cannabisnews.com: Pot Activist Marc Emery Granted Bail 





Pot Activist Marc Emery Granted Bail 
Posted by CN Staff on August 02, 2005 at 16:54:15 PT
By Amy Carmichael
Source: Canadian Press
Vancouver -- Canadian justice officials can't turn pot activist Marc Emery over to the United States to face possible life in prison after ignoring his sale of marijuana seeds in this country for nearly a decade, his lawyer said Tuesday."For nine years he's been doing this quite openly," John Conroy told a news conference after Emery was granted bail. "They've known about it, the local authorities haven't done anything about it."
Emery is accused of selling seeds out of his bookstore in downtown Vancouver and over the Internet. He also runs Cannabis Culture magazine and is the leader of the British Columbia Marijuana Party.Conroy said Emery has long had tacit permission from Canadian authorities to sell seeds, adding that even Health Canada has directed people who are allowed to possess pot for medical conditions to the Internet to buy seeds."Many of those people contacted Marc Emery through his website," said Conroy, who is well-known for defending people facing marijuana-related charges."Here we have a situation where they turn a blind eye locally and now they're in a position of assisting the U.S. to try to have him extradited to the U.S. where the penalties are substantially greater than here."Bail was set at $50,000 for Emery, who faces a sentence of 10 years to life in prison if convicted in the U.S.The pot paraphernalia store that Emery runs was raided on Friday by Vancouver police after a warrant was issued at the request of U.S. justice officials.In granting Emery bail, Associate Chief Justice Patrick Dohm of B.C. Supreme Court said he can continue his political work for the Marijuana party, which is fighting for the legalization of pot. He will also be allowed to work at his bookstore and at Cannabis Culture magazine.Emery's co-accused, Greg Williams and Michelle Rainey-Fenkarek, were also granted bail. They face charges of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, conspiracy to distribute marijuana seeds and conspiracy to engage in money laundering.The U.S. wants the trio extradited after they were indicted by a federal grand jury in May following an 18-month investigation by American police into the sale of marijuana seeds on the Internet and by mail.Emery's wife Cheryl sat in the front row of the court during Emery's appearance. He blew kisses and winked at her reassuringly.Supporters, who regularly come together in festive rallies to support Emery's political and legal causes, packed the gallery seats around his wife. Some were in tears, but they laughed at a lawyer for the U.S. when she read out the accusations against Emery.Kirk Tousaw, the Marijuana party's campaign manager, said Emery is being targeted for his beliefs."Virtually all the money from the seed sales went into political activism in Canada and the U.S. That's exactly what drew the ire of the Drug Enforcement Administration," Tousaw said after the hearing."There are many seed sellers in the U.S. and Canada. You see Marc Emery being targeted because he's a political activist, the leader of a political party. It should shock the conscious of all Canadians that he would be deported to face unjust penalties in the U.S. for something that in Canada he wouldn't even get jail time for."Tousaw said the party will keep organizing and fighting for the legalization of pot while Emery once again fights in the courts. Emery spent three months in a Saskatchewan jail last year for passing a joint at a rally.Outside the court, one demonstrator waved a massive Canadian flag bearing a marijuana leaf instead of a maple leaf.Others criticized the extradition request."I'm outraged," said Dee Dempster, wearing a colourful marijuana blanket around her shoulders. "The American government is bullying the entire world. It's time for them to stop."Conroy agreed."It seems to me if you do anything on the Internet that's illegal in the U.S., or that they don't like, you do run the risk of the U.S. federal government taking a position that you're doing things that somehow impact on their sovereignty," he said."In effect, they have some power over you no matter where you are."Conroy is also representing Renee Boje, a U.S. citizen who is facing extradition on marijuana charges.She has been supported by Emery and now hopes his case will bring more attention to her plight."The only thing that can save us is the public," said Boje, who faces a minimum of 10 years in jail for using medical marijuana stemming from a bust in California, where medical marijuana is legal.Complete Title: Pot Activist Marc Emery Granted Bail in U.S. Extradition CaseSource: Canadian Press (Wire)Author: Amy CarmichaelPublished: August 2, 2005Copyright: 2005 The Canadian Press Related Articles:Pot Activist Marc Emery Granted Bailhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21009.shtmlShame on Canada, Pot Protestors Sayhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21008.shtmlPot Activist Facing Extradition To U.S.http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21002.shtml
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Comment #25 posted by FoM on August 04, 2005 at 20:20:15 PT
BGreen
It isn't easy saying goodbye but this is how I handle it. Life goes by quickly and soon everyone will meet again. I don't know any other way to deal with it but that way.Bless Your Heart.
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Comment #24 posted by BGreen on August 04, 2005 at 18:37:12 PT
Thank you so much, FoM
Mrs. Green ended up consoling me after I told her.Linda was 70 years old and was a nurse. She underwent one round of chemotherapy and it made her so sick that, to the dismay of her family, she said "No more." Linda knew she was going to die and poisoning herself in addition wasn't an option.The cancer was in her lungs and her brain, but thank God she wasn't in any pain. She was very tired and had no appetite (I've heard there was a plant called Cannabis that could help that,) but her life ended peacefully without suffering because she shunned the so-called "treatment" that our wonderful medical establishment offers us.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #23 posted by Hope on August 04, 2005 at 09:35:49 PT
"Emery's wife Cheryl"
When did this happen? I thought it was "fiancee"?
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Comment #22 posted by FoM on August 04, 2005 at 07:29:27 PT
BGreen
I'll say a prayer for you and Mrs. Green. It is so hard to lose friends. Our friend that visited us from Tuscon last night is going back to have open heart surgery. I watched a program last night on WE about Tammy Faye Messner's battle with cancer. Her cancer has returned again and it was a good documentary. I think that this time it will claim her life. Cancer is so hard. We have a friend on the NY board I visit that is now in a nursing home ravaged by cancer waiting to die. We have candles by our names for her. Hang in there. Always remember that your wife's friend has gone to a place with no more pain. 
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Comment #21 posted by BGreen on August 04, 2005 at 05:13:17 PT
Please pray for me and Mrs. Green
I just saw in the paper that a friend of my wife has passed away from cancer and I have to break this terrible news to her when she wakes up.I can't stop crying because I know this is going to hurt my wife so badly and the last thing in the world that I would ever want to do is hurt my sweetie.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #20 posted by afterburner on August 03, 2005 at 22:22:59 PT
LTEs Posted by Wooly on NORML Canada
Wed Aug 03, 2005 8:26 pm  Post subject: 2 Re: Emery arrest"Editor Edmonton Journal: "Re: Arrest of marijuana seed entreprenuer, Marc Emery "Canada is lax on marijuana seed sales. The U.S. believes the flood of Canadian cannabis endangers the health and safety of American citizens. The DEA orders the RCMP to arrest businessman Marc Emery. Canadian law enforcement quickly jumps to follow U.S. marching orders. "The U.S. is lax on cheap handguns. Canada believes the flood of U.S. weapons endangers the health and safety of Canadian citizens. Can we look forward to Ottawa ordering the FBI to start arresting American gun dealers? Somehow I doubt it. "420420420420420420420420420420420 "Editor Ottawa Citizen: "Re: Arrest of marijuana seed entreprenuer, Marc Emery "Just last week the U.S. Congress passed a bill to immunize gun dealers from any liability when they sell their wares to gang members and hoodlums. The rationale being, tax paying businesses engaged in legal trade should not be responsible for criminal acts committed by their customers once they leave the store. "If it works for cheap hand guns designed for nothing other than killing people, shouldn't it work for cannabis seeds which never killed anyone? Will any of us sleep more soundly tonight, on either side of the border, knowing we're safe from marijuana seeds while people who provide guns to criminals operate their businesses with inpunity? "This is the kind of craziness I have come to expect from U.S. politicians. But from Canada?"US VP Dick Cheney said that the US should be free to violate any treaty to combat terrorism. Why should any other nation, especially Canada, consider itself bound by mean and meaningless treaties?
Letters to the Editor- Published or Not
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Comment #19 posted by FoM on August 03, 2005 at 21:59:07 PT
Hope About Today
I didn't get to hug the horse but the foundation got poured and done. The father and son amish men did a good job. The father is one of 21 children and he has 9 children. That's was unbelievable. 21 kids! Oh my oh my! Hope do you remember a long time ago about my friend who was an African Amercian? He was visiting his parents and lives in Tuscon, Arizona and came out and spent the evening with us. What a wonderful night. We've known him for 30 years and we had some really great times together. He works in the mental health care field and so does his wife. We talked a lot about drug addiction and mental illness. He has strong opinions about this issue and he has years of experience working with the mentally ill. All in all it was a good day. Maybe tomorrow there will be some news worth posting from the states. I'm really tired because of all the stress and I'm turning in early for me tonight. Hang in there everyone. We are in a bad time now but it will pass like all things do.
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Comment #18 posted by Hope on August 03, 2005 at 08:08:33 PT
comment 9
By the way. Thank you, FoM. I enjoyed reading that article.
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Comment #17 posted by dongenero on August 03, 2005 at 08:08:17 PT
UK retailers
There are a number of seed retailers that legally sell seeds in the UK. They also send to the US where it is of course illegal. They generally have some kind of disclaimer but, they knowingly send seeds to the US. I wonder how the UK will handle the issue?
I guess the world will have to fall into lock step with Bush....or else?
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on August 03, 2005 at 08:04:07 PT
dongenero
If it is legal in the UK and Amsterdam that would be a different issue. I know it isn't legal to send seeds to anywhere in the states from any country though. Seeds are treated the same way as Cannabis. We need to work hard to change the laws and then seeds will be a non issue I believe. Let's say someone sold seeds that lived in the UK and sent them to the states. They could be arrested just like Emery. 
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Comment #15 posted by dongenero on August 03, 2005 at 07:57:52 PT
I see
Apparantly the law against seeds exists in Canada, they just have not enforced the law.
I guess the Canadian Govt. may be compelled to shut down all of the Canadian cannabis seed retailers.That would leave the UK and Netherlands.
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on August 03, 2005 at 07:49:41 PT
dongenero
I don't think selling seeds has ever been legal in Canada. They just haven't pushed the issue in Canada I believe. The problem is in the states we can't even grow hemp from seeds yet.
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Comment #13 posted by dongenero on August 03, 2005 at 07:45:43 PT
Re: comment#1 Reuters
They say near the end that selling pot seeds is illegal in Canada except for medical cannabis.Is this correct? How is it that dozens of seed retailers have openly conducted business for years? I think that may be incorrect. I thought that selling seeds in Canada is legal as it is in the UK.Can anyone confirm?
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Comment #12 posted by OverwhelmSam on August 03, 2005 at 05:37:50 PT
Here Are Some Things We Can Do To Help Marc
This link provides a few things we can do to help Marc Emery.http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/4471.htmlI would add - write your Congressman and ask for an investigation of the DEA's actions on foriegn citizens for doing nothing more than selling marijuana seeds.
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Comment #11 posted by Hope on August 03, 2005 at 04:21:06 PT
hugging a horse and their sweet aroma
1993? Twelve years?That's a long time without a whiff of the scent of a horse or a hug for and from the noble beast.A sweet memory I have was of the time that I was aware that a horse actually hugged me. At first I didn't realize what the big mare was doing, and when I did realize, I felt a rush of joy at the affection of the bond with the animal. She made an odd gesture that I had never noticed a horse doing before. Facing me, she put her head over the top of my shoulder and put pressure with her chin against my back, pulling me with her chin and head to press me against her neck and chest area and held me there against her for a moment in what became, obviously, an affectionate and loving hug. It was so sweet. A better memory than a hoof planted squarely and firmly on your foot or the affectionate nip. They ought to bottle Eau de Equine for the horse lover whose life has led him far from the stable, yet would enjoy a whiff every once in a while of that special scent.Those eyes. That soft muzzle. Their sweet breath.Also, I hope your dogs are tolerant if they've never been around a horse.
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Comment #10 posted by afterburner on August 03, 2005 at 03:28:01 PT
Mr. Weasel Squeaks
"An official with the Canadian Department of Justice, which will represent the United States in the extradition process, declined comment on the bail decision, but said Canada had an obligation to uphold its extradition treaties."Shame on you, buddy. You are a disgrace to Canada!
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on August 02, 2005 at 21:57:48 PT
Off Topic But Interesting from The WP
The Rock Journalist At a High Point In Music HistoryExcerpt from Article:Aronowitz had written for the Post about Dylan as well. Initially, neither of these titans wanted to meet the other -- Lennon because he felt that Dylan was already so big a deal that there'd be an imbalance of power. "Yeah, I wanna meet 'im," he told Aronowitz. "But on me own terms." Dylan dismissed the Beatles' music as "bubble gum." The idea of an audience of shrieking 12-year-olds horrified him, Aronowitz recalled.Despite all these misgivings, Aronowitz persisted in trying to bring them together. When the Beatles took their second trip through the United States in '64, they stayed at the Delmonico Hotel in New York. Aronowitz received a call from Lennon. He was ready. Dylan came down from his retreat in Woodstock.Aronowitz and Dylan didn't arrive empty-handed. The Beatles had never smoked pot until then, Aronowitz claimed. Like a lot of people at the time, Aronowitz recalled in his essay, the Fab Four didn't differentiate between marijuana and harder drugs, like heroin. At first, both Aronowitz and Dylan were incredulous. Wasn't Lennon singing "I get high! I get high!" on "I Want to Hold Your Hand"?Actually, it was "I can't hide! I can't hide!" Lennon would later explain.The Beatles offered some champagne. Dylan asked for his beverage of choice, cheap wine. Aronowitz suggested lighting up. Dylan rolled the joint, Aronowitz remembers, with some of the pot falling into a fruit bowl on the table. The battalion of cops stationed outside the hotel room door to protect the Beatles from their fans was apparently oblivious.None of the Beatles, it seems, was eager to inhale, but somehow Ringo went first. ("You try it!" Lennon told him.) Instead of passing it around, he treated it like a cigarette and kept puffing. Soon enough, everyone had a joint of his own and then the whole thing turned into an outtake from a Cheech and Chong movie."In no time at all, [Ringo] was laughing hysterically," Aronowitz wrote. "His laughing looked so funny that the rest of us started laughing hysterically at the way Ringo was laughing hysterically. Soon, Ringo pointed at the way Brian Epstein was laughing, and we all started laughing hysterically at the way Brian was laughing."Paul McCartney then instructed a road manager and friend named Mal Evans to follow him around with a notepad and write down everything he said. Not long after, the band began a new creative phase. As authors Peter Brown and Steven Gaines put it in "The Love You Make: An Insider's Story of the Beatles," the band "started to compose under marijuana's spell." In late '64 the band released "She's a Woman," which contained the line "Turn me on when I get lonely," a winking reference to pot, the Beatles later acknowledged. But the effect of both Dylan and drugs would surface most notably in the group's gradual evolution away from teeny-bop pop toward more mature and even dark themes like "Baby's in Black," a tune about courting a woman in mourning.Complete Article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/02/AR2005080201920.html
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on August 02, 2005 at 21:16:34 PT
BGreen
I will ask permission and no the horse won't have to pull the cement mixer. That's funny. I was told he has a special power tool he uses but it has to be stored off his farm since they can't have it there. Life is so strange sometimes. It wasn't uncommon to see a phone booth outside an Amish home. They can't have a phone in the house so they have a phone booth put outside. The Amish are such interesting people. We had two Amish young men help us years ago. My husband had to negotiate the work with the father. I can't be involved with that. I had to agree to make them lunch. My husband said sure no problem. I had them come in and sit down and eat their lunch and I was clearing the table and putting the dishes in the dishwasher and they turned to my husband and said don't you think they will make your wife lazy!We have laughed about that so many times.
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Comment #7 posted by BGreen on August 02, 2005 at 21:02:47 PT
Be careful, FoM
I'm not sure if the Amish allow "horse hugging." LOLI hope the poor horse doesn't have to pull the cement mixer.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on August 02, 2005 at 20:42:43 PT
Hope
This is totally off topic but I know you will appreciate this. Tomorrow we are getting cement poured for our room addition. An Amish man will be doing the work. He will arrive here around 7 am in his horse and buggy. I spent my life working with horses but I haven't hugged a horse or smelled the sweet aroma of a horse since 93. I can't wait to hug this horse tomorrow. See I'm still horse crazy after all these years! LOL!
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Comment #5 posted by Hope on August 02, 2005 at 20:33:35 PT
Mayan....A "Treaty" was signed...
that gave them the right. Sort of bringing us, apparently one step closer to and closer to a more an more powerful "International Law"...or the dreaded "One World Government".
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Comment #4 posted by jose melendez on August 02, 2005 at 20:11:31 PT
basic unfairness, unjust and oppressive
Common law; Unlawful restraint of trade:" . . . (T)he Medical Marijuana Access Program run by Health Canada have actually depended upon the existence of these . . . internet based these seed selling businesses to supply the people who have medical marijuana exemptions." Emery Defense Attorney John Conroy interviewed by The Early Edition's Kevin Sylvester:http://vancouver.cbc.ca/clips/Vancouver/ram-audio/bc_pot_050802.ram'Prince of Pot' wins bail fight http://vancouver.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=bc_marijuana-emery20050802
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Comment #3 posted by The GCW on August 02, 2005 at 19:40:57 PT
I don't care for Bush's choice of things to do.
A very HIGH percentage of U.S. citizens do not support this farce.The murdering, killer menace, of earth is Mr. Bush; why is anyone in the world detaining Marc to begin with?If people want to make the world a safer place, get Bush impeached at the very least.Impeach Bush and the world will be safer than if Bush cages Emery.If Bush loved Us, He would impeach Himself.
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Comment #2 posted by mayan on August 02, 2005 at 18:20:46 PT
Eye Opener
If Emery is 100% Canadian and hasn't been charged with a crime in Canada I don't see how he could be extradited to the United States. Am I missing something? This ordeal will surely open any eyes that haven't already been opened to the Imperical whims of the fascist U.S. government!Here's more proof that the fascists ARE the terrorists...Statistics prove prescription drugs are 16,400% more deadly than terrorists:
http://www.newstarget.com/009278.htmlTHE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...Alex Jones on Coast to Coast AM August 2nd(Tonight!) to Discuss 9/11:
http://www.911blogger.com/2005/08/alex-jones-to-be-on-coast-to-coast-am.htmlFederal Whistle Blower Claims Chicago Grand Jury Indicted Bush And Others For Perjury and Obstruction Of Justice:
http://www.arcticbeacon.citymaker.com/articles/article/1518131/30722.htmGovernment Hacks Continue To Violate Civil Rights Of Illinois 9/11 Truth Seeker:
http://www.arcticbeacon.citymaker.com/articles/article/1518131/30662.htmThe Reichstag Fire, 9/11, and Anthrax:
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/08/01/090025.phpThe War on Truth: 9/11, Disinformation and the Anatomy of Terrorism (video):
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article9626.htmHijacking Catastrophe - 9/11, Fear, and the Selling of American Empire (video): 
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article6895.htm
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on August 02, 2005 at 16:57:34 PT
Related Article from Reuters
Canadian Pot Activist, Wanted by U.S., Gets BailBy Allan DowdAugust 2, 2005VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - A judge rejected a U.S. request that a Canadian marijuana activist be held without bail on Tuesday in a case that is likely to ignite debate over the countries' diverging drug policies.U.S. officials say Marc Emery illegally sold millions of dollars worth of marijuana seeds, but Emery's supporters say his business activities were well known for years and tolerated by groups that included Canada's federal health ministry.Emery is a founder of the pro-legalization B.C. Marijuana Party and his arrest comes as the Canadian government is pushing a measure to decriminalize possession of small amounts of pot, drawing the ire of the U.S. government."Here we have a situation in which for years (Canadian police) turned a blind eye ... but now they're assisting in a U.S. investigation," defense attorney John Conroy said outside the British Columbia Supreme Court in Vancouver.Vancouver has a handful of cafes where pot is smoked openly, including one near Emery's downtown business.Associate Chief Justice Patrick Dohm ordered Emery, 47, freed on C$50,000 ($41,000) bail to await hearings on a U.S. extradition request -- a process that could take years to complete. Two others arrested with Emery also received bail.Emery was arrested Friday, the same day that Vancouver Police, acting on a warrant requested by the United States, raided his seed business and bookstore. The location also serves as the political party's headquarters.A U.S. grand jury in Seattle has indicted Emery for conspiracy to distribute marijuana seeds and marijuana as well as for money laundering. He would face up to life in prison if convicted in the United States.U.S. undercover agents bought seeds from Emery in Vancouver and asked how to smuggle them into the United States. It is also alleged seeds sold over the Internet were used by illegal marijuana growers in several states.An official with the Canadian Department of Justice, which will represent the United States in the extradition process, declined comment on the bail decision, but said Canada had an obligation to uphold its extradition treaties.Emery, a Canadian citizen, has not been charged with breaking any Canadian laws. Selling pot seeds is illegal in Canada unless they are to be used for medical marijuana or if they cannot be germinated.Conroy said the case raises questions about who has jurisdiction over the Internet since the Web was used to take orders but the seed business was located in Canada.Health Canada told people who have been given medical permission to smoke marijuana to use Internet seed suppliers such as Emery if they want to grow their own plants, Conroy said.The B.C. Marijuana Party has fielded candidates in two provincial elections, but has never won any races. Copyright: 2005 Reuters
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