'PRINCE OF POT' BRINGS MESSAGE TO CAPE BRETON

SYDNEY - Speaking with all the fervour one might associate with a staunch
evangelist, Canada's 'Prince of Pot' brought his crusade to legalize
marijuana to Cape Breton, Thursday, in support of a local teen jailed for
selling the drug at a high school dance.

Marc Emery, a millionaire and president of the British Columbia Marijuana
Party, gets somewhat incensed as he talks about the Sydney court case
because for him, marijuana improves, not harms, all human abilities.

"You become a better parent, driver, lover, student and thinker," said
Emery, who has been arrested some 20 times for possession of the drug.

He views Canada's drug laws and lawmakers as draconian and accuses the
country's judiciary of being complicit in jailing hordes of Canadian youth
on simple possession charges.

"Lots of politicians smoke dope and they are still considered responsible
people," he says, referring to the wicked weed as being both beneficial and
benign.

"We have to stop jailing people for these kinds of offences," says Emery,
who for some five hours stood out in front of the Sydney Law Courts and
preached the benefits of the drug to anyone who stopped by to listen.

David White, of Glace Bay, was on hand to hear Emery and offered his
complete support.

White said Canadians should check their history when it comes to using hemp
products both as medicines and useful household items.

"Look at the drug problem we have today. You never hear of anyone breaking
into someplace to steal for money to buy marijuana," he said, in reference
to the ongoing battle locally to curb crime committed by those admitting
addictions to prescription drugs.

"An adult should be allowed to grow it and possess it. After all, if you
are 18, you are considered old enough to go to war and have a gun but you
can't buy alcohol or drugs."

Emery also drew the comparison to alcohol in noting that more than half of
all domestic violence cases in this province stem from alcohol abuse but
yet there is no move to make alcohol illegal.

He said by making the drug legal, the government will remove the monetary
value associated with cannabis which will simply make the weed another herb.

Emery is currently under court order from Saskatchewan not to possess or
smoke any pot pending the outcome of his court case in that province for
trafficking. He contends he was simply passing a joint when he was arrested.