path lead by their pretender, Marc Emery, the self-proclaimed Prince of Pot. Presently in custody in Vancouver, Emery will soon be on his way to the United States to begin a plea-bargained sentence of five years for selling cannabis seeds to Americans. (It was a profitable business).

Emery is a self-proclaimed marijuana martyr. In fact he is a serial violator of the law prohibiting possession of cannabis; and, as a pipsqueak scofflaw, he has earned a well-deserved sentence in the reality of an American jail.

In A Nation Forged in Fire – Canadians and the Second World War 1939-1945, authors J. L. Granaststein and Desmond Morton said that “Those men and women who gave their lives might have written great books, discovered cures for disease, or, more likely, simply have lived out their days in peace in their native land. They lost the chance for a full life because of forces beyond their control, beyond their country’s control – forces most of them comprehended only dimly.”

“Was it worth it? Was it worth the death, the maiming, the unending pain? That is a terrible question if posed by someone who lost a son, a husband, or a father at Ortona, on HMCS St. Croix, or in a Lancaster over the Ruhr. Even so, there can be only one answer. Was it worth it? Oh, yes.”

On Nov. 11, we shall stand silent commemorating the sacrifice of those young men and women; evermore mindful of our rights and obligations as citizens of Canada.

wallace-gilby-craig@shaw.ca. –

[Poter Principle]

I need a green faced smiley right about here.

To the Editor,

W.G. Craig presents a nostalgic and nonsensical interpretation of WW1 & WW2, and I consider his views a disgrace.

There has never been a just war. War is by definition state sanctioned mass murder for the sadistic purpose of control through the age old tactic of divide and conquer. There is nothing honorable about war.

The Bush clan, as but one example, has profited from US wars since WW2. Prescott Bush was booted from Congress for funding both the US and Germany in WW2.

War is the only significant cause of inflation. www.chrismartenson.com. The perpetual warfare of the US is destroying the world economy before our very eyes.

The US war budget is almost twice the world defense budget.

War is what bullies make fools think is right. Two thirds of humans obey authority blindly. We know this from the Milgram Experiment of 1961, designed to explain Nazi atrocities. It also explains US atrocities quite well.

Respectfully,


peace and pot

[medpot]

The Jodie Show: Marc is in Jail... FREE MARC EMERY!


I explain what's it's been like with Marc in jail awaiting extradition, and ask you to focus your energy on contacting your representatives, your Member of Parliament in Canada, to stop Marc's extradition and also stop the Conservative government's numerous dangerous crime bills being made into law. Song by "The Ground Luminosity".

Go to http://www.NoExtradition.net to help Free Marc Emery

Go to http://www.WhyProhibition.ca to help End Marijuana Prohibition

Send mail to Marc:
Marc Emery
CS #06032080
1451 Kingsway Avenue
Port Coquitlam, BC
V3C 1S2
Canada

You cannot send money, books, music, or anything else but paper letters and non-Polaroid photos. No tape, stickers, post-it notes, labels, paper clips, staples, or anything else except paper... and no pot leafs or "illegal" things either. So many rules... But thank you for the support!

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=_kUwE1_qBR0

Advisory: 18+ years old.

[medpot]

medpot, on Oct 18 2009, 09:06 AM, said:

North Shore News

Letters to the Editor: editor@nsnews.com

Letter

Freedom for all in Canada


Kirk Tousaw, North Shore News
Published: Friday, October 23, 2009


Dear Editor:

Regarding Wallace G. Craig's Oct. 14 column The Undermining of Sacrifice:

Mr. Craig apparently knows much about Canadian history and little about what the sacrifices of those we remember on Nov. 11 were for. Mr. Craig seems to think that freedom is only for people whose behaviours he agrees with. The rest are, apparently, deviants who should be subjected to the harshest deprivations of freedom our society allows.

I have news for him. Freedom is not a commodity to be doled out only to those whom we approve of.

People like Mr. Craig support a system, drug prohibition, that causes violence, disease, death and social decay. A system that is the very antithesis of the freedom that he claims to respect.

Mr. Craig is a hypocrite and should be deeply ashamed of his attempt to conflate respect for our veterans with his oppressive and myopic beliefs.

Kirk Tousaw,

executive director

Beyond Prohibition Foundation




© North Shore News 2009

[medpot]

The Nanaimo Daily News

Letters to the Editor: letters@nanaimodailynews.com

Letter

Canada needs to stand up for rights of citizens



Glenda Allard Barr, The Daily News
Published: Wednesday, October 28, 2009


I am greatly disturbed at the threat to our citizens that has been demonstrated by the failure of the Canadian justice system to stand up against the demands of American bullying. Are we not a sovereign nation, a nation with a reputation for compassion and justice?

The issue in question is the co-operation of Canadian authorities in the investigation and extradition of Marc Emery to the U.S.

Emery did not commit a crime in Canada, nor did he visit the U.S. to commit a crime there. We have a duty to protect our citizens, and not abandon them to an imperialist nation demanding that all nations comply with its demands.

The precedent set by this case is absolutely shocking, and something I would never have believed could happen in our great nation. It seems that when it comes to cannabis, we allow the Americans to rule our policies. Do we want to emulate this brooding bully to the south that imprisons a greater proportion of its population than any other nation? In the meantime, violence and murder become a threat to the safety of our citizens because of the illegal and highly profitable industry created by our absurd laws. I suggest we begin by not succumbing to bullying and safeguarding our citizen, Marc Emery. The second step would be to pay attention to our own government commissions which have favoured legalization for many years.

Glenda Allard Barr

Lantzville




© The Daily News (Nanaimo) 2009

[medpot]

medpot, on Oct 28 2009, 09:39 AM, said:

Perhaps this is the same Glenda we have as a member on our board?

This is an excellent letter - THANKS Glenda!


Marc

[Glenda]

medpot, on Oct 29 2009, 05:29 AM, said:

medpot, on Oct 28 2009, 09:39 AM, said:

Perhaps this is the same Glenda we have as a member on our board?

This is an excellent letter - THANKS Glenda!


Marc

You bet its me, Marc!

Thanks for posting this; I had given up on this letter being printed after sending it on October 4th to the Minister of Justice, my MP and the newspaper.

[FrankD]

Great letter, Glenda!
-FrankD

[Poter Principle]

Indeed! Thanks for writing.

peace and pot