PRINCE OF WEED TEMPORARILY FREED OVER DEEDS WITH SEEDS

The Prince Of Pot Is Out Of The Joint.

Awaiting an extradition hearing to the United States that could see him
face a jail term of 20 years, Marc Emery, pot activist and head of the B.C.
Marijuana Party, was released yesterday on $50,000 bail.

Emery, who was arrested in Halifax on Friday, is charged in the U.S. along
with two others for conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, conspiracy to
distribute marijuana seeds and conspiracy to engage in money laundering.

The charges stem from an 18-month investigation that saw a U.S. agent buy
marijuana seeds from Emery and his associates Greg Williams and Michelle
Rainey-Fenkarek.

Supporters filled the courtroom, during yesterday's B.C. Supreme Court bail
hearing. Others wore costumes and waved colourful flags on the sidewalks
outside the Vancouver Law Courts.

Emery's lawyer, John Conroy, told Associate Chief Justice Patrick Dohm that
he was concerned with the "unfairness" of the charges.

He said the sentence Emery faces in the U.S. would be a cruel and unusual
punishment and a violation of his Charter Rights in Canada.

He noted that Emery's seed business had operated openly for many years
without any action on the part of the Vancouver Police Department. And
what's more, Conroy said, Health Canada recommends people with medical
marijuana exemptions purchase their seeds through the Internet.

Crown counsel argued against granting Emery bail, saying he was a "flight
risk if released" because of the lucrative nature of his marijuana seed
business.

Conroy produced bank receipts from Emery's many ventures -- Marc Emery
Direct marijuana seed business, the Internet site PotTV and the magazine
Cannabis Culture.

Justice Dohm granted set bail at $50,000, a $10,000 deposit as well as four
$10,000 assurances.

Williams and Rainey-Fenarek were also granted bail of $25,000 each.