POT ADVOCATE'S 11TH CONVICTION GETS HIM JAIL TIME

SASKATOON -- The founder of the B.C. Marijuana Party and Cannabis
Culture magazine was sentenced to three months in prison Thursday
after pleading guilty to one count of trafficking the drug.

It was the 11th drug-related conviction for Marc Emery of Vancouver,
but the first time he has been sentenced to jail time. He'd received
fines for previous offences.

Emery seemed stunned after Saskatoon provincial court Judge Albert
Lavoie pronounced the sentence.

"Three months for one joint?" he asked the gallery before a bailiff
shushed him.

Emery was arrested at Saskatoon's Vimy Memorial bandshell on March 22
following a pro-pot speech at the University of Saskatchewan.

Crown prosecutor Frank Impey told the court that between 20 and 30
university-aged people showed up at the bandshell with Emery. A
witness interviewed by police confirmed seeing Emery pass one joint,
but no money changed hands.

Emery produced four marijuana cigarettes containing a total of 2.3
grams when searched by police.

Emery's lawyer Leanne Johnson argued the public attitude towards
marijuana has changed, noting that Prime Minister Paul Martin plans to
reintroduce legislation to decriminalize possession of small amounts
of the drug.

But Lavoie cut her off.

"I'm not here to discuss the pros and cons of marijuana," he said.