LETTERS ALARM POT-SEED BUYERS

Suspicious Mail Sought Personal Data, Money, After Arrest Of Marijuana Supplier

VANCOUVER -- Two weeks after the arrest of the self-proclaimed "Prince of
Pot," about 50 people who ordered marijuana seeds from Marc Emery's
Vancouver store are spooked by suspicious mail that asks for their personal
information and their money.

Some think the letters -- which mimic Mr. Emery's pro-pot zeal with the
slogans "Smoke for Freedom of Choice! Smoke for our leader! Overgrow the
government!" -- could be the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency trying to smoke
them out, although a U.S. prosecutor says the letters are likely nothing
more than a scam.

Josh Williams of London, Ont., said he received a letter about a week ago
that said Mr. Emery's inventory was seized and that his company, Marc Emery
Direct, needed another $100 to process Mr. Williams's seed order.

Mr. Williams, 25, can legally possess and grow marijuana for health
reasons. Three years ago, a car accident left him paralyzed from the chest
down. He lives on government assistance and smokes pot for relief from
chronic pain, severe muscle spasms, anxiety and depression.

After learning the letter wasn't from Mr. Emery, Mr. Williams said he was
furious that someone would try to take advantage of him. He said he thinks
it's U.S. authorities looking for Canadians to indict.

"It sounds like they're trying to weed out the people who are growing," he
said.

"I feel like my rights as a Canadian are being violated. Who runs our
country -- Canada or the U.S.?"

About 50 people from the provinces of Ontario and Alberta, eight U.S.
states, New Zealand and Australia have written to Marc Emery's magazine,
Cannabis Culture, saying they've received similar letters.

Mr. Emery said someone intercepted his store's outgoing mail in June,
causing a delay in the orders. Up to 300 addresses might have been copied,
and he said he thinks the incident is part of an effort by U.S. authorities
to entrap marijuana growers into revealing who they are and what they're
growing.

"It's a completely self-incriminating invitation, supposedly sent out by
someone impersonating me," he said.

At least five people sent information and money to the bogus address, said
Assistant Editor Jodie Giesz-Ramsay.

"We tell everyone: Shut down your garden or your grow operation if you have
one, don't respond to any mail, and keep your eyes out for anything else
suspicious," she said.

Neither the RCMP, Vancouver Police, or the DEA would comment directly on
the letters, but officials did say the investigation of Mr. Emery is
continuing.

Todd Greenberg, the assistant U.S. attorney who is prosecuting Mr. Emery's
case from Seattle, said about 20 large grow-ops in the United States have
been shut down after doing business with Mr. Emery.

During a year-long undercover investigation into Mr. Emery's Vancouver
store, U.S. investigators traced about $700,000 entering Mr. Emery's
accounts. More than $5-million had been traced entering the accounts since
1999, Mr. Greenberg said.

But he said prosecuting Canadian growers or users wasn't "high on my list.
We were targeting Emery's operation as opposed to the individual customers."

The DEA wouldn't need to confirm any orders because the investigators would
have already gotten the information from their undercover operation, he
said, adding, "It sounds like a scam to me."

Mr. Emery is wanted in the United States on conspiracy to sell marijuana
seeds there. U.S. authorities want him extradited from Canada.

Mr. Emery will attend a preliminary hearing on his extradition on Aug. 25.