CANADA SHOULD DEFEND POT ACTIVIST

Marc Emery, the leader of the BC Marijuana Party, is currently facing
extradition to the Unites States after being arrested in Halifax by
the RCMP, in concert with the United States Drug Enforcement Agency
(DEA). He has not been charged of any crime in Canada, but in the
United States he faces 30 years to life in prison on charges of
conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, marijuana seeds, and to launder money.

The U.S. is afraid that support for Emery's ideas -- such as
legalizing marijuana and other drugs or creating safe drug-use
spaces- -- is gaining ground in the U.S., and that his continued
freedom poses a threat to the criminalization of marijuana and
marijuana users in that country. Their fear is certainly correct,
which is why we believe Emery should be allowed to stay in Canada so
he can continue his campaign.

The DEA's July 29, 2005 press release described the motives for
Emery's arrest. "Today's DEA arrest of Marc Scott Emery, publisher of
Cannabis Culture magazine, and the founder of a marijuana
legalization group is a significant blow not only to the marijuana
trafficking trade in the U.S. and Canada, but also the marijuana
legalization movement," it begins, adding: "Hundreds of thousands of
dollars of Emery's illicit profits are known to have been channeled
to marijuana legalization groups in the United States and Canada.
Drug legalization lobbyists now have one less pot of money to rely on."

Emery's extradition to the United States has become an important
issue in Parliament, as some Members of Parliament believe that the
DEA's arrest of Emery is a political move that infringes on Canadian
sovereignty. Others believe that it is a heavy-handed attempt to get
Canada to join the American war on drugs.

We believe Emery is being targeted not because of his alleged crimes,
but because of his campaign against drug prohibition in Canada and
the U.S. Thanks to years of activism by Emery and others, Canada has
relaxed its enforcement of marijuana possession laws. Emery's fight
against drug prohibition has contributed to the adoption of an
extremely progressive harm-reduction policy by the Vancouver city
government, including Canada's first safe-injection site -- a place
where heroin users can get free, clean needles and use them on-site.

Canada must protect its citizens, and should refuse to extradite
Emery. We believe, along with much of Canadian society, that
marijuana and other drugs should be decriminalized. Emery's
extradition would be a significant blow to the movement, and
represents an attempt by the U.S. to influence Canadian drug policy,
which runs counter to its own.

Emery will be speaking at McGill at 6:30 on Thursday March 23, in
Leacock 132. We encourage students to show their support of him and his cause.