Marc Emery, 51, who operates a marijuana paraphernalia store and is the leader of the B.C. Marijuana Party, has given up his long fight to avoid extradition to the U.S. for selling cannabis seeds to Americans.
He said he plans to turn himself in to authorities in Seattle in the fall and expects to serve a lengthy prison sentence.
But first, he'll tour several Canadian cities.
"I'm being taken to a U.S. prison for something I did in Canada as innocuous as selling seeds, which don't even have any drug quality, and yet I have to face a five-year term for that," Emery said as he launched his tour in Calgary.
The pot advocate has said his Vancouver lawyer persuaded him that he could not win an extradition fight that began after he was arrested in 2005 on charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana seeds and marijuana and conspiracy to engage in money laundering.
Emery has said there have been talks with a U.S. assistant district attorney about pleading guilty to a count of marijuana distribution.
While a prosecutor could seek an eight-year term, Emery's lawyer would seek no more than five years in prison.
"It's difficult to say what will happen in a U.S. federal penitentiary. It's never very pleasant. American jails aren't run nearly as well as Canadian jails," said Emery.
He and his wife Jodie were greeted by other marijuana advocates at the Calgary airport.
Emery said he decided to go on tour to say goodbye to friends and encourage them to keep up the fight to legalize marijuana.
"I'm going away for a long time so I expect everybody to do their best and pick up the slack for me," he said.
The marijuana activist is expected to make stops in Edmonton, Banff, Lethbridge and Saskatoon.
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- copperdragon
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Some of us are hoping Marc doesn't end up in prison but the reality of the assholes at the DEA and some prick in Seattle trying to up his political cred is the only reason for this.
I say we go after Marc's persecutors and figure some way to make sure they serve 2 days for every day Marc serves if it comes to that.
Either that or we make their lives a living hell by constant protesting and harassment at their homers and offices until they release him.
I know, not exactly realistic but I feel better having said (typed) it. Marc is a good man and he's done so much good that this is a serious miscarriage and perversion of justice.
Maybe we can have the CEO of Smith & Wesson arrested for every person who's died in Canada from a gunshot from one of their guns?
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This is utterly tragic. And its completely disheartening. I have been following this story for years and I never thought the DEA would actually force him to do time.
When will the reefer madness stop?
