Green Party Watch

From the Green Party of Canada:

OTTAWA — Federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson yesterday confirmed that marijuana activist Marc Emery will be extradited to the United States, a move that the Green Party of Canada condemns.  The decision was made shortly after Marc Emery turned himself in to the authorities as his bail expired May 10, 2010.

Marc was arrested in 2005 as a result of an undercover investigation of his online marijuana seed-selling business.  Last summer, Emery entered into a plea bargain with American authorities that will likely see him thrown in a U.S. jail for at least five years for distributing marijuana seeds.  The extradition ends his 5 year battle to avoid the US drug charges.

“It is wrong that Marc is being sent to a US prison for an offense for which there is almost no penalty in Canada,” said Green Leader Elizabeth May. “We ask the Justice Minister to reconsider. At the very least, Marc should serve his term in a Canadian prison.” read more »

Vancouver-based marijuana legalization advocate Marc Emery, known as the “Prince of Pot” for his pro-legalization activism, is urging Canadians to vote for Canada’s Green Party. His wife and co-editor of Cannabis Culture magazine, Jodie Emery, ran as a Green candidate in British Columbia’s 2009 provincial elections. The Orangeville Citizen carried the story.

Note: the article incorrectly states that the Canadian Green Party position on marijuana is decriminalization; the actual platform calls for full legalization.

Decriminalization refers to the elimination of criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana. Under decriminalization, sale and cultivation of cannabis remains illegal, ensuring that profits from marijuana stay in the black market.

Legalization refers to the elimination of penalties for the regulated production, sale, and cultivation of marijuana – similar to the US government’s approach to alcohol. Under legalization, profits from marijuana would go to farmers and licensed retailers instead of violent gangs, and the government would see a surplus from tax revenues rather than spending billions every year to enforce the “war on drugs” – a prohibition regime that is largely responsible for the fact that 1 in every 100 adult Americans is currently behind bars.

As Orangeville police looked on, Vancouver-based marijuana legalization advocate Marc Emery addressed a small but supportive crowd Saturday at Alexander Muir Park next to Town Hall.

Mr. Emery, also known as “The Prince of Pot,” spoke against proposals in federal Bill C-15 that anyone caught with five or more marijuana plants face a mandatory minimum of six months in prison.

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