POT SMOKERS OF THE WORLD: UNITE AT APEC

VANCOUVER (CP) – A certain world leader who has said he smoked pot – but
didn't inhale – is coming to town. Marc Emery would like to help him get it
right.

In fact, Emery's only in Vancouver Cannabis Cafe is offering all delegates
to this week's APEC conference – including Bill Clinton – the chance to
stop by and get high for free. Emery is also head of Hemp B.C., a company
that promotes marijuana growing and campaigns for the decriminalization of
the drug. With 8,000 delegates and 18 world leaders coming to Vancouver for
the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum this week, Hemp B.C. is trying
to put an international spotlight on its promarijuana campaign.

The company took out fullpage ads in special APEC newspaper supplements
published Wednesday by the Vancouver Province and Sun. Mixed among
advertisements from companies like Canadian Airlines and General Motors,
Hemp B.C.'s ad cries out with a large headline: The time has come to end
the war on marijuana.

"There are over 200 million cannabis consumers worldwide," said the ad,
which cost $15,700 to place in both papers. "We are your children and your
parents, we are your friends and coworkers, we are your teachers, your
students, your leaders and your citizens."

The ad also says that marijuana is a traditional Asian medicine, but "APEC
members like Singapore, Malaysia and China shamefully imprison and execute
their citizens for growing and trading in this ancient medicinal herb."

Emery said in an interview that the continued persecution of hemp users is
a "massive civil rights violation."

And while he realizes there's little chance the APEC leaders will notice
his campaign, the ads have raised the profile of his cause. The New York
Times called. And four official APEC delegates stopped by his downtown
store not far from the APEC site Wednesday to sample the free pot that the
Cannabis Cafe offers.

"If lowerechelon officials come here and have a positive marijuana
experience, we hope it will make a difference in policy over time," he said.

Emery has been charged by Vancouver police for selling marijuana seeds and
growing equipment from his store. He once ran for mayor and has presented
briefs to the Canadian Senate that possession of marijuana for personal use
shouldn't be a crime.

And by the way, he doesn't buy Clinton's claim.

"I think he knows how to inhale."