Saw a documentary last night on the CBC how our lackey federal govt is not resisting what is essentially a political attack on Marc Emery in trying to extradite him. It is also an attack on our political system from the anti-drug zealots in the Drug Enforcement Administration DEA, which has offices in Canada. The RCMP are their toadies.
This is why Harper is a second rate politician. In this extradition case, he should tell the DEA to get lost. close their offices in Ottawa and Vancouver.
Canada's 'Prince of Pot' Marc Emery to plead guilty in U.S. marijuana case
Canada's 'Prince of Pot' Marc Emery to plead guilty in U.S. marijuana case
By Amy Husser, Canwest News Service June 5, 2009
Pot activist Marc Emery, pictured lighting up at Vancouver's 4/20 rally on April 20. Canada's self-proclaimed 'Prince of Pot' will plead guilty this summer in a Seattle court in hopes of serving a shorter sentence — and one in Canada.
Photograph by: Jack Simpson file, Vancouver Province
Canada's self-proclaimed "Prince of Pot" will plead guilty this summer in a Seattle court in hopes of serving a shorter sentence — and one in Canada.
Marc Emery is facing three drug-related counts in relation to his 2005 arrest stemming from a mail-order marijuana-seed distribution business he ran from 1998 to 2005, selling seeds to both Canadians and Americans.
The charges of conspiracy to distribute and conspiracy to launder money will be dropped in exchange for his guilty plea of conspiracy to manufacture.
"My lawyer of four years (Ian Donaldson) just said to me straight, 'Marc, the United States has never lost an extradition request when asking Canada,'" said Emery, from his Vancouver office at Cannabis Culture Thursday. "(He said) 'I don't know of any law or anything I can do to help you avoid extradition, so therefore I believe this is your best option.'"
If convicted, he could face life in prison. An extradition hearing scheduled for this week was adjourned.
"There was pressure at all levels to speed everything up because it's been four years now," said Emery. He has been fighting extradition ever since his arrest following an 18-month joint investigation by U.S. and Canadian officials.
His lawyer will argue for a zero- to five-year sentence, to be served in Canada, compared to the five to eight years Emery expects U.S. attorney Todd Greenberg to push for. He is also likely to get day parole in 18 months to two years under the Canadian system.
Emery said mitigating factors may lessen the sentence, such as the transparent operation of the business and the fact he gave away all of the money the company earned — about $4 million — to activist groups.
And Emery sounded surprisingly upbeat about his decision to plead guilty.
"For me, I'm resigned to it," said Emery, adding he plans on surviving prison by having lots of projects. "I'm going to learn Spanish in jail, and French. I will write a lot and keep really busy because the enemy of mental health in jail is boredom. You can't let yourself get bored because otherwise life goes by very slowly."
Last month, two of Emery's associates — Michelle Rainey and Gregory Williams, both of Vancouver — voluntarily appeared in court to resolve related charges. Sentencing in that case is slated for July 17.
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
This is why Harper is a second rate politician. In this extradition case, he should tell the DEA to get lost. close their offices in Ottawa and Vancouver.
Canada's 'Prince of Pot' Marc Emery to plead guilty in U.S. marijuana case
Canada's 'Prince of Pot' Marc Emery to plead guilty in U.S. marijuana case
By Amy Husser, Canwest News Service June 5, 2009
Pot activist Marc Emery, pictured lighting up at Vancouver's 4/20 rally on April 20. Canada's self-proclaimed 'Prince of Pot' will plead guilty this summer in a Seattle court in hopes of serving a shorter sentence — and one in Canada.
Photograph by: Jack Simpson file, Vancouver Province
Canada's self-proclaimed "Prince of Pot" will plead guilty this summer in a Seattle court in hopes of serving a shorter sentence — and one in Canada.
Marc Emery is facing three drug-related counts in relation to his 2005 arrest stemming from a mail-order marijuana-seed distribution business he ran from 1998 to 2005, selling seeds to both Canadians and Americans.
The charges of conspiracy to distribute and conspiracy to launder money will be dropped in exchange for his guilty plea of conspiracy to manufacture.
"My lawyer of four years (Ian Donaldson) just said to me straight, 'Marc, the United States has never lost an extradition request when asking Canada,'" said Emery, from his Vancouver office at Cannabis Culture Thursday. "(He said) 'I don't know of any law or anything I can do to help you avoid extradition, so therefore I believe this is your best option.'"
If convicted, he could face life in prison. An extradition hearing scheduled for this week was adjourned.
"There was pressure at all levels to speed everything up because it's been four years now," said Emery. He has been fighting extradition ever since his arrest following an 18-month joint investigation by U.S. and Canadian officials.
His lawyer will argue for a zero- to five-year sentence, to be served in Canada, compared to the five to eight years Emery expects U.S. attorney Todd Greenberg to push for. He is also likely to get day parole in 18 months to two years under the Canadian system.
Emery said mitigating factors may lessen the sentence, such as the transparent operation of the business and the fact he gave away all of the money the company earned — about $4 million — to activist groups.
And Emery sounded surprisingly upbeat about his decision to plead guilty.
"For me, I'm resigned to it," said Emery, adding he plans on surviving prison by having lots of projects. "I'm going to learn Spanish in jail, and French. I will write a lot and keep really busy because the enemy of mental health in jail is boredom. You can't let yourself get bored because otherwise life goes by very slowly."
Last month, two of Emery's associates — Michelle Rainey and Gregory Williams, both of Vancouver — voluntarily appeared in court to resolve related charges. Sentencing in that case is slated for July 17.
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
