PRINCE OF POT MARC EMERY VOWS TO DEFEND HIS HEADQUARTERS

Vancouver's so-called Prince of Pot is vowing that he won't be smoked
out of his downtown stronghold.

Marc Emery, leader of the B.C. Marijuana Party, will know after a
hearing tonight (April 9) if city hall will issue licences or shut
down his businesses on West Hastings Street.

"We're still going to litigate to stay there," Emery told the
Straight. "We're not leaving."

A three-storey building at 307 West Hastings Street houses the
world-famous Cannabis Culture Headquarters, a retail store selling
pipes and bongs, shirts, books, and assorted items, as well as the
offices of Cannabis Culture magazine and Pot TV. Across the street is
a convenience store Emery opened last year.

"The previous three mayors-Philip Owen, Larry Campbell, and Sam
Sullivan-have made arrangements.that we didn't need a business
licence because we were doing good things, and it was complicated for
them to try and license us, so they just said we didn't require one
as long as we behave and maintain good order," Emery recalled.

Emery suggested that the police are behind attempts to get rid of him.

"Hastings Street is the corridor for the Olympics, and so all the
VIPs and all the athletes would go by our store, and they don't want
them to go by our store with all its signs on it that say 'Legalize
marijuana' and all that sort of stuff," he said.

Vision Vancouver councillor Kerry Jang said he couldn't comment on
Emery's suggestion that police are exerting pressure on city hall.

But Jang explained to the Straight that the council panel in charge
of the business-licence hearing has to answer three questions in
order to make a decision. First, is a business working within the
law? Second, is it having an undue negative impact on the
neighbourhood? Lastly, is the business costing the city money in
terms of policing?