'PRINCE OF POT' ON FAREWELL TOUR

CALGARY (CP) -- A marijuana advocate who has described himself as the
"Prince of Pot" launched a cross-country farewell tour yesterday
before he turns himself in to face drug-related charges in the United States.

Marc Emery, 51, who operates a marijuana paraphernalia store and is
the leader of the B.C. Marijuana Party, has given up his long fight
to avoid extradition to the U.S. for selling cannabis seeds to Americans.

He said he plans to turn himself in to authorities in Seattle in the
fall and expects to serve a lengthy prison sentence.

But first, he'll tour several Canadian cities.

"I'm being taken to a U.S. prison for something I did in Canada as
innocuous as selling seeds, which don't even have any drug quality,
and yet I have to face a five-year term for that," Emery said as he
launched his tour in Calgary.

The pot advocate has said his Vancouver lawyer persuaded him that he
could not win an extradition fight that began after he was arrested
in 2005 on charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana seeds and
marijuana and conspiracy to engage in money laundering.

Emery has said there have been talks with a U.S. assistant district
attorney about pleading guilty to a count of marijuana distribution.

While a prosecutor could seek an eight-year term, Emery's lawyer
would seek no more than five years in prison.

"It's difficult to say what will happen in a U.S. federal
penitentiary. It's never very pleasant. American jails aren't run
nearly as well as Canadian jails," said Emery.

He and his wife Jodie were greeted by other marijuana advocates at
the Calgary airport.

Emery said he decided to go on tour to say goodbye to friends and
encourage them to keep up the fight to legalize marijuana.

"I'm going away for a long time so I expect everybody to do their
best and pick up the slack for me," he said.

The marijuana activist is expected to make stops in Edmonton, Banff,
Lethbridge and Saskatoon.