MARC EMERY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROTECTED HERE

Re: 'Marc Emery deserved his punishment in prison' (Daily News, Oct. 31)

The point that Connor Whelan misses in his letter is that Emery was
not targeted for extradition because of his illegal activity.

There are dozens of marijuana seed sellers in the U.S., Canada and
across the world who sell seeds in America then and now.

In fact, a larger seed broker in Quebec was arrested right around the
same time as Emery for the exact same conduct -- internet sales into
America.

When conducting a search, authorities found $250,000 in gold buried in
the backyard.

By contrast, Mr. Emery had less than $1,000 in the bank when he was
arrested.

That's because Emery was not in it for the money. He donated all of
the profits to various marijuana policy reform groups and projects.
And that, not his actual crime, is why he was extradited.

On the day of his arrest the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency crowed, in a
press release, about cutting off the funding to marijuana legalization
groups.

This was and is a political persecution, not a criminal prosecution.

And that's why Canada should refuse to surrender Emery.

The Quebec seed merchant? Prosecuted in Canada, with no extradition
sought. Waving a flag in front of a bull? No, more like sitting in the
front of the bus when the driver, and the law, says you belong in the
back.

Kirk Tousaw

Mill Bay