WEED PARTY IN LIMBO

Pot Activists Look For Leader

As the leader of the B.C. Marijuana Party, Marc Emery faces
extradition to the United States. That leaves the future of the
grassroots cannabis-fueled lobby group in doubt. But according to a
local weed activist, the charge could spark further publicity for
possible pot legalization.

As Mik Mann smoked a marijuana joint in his home Monday, he noted that
the five-year sentence faced by Emery for mailing seeds to buyers has
created a catalyst among those who want anti-pot laws ousted.

"I think Marc's being set up as a martyr, or at least something to
that degree," he said while leaning back in his office chair and
taking a long puff. "I think this will shock and outrage people to
take action."

Mann, who was the party's candidate in Victoria in 2001 and then in
Port Alberni in 2005, is a veteran of the marijuana legalization push
and is often considered by the party to be a go-to guy for anyone
wanting to become involved in the movement.

"We intend to hound the Conservative government and piss on their Corn
Flakes," he said.

He noted that the Marijuana Party wants the Conservatives to stop
their "tough on crime" campaign. It has seen bills in the last several
months that call for a six month minimum prison sentence for
small-time pot growers and the ousting of two-for-one credit for time
served in remand centres, which Mann said could lead to overpopulation
in jails.

"Jails are going to be taken up by a bunch of pot heads," he said. "I
hope this kind of thing really gets people paying attention to what
the Conservative government is doing, at a $10-billion expense."

But the Marijuana Party won't be without their leader, as Emery
prepares for his sentencing trial in Seattle, set to take place in
nearly two weeks.

The often dubbed 'Princess of Pot' Jodie Emery, Marc's wife, said her
husband will continue to fight for the marijuana culture throughout
B.C .Jodie said she has recently worked with Marc to develop
strategies where she can complete activism tasks, and to promote the
elimination of prohibition.

"We will have an enormous protest outside the court house at the
sentencing hearing, letting everyone know that people want Marc to be
sent home," she explained. "The judge is not bound by the five-year
[sentencing] agreement, but most judges don't sway from that."

Marc agreed to serve five years in prison to avoid a sentence that
could possibly exceed 30 years, according to U.S laws.

From his cell, Marc will advise his wife about what needs to be
accomplished. "Nothing much will change, except for the noticeable
absence of Marc, who is wonderfully upbeat and optimistic," she said.

But Jodie said much of the activism will be done by of the Green
Party, after the two parties agreed to amalgamate in January 2009.

Jodie recently accepted the position as the director-at-large of the
B.C. Green Party.

"After the Green Party adopted legalization, there was no need for the
Marijuana Party," she noted. "We still let people use the Marijuana
Party name to complete activism tasks in their respective
communities."

Emery was ordered to be extradited on Monday, May 10, after the
'Prince of Pot' ended his five-year fight where he tried to avoid
facing the heavy hand of U.S. courts.