MARIJUANA ACTIVIST SAYS CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT WANTS HIM EXTRADITED TO THE UNITED STATES

VANCOUVER - Marc Emery, Canada's so-called Prince of Pot, says the
Conservative government wants him extradited to the United States on
marijuana charges so he can languish in an American jail for eternity.

"I'm a menace to the establishment," Emery said outside B.C. Supreme
Court, where he'll be returning Aug. 21 to set a date for his
extradition hearing.

"Both the [previous] Liberal government and the Conservative
government are really opposed to ending prohibition and in the 12
years I've been active in British Columbia in this regard we've made
tremendous strides towards legalizing marijuana."

Emery, 48, credits his efforts for the legalization of medical
marijuana and a positive shift in Canadians' attitude toward pot. He
called himself a leader for the pro-pot movement across North America.

Emery has mostly been fined after being arrested 21 times in Canada.
But in 2004, he spent 62 days in a Saskatoon jail for trafficking
after passing a joint at a marijuana rally.

Emery is now charged with selling marijuana seeds to Americans through
the mail, conspiracy to manufacture pot and conspiracy to engage in
money laundering.

He was arrested last July after police raided his pot paraphernalia
store in Vancouver following an 18-month investigation by the U.S.
Drug Enforcement Administration.

In January, Emery criticized the Liberal government's decision not to
proceed with drug charges, clearing the way for his possible
extradition to the U.S.

That was after the Liberals stayed three conspiracy charges filed
against Emery by a private citizen to thwart the U.S. efforts to
extradite him to that country.

David McCann filed the charges in September 2004, saying it would be
hypocritical of Canada to participate in U.S. efforts to prosecute
Emery for activities condoned here for years.