'PRINCE OF POT' GIVEN FIVE YEARS IN U.S. PRISON

Vancouver's "Prince of Pot" was sentenced in a U.S. Federal Court
yesterday to five years in prison for conspiring to manufacture marijuana.

"Jail is a cruel and lonely place and I regret that my actions have
brought me here," Marc Emery said in a written statement to U.S.
Federal Court Judge Ricardo Martinez.

"Five years is an awfully long time to consider what I've done. I
admit that I was arrogant in flouting United States law."

Outside the courthouse in Seattle a crowd of 30 supporters waved signs
reading "Free Marc" as passing cars honked their horns.

Emery was arrested in 2005 by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
and indicted for selling marijuana seeds online and through the mail
to customers in the United States.

Emery claims to have made $3-million a year selling seeds, and to have
sold more than four million seeds over the years.

He pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to manufacture
marijuana.

In his statement to the judge, Emery said, "As a Canadian who did all
my activity in Canada and used over $4-million in proceeds directed to
peaceful, legal and democratic activities in both our countries, I
felt almost any honest, transparent and peaceful activity towards
repealing these prohibition laws was legitimate."

Now that he has been sentenced, Emery can apply for transfer to a
Canadian prison for the remainder of his sentence.