"Prince of Pot" addresses public
By: Ryan Webb, Imprint (CN ON Edu), 09-18-09

Go anywhere near Petch Fountain or the Vancouver Art Gallery on Sept. 19 and you’ll get baked - guaranteed. That’s because the locations will be hosting two of the many rallies being held worldwide to free Marc Emery, the Prince of Pot.

Emery’s Cannabis Culture headquarters was raided by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency in 2005 for selling cannabis seeds over the Internet — and he’s been fighting extradition to the U.S. ever since.

Facing life in prison, Emery signed a deal earlier this year that will likely see him sentenced to five years in a U.S. prison even though Canada’s Justice Minister has the authority to refuse to sign the extradition order.

Victoria’s Solidarity Smoke to Free Marc Emery will start at 4:20 p.m. at UVic’s Petch Fountain. Those willing to talk about how the struggle for drug law reform has touched their life are invited to speak.

“I think it’s really sad that Canada would allow a Canadian to be jailed outside of Canada for [selling seeds]. It’s a really sad day for Canadian sovereignty,” said Kristen Mann, who is organizing the event. “Come out and let your voice be heard, especially first-years. Stoners are really friendly people.”

Mann works with the UVic Students’ Society (UVSS) Hempology 101 Club to host a 4:20 smoke-in at Petch Fountain every Wednesday. She thinks Hempology 101 events have benefited from the heightened profile of the drug law reform movement in recent years, since that visibility draws more people in. (About 200 to 300 people show up at the open 4:20 smoke-ins on average.)

“It’s a good way for students to get involved in their community; it gets them outside that campus bubble,” said Mann.

Ted Smith, Victoria’s own “Marc Emery,” teaches Hempology 101 courses at UVic, which are free, aren’t for credit and are broadcast online via YouTube. Smith also runs Victoria’s Cannabis Buyers Club of Canada, which is the oldest compassion club in Canada and supplies medical marijuana to 2,800 area buyers.

Recently, Smith celebrated Hempology 101’s 14th anniversary with a march on the Legislature.

“The movement really picked up,” said Smith. “MP’s Denise Savoie and Keith Martin joined us and I get the sense that it was a successful campaign.”

According to Smith, the Hempology Society puts on roughly 70 to 80 public events per year — more than all similar organizations across Canada combined. Smith highlights events in the community, such as Team 4:20 sports events, the upcoming Frisbee golf tournament in East Sooke Park and Cannabis Caroling at City Hall.

Over in Vancouver, home of 10,000 to 12,000 person-strong 4:20 celebrations, supporters of the Free Marc Emery campaign will gather from 2 to 5 p.m. to hear Emery speak and smoke a liberal amount of cannabis in a reggae-infused atmosphere.

Jacob Hunter works with Emery and handles research, communications, organizing and lobbying on behalf of the Beyond Prohibition Foundation, which runs whyprohibition.ca.

As a member of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association’s (BCCLA) board of directors, Hunter also works on writing policy. The BCCLA’s latest policy adoption was formal opposition to Emery’s extradition.

“I’ve spent a lot of time working with Marc over the last couple of years, so it’s sad to see him go, and for so long,” said Hunter.

However, Hunter predicts that Emery will still lead the B.C. Marijuana Party from prison.

“In fact, he’ll probably be even busier … he’s kind of a work-a-holic,” Hunter said.

In a May 1 poll by Angus Reid, 65 per cent of B.C. respondents said they would choose to legalize marijuana in order to reduce violence, while 35 per cent believe increased penalties for marijuana trafficking is the answer. Hunter points out that while there are two certified referendums and one more on the way in California that propose various forms of legalization and taxation on cannabis, Canada is in danger of back-sliding, despite public opinion.

“There’s a real lack of leadership on drug policy in Canada. Politicians are still huddling in a corner, giggling about drugs,” said Hunter. “Marc is the most recognizable leader on drug law reform in Canada, if not the world.”

Hunter says that they’re fighting a multi-pronged battle to keep Canada from regressing from tolerance to ideological wars on drugs. Hunter said the Conservatives were unable to provide scientific evidence to Parliament showing that Bill C-15, which provides mandatory minimum sentences for those caught growing as few as five marijuana plants, will reduce drug crime.

C-15 is currently being debated in the Senate. Hunter says he hopes they will deliberate C-15 like any other bill and will stall its passage, heeding the massive amount of public opposition.

Mann also appreciates the ongoing fight.

“No one should be jailed for growing a plant,” she said.

Hunter says he stays optimistic that science and justice will prevail in the fight to end prohibition over the long term as education about the effects of the drug war spreads through society.

“Our movement won’t be going gentle into that good night with Marc’s departure. If anything, it kinda pissed us off,” said Hunter. “It makes Canadians sad to see our country starting to lag behind the U.S. when it comes to social policy.”

For more information on Hempology 101 (held every Wednesday from 3:30 to 4 p.m. in Clearihue C-111) contact Mann or Smith through the hempology.ca website.

© 2004 H.U.M.A.N.: Hemp Users Medical Access Network - Toronto Medical Marijuana