MPS WANT TO KEEP PRINCE OF POT IN CANADA

Three B.C. MPs present 12,000-signature petition in House

VANCOUVER -- Marc Emery is still awaiting extradition to the U.S. on
drug distribution charges, but there's a new push to keep the Prince
of Pot in Canada.

Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh, NDP MP Libby Davies and Conservative MP
Scott Reid presented the House of Commons with a 12,000-signature
petition Monday pleading with federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson
to reconsider handing Emery over to the U.S., where he faces five
years in jail for selling marijuana seeds online.

Dosanjh said he has an obligation to present petitions on behalf of
constituents regardless if he agrees, but is glad to speak out in this
case.

"This is an obligation as a Member of Parliament, but I sympathize
with Emery's plight," the Vancouver-South MP told QMI Agency. "There
is a certain degree of unfairness in how he has been treated."

Dosanjh said the marijuana activist should serve his time in
Canada.

"I would like the Minister of Justice to consider not surrendering
Marc," he said, adding that the decision wouldn't do anything to hurt
relations between the two countries.

Emery has been out on bail since mid-November as he awaits
extradition, but the order has yet to be signed by Nicholson.

His wife, Jodie Emery, ran against Dosanjh in the last federal
election as a Green Party candidate.