B.C. pot activist arrested in extradition bid

[DaHui]

Police raided a marijuana seed store run by the B.C. Marijuana Party leader in Vancouver Friday, at the request of U.S. authorities in Seattle.

In connection with the 11 a.m. raid, Greg Williams a.k.a. "Marijuana Man" was arrested at the store, Michele Rainey at her Vancouver home and high-profile B.C. Marijuana Party leader Marc Emery was picked up in Nova Scotia while attending "Hempfest 2005."

U.S. officials are accusing the trio of growing marijuana, distributing marijuana seeds and conspiring to engage in money laundering, following an 18-month investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Emery runs a mail-order website that distributes marijuana seeds to clients in a variety of countries, including the United States.

At a news conference in Seattle, U.S. authorities announced they've asked for Emery to be extradited to the U.S. to face drug charges.

Seattle DEA Special Agent Rod Benson said that Emery displayed an "overwhelming arrogance and abuse of the rule of law."

"The message here is clear," Benson said. "Those engaged in the cultivation, and trafficking of illegal drugs will eventually pay a steep price."

The price of a conviction could carry a sentence ranging from 10 years to life in prison.

Chief of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office Jeff Sullivan said the charges are based on what Emery allegedly does in the U.S. and not what he does in Canada.

Vancouver Constable Howard Chow said Canadian law enforcement was approached by the DEA to aid in the investigation.

"The DEA came to us about a year ago surrounding Marc Emery and asked for our assistance in the criminal investigation that had to do with trafficking a controlled substance," Chow told CTV.ca News. "It's an ongoing investigation. There may be further charges that come out of this.

Emery's site has been operating for more than five years with no action being taken until today.

"It just comes in terms of resources and priority. We get information and we act on it and we deal with it at that time," Chow said.

"You can expect that anybody who engages in criminal activity on a high profile, such as Marc Emery does -- you're not going to expect to do it forever before you have to account for your actions."

Known as "The Prince of Pot", the leader of the B.C. Marijuana Party has been a vocal advocate for the legalization of marijuana.

In 1994, Emery opened a Vancouver-based store called Hemp BC selling marijuana paraphernalia. Police raided his store in 1996 and again in 1998, confiscating his entire stock.

After those raids, Emery opened the mail-order business selling the seeds. He also publishes "Cannabis Culture" magazine and runs "Pot TV" on the Internet.

He ran for mayor of the city of Vancouver in 1996 and again in 2002, coming in fifth place.

In 2004, Emery served a 90-day sentence in a Saskatoon jail for passing a marijuana joint.

Party spokesperson Kirk Tousaw said he had not spoken to Emery since the raid.

"I can express a pretty significant disappointment that police would choose to go this route to go after Marc and others who have been operating there for years with no harm to anyone," Tousaw told CTV.ca News.

"The timing stinks. They do it on Friday so that they can keep you in jail the maximum amount of time before you can be released on bail," said Tousaw.

Emery's operation on West Hastings houses a hemp shop, a book store, the headquarters for PotTV and the operations behind an Internet-based seeds sales company.

According to police, Emery's seed business rakes in about $3 million a year.

Source: CTV News
Website: http://www.ctv.ca

[Scarecrow]

"It's times like these I wanna leave the world behind."

[jeeper]

We have the most piss poor government in the world ..........

[Pinch]

Fat chance Emery will get sent to US.. I don't see it happening.. but it was fun to watch on CBC (Canadian News) last night. Made front page News in Vancouver Sun. Had to giggle at the whole affair.. seems that the Canucks as well as our DEA are fed up with Mr. Emery thumbing his nose at the powers to be in both countries..

I say good luck to Mr. E. He has the bucks and "star" power to make this thing go away. Back from Van today.. glad to be back in the Bay Area.

[IshmarRodriguez]

It's a good thing they put these people away for "10 years to life". Because the convicted child molestor down the road only served for 5 years.

We will find these "REAL" criminals, and put them away forever!

[sue hardy]

"have you heard the word about the herb superb, you can take it from an ocker like me, just have a toke for a bit of a joke, n get ya outta ya Coolibah tree,
now when the guy next door starts to look around, cause ur smilin' n lookin happy, just plant a few seeds grow a few weeds n da world don't look so crappy.
Smokin' that marajuna Australiana,
cheaper than booze, safer than pills,
makes ya sing like Frank Sinatra,
Marajuna definatly top banana,
it's the greatest craze since the Tivolly days,
you can grow it in ur own backyard"
John Williamson he's da Koota