POT CRUSADER'S PLEA DEAL NIXED

A tentative deal between Marc Emery and the U.S. government over money
laundering and drug charges has been nixed by Ottawa, the marijuana
crusader said Thursday.

Emery says the federal Conservatives have refused to go along with a
proposal that would have seen him spend five years behind bars for
selling marijuana seeds through the mail.

Under the defunct pact, Emery was to plead guilty on both sides of the
border and accept a sentence of 10 years imprisonment on the
understanding he would serve half, mostly in Canada.

"All that was required for this deal was a rubber stamp from the
federal government," Emery said. "They have, instead, rejected the
deal without explanation . . . it is clearly political."

There was no immediate confirmation of Emery's claim from the federal
government.

The longtime cannabis crusader said he originally agreed to the jail
time in part to spare his associates and co-accused Michelle Rainey
and Gregg Williams from prosecution.