PORT'S PRINCE OF POT PROTESTS IN MP'S OFFICE

A Port Alberni man rolled marijuana joints inside Nanaimo-Alberni MP
James Lunney's constituency office on Argyle Street Tuesday morning
to protest the federal extradition of a popular pot enthusiast.

Mik Mann, who also heads up the local chapter of the marijuana
political party, sat inside the doorway of Lunney's office taking pot
out of a silver tin and rolling marijuana joints.

"It's Burmese homegrown," Mann said as he sprinkled pungent small
green leaves onto a rolling paper. "I grow it myself at home."

Mann says he is protesting the federal government's recent decision
to extradite Canadian citizen Marc Emery to the US, where he is to
serve a five-year prison sentence for selling pot seeds to US
customers via the Internet.

"I had better things to do with my day than this," Mann said. "But duty calls."

Mann's protest coincides with others across the country.

Rolling pot joints inside Conservative MPs' offices is a unique form
of protest, but Mann says he and others have no choice.

Mann says he is particularly concerned with the proposed federal S-10
bill. If legislated, the bill would enact mandatory minimum prison
sentences of six to nine months for growing six or more marijuana
plants, and 12-18 months for making hashish.

Mann and others have tried to lobby the federal government for
relaxed pot laws, but to no avail.

"They refuse to debate the issue of relaxing pot laws in this
country," he said. "They won't listen to us, so we're going to ramp
it up with things like this and take it to them."

An RCMP officer arrived at the office and spoke to Mann, but although
marijuana was in full view no arrest was made. "I've got a medical
license to use and carry it because of spinal arthritis," Mann said.
"And I didn't smoke it in the building - that's illegal."

RCMP responded to calls from the office. "We were there to respond to
the concerns of a constituency worker and to ensure he wasn't there
for a criminal purpose," RCMP Sgt. Kevin Murray said. "Our member
spoke to him and it was a peaceful protest."

Lunney is familiar with Mann and heard about the incident. While he
respects Mann's right to protest, he's clear about where he stands on
Emery's rights.

Mann was the Marijuana Party candidate who ran against Lunney in the
last federal election.

"I understand Mik was well behaved this morning and I appreciate
that," Lunney said. "But Marc Emery is no hero."