JAILED LEADER ADDRESSES POT RALLY

The self-described leader of a national movement to legalize marijuana
use urged protesters to persevere in liberating Saskatchewan from "the
dark grip of backwardness and bigotry" at a rally in Saskatoon on Saturday.

"We will bring the entire country to the glory of a free nation once
and for all -- one nation under cannabis," said Marc Emery, via
telephone from the Saskatoon Correctional Centre, to a cheering crowd
who gathered near the Vimy memorial bandshell.

Emery is serving three months in jail for trafficking after he shared
a joint with someone at the same park in March. While this is his
first prison sentence, it is his 11th drug-related conviction.

During Saturday's rally that lasted for several hours despite the
cold, wind and occasional shower, the pungent yet sweet fragrance of
marijuana wafted through the park. In the crowd of about 150, people
huddled in groups passing joints while they listened to speakers and
local musicians.

Saskatoon police couldn't be seen at the rally and the officers in
charge over the weekend had no comment.

Emery told the protesters that lawyers, judges, police officers and
politicians hate pot activists for their culture of tolerance.

"We must shine light on the darkness, truth to counter lies and love
to melt their hate.

"I love my people so much that no jail can alter my destiny to lead
you and myself and all of us to that promised land of dignity, legal
and cheap marijuana for all and acknowledgment of a cannabis culture
of peace and world unity. It will happen in our lifetime," said Emery,
calling himself their humbled, honoured and grateful leader.

A drive to form a Saskatchewan Marijuana Party was launched at the
rally. Before the organization can be registered as an official
political party, signatures of 2,500 Canadian citizens who live in
Saskatchewan and are 18 years of age and older must be collected.
Between 100 and 200 people signed up during the rally.

"We need to get our views across. The NDP isn't doing anything for us.
We need to get in people's faces and let them know what they believe
about marijuana is incorrect," said Jay Crowter of Saskatoon.

At the start of the rally, David Malmo-Levine of Vancouver gave tips
on how to avoid being arrested for smoking and sharing marijuana in
public by using "hug power."

If police approached someone, other protesters were to surround the
individual and hug the person to prevent police from taking action.
It's a strategy that has worked in Vancouver time and time again
because police don't want to play tug of war with a bunch of potheads,
he told the protesters.

Many at the rally expressed frustration at Emery's jail term and came
to show their support for the push to legalize marijuana.

"Thousands and thousands of people are doing this (smoking marijuana)
these days. Are we all criminals? Are that many Canadians criminals?
We shouldn't be," said John Fedorick of Saskatoon.

Smoking marijuana in public is needed to bring about change, according
to Steven Wiig of Saskatoon who felt safe from arrest on Saturday.

"I know what it's like to feel like you might get arrested for doing
something you do all the time. It's not nice. It's a bad feeling," he
said.

Jakob Smythe drove an hour and a half from Manitou Beach to
participate in the public smoking of marijuana.

"It (the criminalization of marijuana) is a gross travesty. It's so
commonly available. It's more of a lifestyle choice," he said.

Saturday's rally and the daily vigil held outside the provincial
courthouse for the past couple of weeks have been organized by British
Columbia marijuana activists.

They don't apologize for their disdain of provincial court Judge
Albert Lavoie and the Saskatchewan judicial system that put their hero
behind bars.

"He's abused his position of authority with his own prejudices. Since
his mind's clouded with his own prejudices, he shouldn't be in the
position as a judge," said Chris Bennett, the manager of Pot-TV that's
run by the B.C. Marijuana Party.

Bennett posted Lavoie's address and phone number on the party's web
site and encourages people to contact the judge complaining about his
Emery's sentence.

Also on the website is a daily jail blog written by
Emery.

"I had to listen to this sanctimonious, pompous windbag with his bug
eyes and his skeleton teeth, lecturing me on how if people like me
were allowed to flaunt the law, democracy would crumble," wrote Emery
on Aug. 31.

Bennett defends Emery's comments.

"Any mockery that that fellow gets, he's totally deserving of," said
Bennett. "It's not violent or a hate crime."

Dana Larsen, editor of Cannabis Culture magazine in Vancouver, says
the public pot smoke-in will become an annual event in Saskatoon but
will be scheduled in the summer when the weather is warmer.