News (Media Awareness Project) - CN BC: Marijuana Seed Magnate Has Unlikely Supporter |
| Title: | CN BC: Marijuana Seed Magnate Has Unlikely Supporter |
| Published On: | 2005-09-30 |
| Source: | Edmonton Sun (CN AB) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-15 12:07:04 |
MARIJUANA SEED MAGNATE HAS UNLIKELY SUPPORTER
Legal Challenge to Block U.S. Extradition Plan
A former Ontario crusader against sexual abuse is attempting to throw
a wrench in U.S. plans to extradite Canada's self-proclaimed "Prince
of Pot."
David McCann, who triggered one of the largest sexual abuse
investigations in Canadian history in 1990, plans to lay criminal
pot-related charges against Marc Scott Emery and two of his supporters
at a Vancouver courthouse today.
McCann, 57, who owns a Granville Island art shop, said yesterday that
he is taking the step because he is strongly opposed to Canada
extraditing Emery to the U.S. to face a possible life sentence for
something governments in Canada have condoned.
He believes that if Emery is facing charges in Canada, the U.S. won't
be able to extradite him for operating a marijuana seed company.
"I am not supporting a drug pusher," McCann told the Sun. "I am saying
we need to have a much better debate in Canada about whether we want
to continue the war on drugs or deal with it as a health issue."
McCann says the war on drugs has failed, and it's time Canadians took
another approach.
Emery, Michele Rainey-Fenkarek and Greg Keith Smith were arrested on
July 29 after police raided Emery's store following an 18-month
investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
McCann, who sued successive Ontario premiers to obtain an apology for
victims of abuse at two Ontario institutions, retained Vancouver
lawyer Peter Leask to assist him in laying charges of conspiracy under
the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act.
Emery, 47, said he understands why McCann is launching the private
prosecution.
"I would much rather be in front of a Canadian jury in a Canadian
court," he said.
"It would probably still keep me out of the seed business for the rest
of my life, alas, but it certainly would lay people's fears of a
sovereignty intrusion to rest."
McCann negotiated a $17-million reconciliation agreement for abuse
victims with the province of Ontario and the Catholic Church a decade
ago.
Legal Challenge to Block U.S. Extradition Plan
A former Ontario crusader against sexual abuse is attempting to throw
a wrench in U.S. plans to extradite Canada's self-proclaimed "Prince
of Pot."
David McCann, who triggered one of the largest sexual abuse
investigations in Canadian history in 1990, plans to lay criminal
pot-related charges against Marc Scott Emery and two of his supporters
at a Vancouver courthouse today.
McCann, 57, who owns a Granville Island art shop, said yesterday that
he is taking the step because he is strongly opposed to Canada
extraditing Emery to the U.S. to face a possible life sentence for
something governments in Canada have condoned.
He believes that if Emery is facing charges in Canada, the U.S. won't
be able to extradite him for operating a marijuana seed company.
"I am not supporting a drug pusher," McCann told the Sun. "I am saying
we need to have a much better debate in Canada about whether we want
to continue the war on drugs or deal with it as a health issue."
McCann says the war on drugs has failed, and it's time Canadians took
another approach.
Emery, Michele Rainey-Fenkarek and Greg Keith Smith were arrested on
July 29 after police raided Emery's store following an 18-month
investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
McCann, who sued successive Ontario premiers to obtain an apology for
victims of abuse at two Ontario institutions, retained Vancouver
lawyer Peter Leask to assist him in laying charges of conspiracy under
the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act.
Emery, 47, said he understands why McCann is launching the private
prosecution.
"I would much rather be in front of a Canadian jury in a Canadian
court," he said.
"It would probably still keep me out of the seed business for the rest
of my life, alas, but it certainly would lay people's fears of a
sovereignty intrusion to rest."
McCann negotiated a $17-million reconciliation agreement for abuse
victims with the province of Ontario and the Catholic Church a decade
ago.
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