POT PRINCE POPPED

Marijuana Crusader Emery Busted For Cop-Shop Toke

Drop That Enormous Bong, You're Under Arrest.

B.C. marijuana activist Marc Emery was taken into custody yesterday
afternoon after taking a hoot off a giant water pipe during the Winnipeg
leg of his Great Canadian Smokeout tour.

The self-proclaimed Canadian Prince of Pot lit the device outside the
police force's Princess Street headquarters.

"Emery knows police were going to make a martyr out of him. That's the ugly
truth," said Chris Buors, a Winnipeg member of the Marijuana Party of Canada.

"But he's an old hand at it," Buors said. "Jail only scares people who
haven't been there. To put people in a cage because of a plant is ugly."

A crowd of about 50 gathered in front of police headquarters to hear
Emery's message.

'LAWFUL CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT'

Buors helped Emery organize the rally, intended to proclaim what they say
is the "lawful constitutional right to possess and smoke marijuana."

"Every pot smoker secretly dreams of showing up at the cop shop and blowing
a reefer," Buors said.

Buors said Canada's pot laws put innocent people behind bars.

"I was a happy railroader for 30 years until I got busted for cannabis," he
said. "And the only way I could get my job back was to admit I was a sick
man, which I wasn't going to do."

Emery was arrested after sparking the monster device under the watchful
eyes of waiting police, said Sgt. Ray Perry.

"We gave them five minutes grace for Mr. Emery to pass on his message to
the crowd," Perry said.

"Anyone caught smoking marijuana after that was arrested."

Buors wasn't arrested. He didn't light up a doobie.

"My heart's in the battle 100%, but I was asked to take charge of the rally
if (Emery) got arrested."

Staff Sgt. Gary Simpson said Emery would spend the night in jail because
he's not a Manitoba resident. Emery was also detained because he swore to
police he would light up another joint the second he was released from
custody, Simpson said.

One other person was detained for questioning after lighting a reefer in
front of police, Simpson said.

The man claimed he had a medical marijuana permit, Simpson said.

"He may or may not have a legitimate permit. The guys are checking it out,"
he said.

Yesterday's rally kicked off Emery's Summer of Legalization Tour, which
includes similar rallies in cities across the country.