`PRINCE OF POT' BIDS FAREWELL

Marijuana Activist Urges Supporters To Keep Up The Fight For
Legalization While He Is In A U.S. Jail

In a dimly lit, smoke-filled room, Canadian "prince of pot" Marc
Emery, bound for a U.S. jail later this fall, has one final message
for his supporters: "Pot had better be legal when I get back. Or ..."

The more than 200 supporters, who were enjoying a smoke with him at
the Vapour Central lounge near Yonge and Bloor Sts., responded with
enthusiastic howls.

"Yes, Marc! Yes!"

Emery, Vancouver's outspoken marijuana activist, was in Toronto
yesterday as part of his cross-country "farewell tour" before he goes
south of the border to face charges.

He is accused of selling seeds over the Internet and money laundering.
He has been fighting extradition to the U.S. and possible life
imprisonment since July 2005.

Earlier this year, Emery said he reached a plea-bargain deal with
officials across the border "under which I'll be in jail for five
years or less. I hope to serve a part of the sentence in Canada."

He said he will go to the U.S. this fall.

"Before that, I wanted to meet all my friends across the country and
tell them to keep fighting to legalize marijuana," Emery told the Star.

He has been to 11 cities in 12 days.

In Toronto last night, his supporters started filling up the
first-floor lounge as early as 4 p.m., said manager Christopher
Goodwin. As they waited for him to arrive, most of his supporters,
bongs in hand, talked about Emery, his activism and "courage" to face
jail time. (A bong, also known as a water pipe, is a smoking tool and
generally used to smoke cannabis or tobacco.)

Emery walked into the lounge at about 6:30 p.m. to a hero's welcome.
People rose to their feet and clapped loudly, while some walked up to
him to shake hands. A few flashbulbs went off and one woman hugged him
and cried unabashedly.

Accompanied by his wife, Jodie - also a marijuana activist - Emery
went around the room meeting old friends and shaking hands.

"People aren't sad or angry," said Emery, just before he took the
microphone.

"I think I bring an inspirational message and that's why they are
here. They know we'll meet in a few years.

"I'm hoping while I'm away, there will be no void."

"He's quite something, isn't he?" said Matt Mernagh, a friend who
worked with Emery on his magazine Cannabis Culture.

"He's ready to go to jail for something he believes in. How many
people can do that, you think?"

Emery, who's been in jail 17 times in 10 provinces, said he won't be
able to smoke in a U.S. jail but, "I've gone for months without
smoking pot and I'm used to it."

The 55-year-old said he had a number of plans while in jail. "I'm
going to learn French so that I can fight elections when I get back."
He said he was also going to start work on an autobiography.

He urged everyone present to vote in the elections to ensure Prime
Minister Stephen Harper's defeat. "We have to get rid of him."

He also ridiculed marijuana laws and talked about the time he spent
three months in jail in Saskatchewan for smoking one joint.

As of 7:30 p.m. last night, Toronto police had not made an appearance.