IS MARC EMERY'S POLITICAL CAREER UP IN SMOKE?

In Canada, if you stand up for something you believe in, does the
country owe you anything? And if the consequences for your actions means
spending several years in a US prison, do Canadians owe you anything?
Marc Emery, the self-proclaimed 'Prince of Pot' believes we do.

Nearly four years ago, I wrote a column about Marc's arrest by US
authorities for selling marijuana seeds to US customers through his
mail order business, in addition to charges for money laundering and
manufacturing marijuana. My point then was that we should not feel
sorry for him having to suffer the consequences when he chose to break
the law. Believing in your cause doesn't mean there aren't always
consequences. No one forced him to do what he did. It was his choice
to flaunt the law to continue with his mission to supply marijuana
seeds to anyone who wished to purchase them. And business was good.

The emails I received following that column ranged from informative
and educated to frightfully ridiculous including a few death threats
from folks whose email names were "Stonedallday" and "Doobielover".
People either agreed with my opinion or they didn't, vehemently. There
was no gray area. Just like people's opinions of Marc. People either
like him or they don't. By far however, the most interesting was the
very long and detailed email I received from Marc himself, explaining
his stance.

Make no mistake about it, this is a very smart man. He's fought
against laws and by-laws ever since his early days here in London. And
you have to have respect for someone who is willing to put it all on
the line for a cause he believes in, even if you don't believe in it.
But does that mean we owe him? I don't think so.

Every day people sacrifice to make this country a wonderful place to
live. Obviously, the members of the Canadian Armed Forces and the
various policing services come to mind first. You just need to open a
newspaper from any large city or small town across this country to see
what they are willing to give up in order for us to keep our freedoms.
They know what they're getting in to when they sign their name to
service. But there are other ways that people sacrifice, with time,
pain and perseverance. And yet I've never heard anyone come forward to
say that we as a country owe them for their cause.

Are laws regarding the growth, use and sale of marijuana as archaic as
some believe? It's possible as some believe that all of the problems
stem to it being an illegal substance. And should it be legal, we
wouldn't have the grow ops and the drug dealers in family
neighbourhoods. I disagree. You'd still have grow-ops, drug dealers
and weapon caches. When there is an opportunity for income, people
will take it. And if it's tax free, so much the better.

So what does Marc Emery believe we owe him for his 30 years of
self-induced sacrifice? To be elected to federal parliament and be
made a justice minister so that he may appeal marijuana prohibition.
It's too bad he didn't take this route into politics before his raft
of charges, because in all likelihood, he probably would have made it
to his goal.

It's Marc's arrogance and confidence that would make him a great
politician. Unfortunately, it's also his biggest liability.