cannabisnews.com: CBS: 60 Minutes Prince of Pot ~ Transcript 





CBS: 60 Minutes Prince of Pot ~ Transcript 
Posted by CN Staff on March 05, 2006 at 19:14:50 PT
By Catherine Olian 
Source: CBS News
CBS -- His name is Marc Emery and he is called the "Prince of Pot." He claims to have sold more marijuana seeds than anyone in the world and, to date, no one has disputed that claim. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, where the culture is rather permissive concerning marijuana. The Canadian government, for the most part, has left Emery and his business alone. But to the U.S., he is one of the most wanted men in the drug world. As 60 Minutes correspondent Bob Simon reports, officials in the U.S. government want him extradited to the United States. They want him in an American prison and they want him badly.
Emery believes that marijuana is a wonderful, healing drug and that to criminalize it is just plain silly. To his supporters, he’s a hero, the leader of the marijuana legalization movement. He has even run for mayor of Vancouver, twice. But to the U.S. government, Marc Emery is a drug kingpin who should be prosecuted in the United States for selling drugs to Americans. Asked if he has any idea how many of his customers were Americans, Emery says, "Yes, I would think that of the say, 120,000 people I dealt with, I’d say certainly 70,000 would have been Americans." That’s why John McKay, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, wants to bring Emery south, across the border. Why are the Americans going after Emery, who is a Canadian citizen, and not the Canadian government? "Well, very simply, he’s a drug dealer," says McKay. "He’s dealing drugs into the United States and violating laws of the United States and we expect to extradite him and try him in the United States." "Are there other Canadians who sort of are competitive with him in terms of volume?" Simon asked. "Today, to our knowledge, Marc Emery is the biggest purveyor of marijuana from Canada into the United States," McKay replied. Well, it’s not exactly marijuana. For over a decade, Marc Emery sold marijuana seeds. Technically, that’s illegal in British Columbia, but no one has ever gotten more than a slap on the wrist for doing it. Emery’s headquarters since 2002, is a store in Vancouver, which also sells marijuana paraphernalia and the magazine Emery publishes, "Cannabis Culture." Inside the magazine is a mail order seed catalogue, but not for gardeners. The catalogue, Emery explains, lists 550 different varieties of marijuana seeds. "For height, you can get a short plant, a tall plant, a purple plant, a red plant, one that goes indoor, outdoor. One that’s good for almost anything that ails you," he explains. "That I could have sold to you and it would address your medical needs or whatever your needs are in regards to cannabis." "Somebody could order any one of these strains and you’d just put it in an envelope?" Simon asked. "Yes, very simple because you just need a number 10 business size envelope and away it went in the mail for just 85 cents," Emery replied. Emery claims to be the first marijuana seed vendor to sell seeds directly over the Internet. His Web site, Marc Emery Direct, sold seeds with names like "Chocolate Chunk" and "The Hog," which sold at $275 Canadian (ca. $240 U.S.) for just 10 seeds, available to anyone in the world with access to a computer. Asked how much money he has made in this business over the years, Emery says, "I would say that our sales of seeds over 10 years probably were around $15 million." The seeds he sold were used to grow a highly prized type of marijuana called British Columbia bud, or "BC Bud." Only the bud of the plant is sold for smoking, making it much more potent — and expensive — than it was back in the days when people smoked crushed marijuana leaves and went to Woodstock. "It is very powerful. It has a reputation — it’s almost been marketed, this, marijuana from British Columbia is great pot," McKay said. Asked if there is something special about "BC Bud" or whether it is a marketing ploy, Emery said, "They’ve had a wonderful marketing man in charge of that campaign, yours truly." He marketed the grass. He marketed the movement. He used the money he made selling seeds literally as seed money to finance the campaign to legalize marijuana in Canada and the United States. His goal is to make marijuana a controlled substance like alcohol. Emery only smokes in moderation, he says, but he enjoys blowing it in the face of cops, as a provocation. One such smoke-blowing incident got him arrested, but in tolerant Canada, he was only held for 24 hours. He also produces and often stars in an online video show, Pot TV. His strategy, he says, is not to overthrow the government but to overgrow the government, spreading marijuana seeds throughout the world and winning the drug war against the United States. "The whole idea was that I would help facilitate the growth of so much marijuana that the DEA and all the agencies of the United States would ever be able to destroy it at the rate I would help create it and that, ultimately, I, one man, would neutralize the work of the entire DEA with their multi-billion dollar budget," Emery said. While Emery was busy being the self-proclaimed "Johnny Appleseed of Marijuana," the DEA was busy investigating him. Last summer, the Canadian police — at the request of the U.S. government — shut down his seed business and arrested Emery, who is now out on bail. Was he surprised that the DEA spent 18 months and a lot of money to get him charged? "I’m flattered," said Emery. Why spend so much time and money investigating a seed seller? Because under U.S. law, selling seeds is the same as selling marijuana itself. And selling "BC Bud" makes Emery part of a multi-billion dollar business the United States wants to crush. "We have a huge regional, national and international issue here in the growing of marijuana in lower British Columbia," McKay said. "That’s a major problem for us. His activities are kind of at the leading edge of that marijuana problem. That’s the thing that really concerns us." Asked if the problem is growing, McKay said: "Absolutely. And literally." And it’s growing in some of the nicest neighborhoods in Vancouver. So much marijuana is grown inside homes in Vancouver that there’s a special unit in the local police force called "Grow Busters." They raid homes — often expensive ones — that have been turned into indoor marijuana farms, called grow-ops. The police estimate there could be as many as 20,000 houses like this in British Columbia. Each room has plants at different stages of growth. The Grow Busters cut down the plants and put the grow-ops out of business. But they grow back as quickly as they’re shut down and, since Canadian courts have been soft on marijuana offenses, growers rarely get much jail time, making this a high profit, low risk business. DEA special agent Rodney Benson took 60 Minutes up in a helicopter to see some of the ways "BC Bud" is smuggled into the United States. Benson pointed out the border, which in this case turned out to be a road. This road divides the two countries, half of it is in Canada, half in the United States. The border stretches 4,000 miles, often through rural areas that are hard to police. Some drug traffickers just run across the border with hockey bags full of "BC Bud," others have more sophisticated means. Marijuana smugglers dug a tunnel that started in a Quonset hut on the Canadian side, went under the road, and ended up in the living room of a house on the other side. "Their plan was to have that tunnel turn into a gold mine and push in thousands of pounds of marijuana (up) into the country," Benson explained. "Well, guess they put a lot of hard work into it," Simon remarked. "Yeah, but it didn’t pay off at the end of the day. We were there waiting for them," Benson replied. Much of the marijuana crossing the border is smuggled by Asian and motorcycle gangs but the U.S. government says Marc Emery is responsible for more marijuana in the United States than any known gang. Larry Campbell, a Canadian senator who formerly served on the drug squad of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, is well aware of Marc Emery. Asked what he thinks of U.S. officials' stance that Emery is a major drug trafficker, Campbell says laughing, "Well, if he, if they consider that, then they have bigger problems than I can even imagine. There’s simply no way he’s a major anything." "What would the public reaction be here if Marc Emery is extradited to the United States?" Simon asked. "I think there’d be outrage," Campbell replied. They might be outraged that the long arm of the U.S. law reached up into Canada to press charges against someone many Canadians consider harmless. John McKay says he thinks Emery will be extradited. "Do you realize what a political issue it’s gonna be in Canada?" Simon asked. "We have full respect for the laws of Canada, for the sovereignty of Canada. We respect their laws and they respect our laws and he’s violated our laws," said McKay. Actually, the laws aren’t all that different, it’s the punishment that is. For Emery, it’s the difference between a modest fine or hard time. He awaits his fate in a simple apartment — he’s never lived the lavish life of a drug dealer, since he claims to have given most of his money to the cause. He doesn’t face any charges in Canada but, if he’s extradited to the United States, he’ll face all the charges in his indictment, which include selling and distributing marijuana. Is everything in the indictment against him true? "Everything that I could possibly verify is true," said Emery. "They have our customers, they have my methods and they have copies of my Web site even in there. And those are all quite correct." "He said to us that nothing in the indictment is false. Everything is true. He admits that on camera," Simon told McKay. "Right, well we expect to prove that with his help to a jury in the United States. And we expect to send him to prison for it," McKay replied. McKay says, if convicted, Emery could face up to life in prison: "He has moved huge amounts of marijuana; the seeds are considered under U.S. law to be the same as marijuana plants and marijuana itself." McKay says he doesn't know how much of a punishment Emery would get if convicted for the same crime in Canada, but acknowledges he'd probably get a lot less. "Well, no one has ever gone to jail for selling seeds in Canada and only two people in 35 years have even been charged," said Emery. "The most recent person fined for selling seeds in the year 2000 received a $200 fine." While Emery, with the help of his supporters, is fighting his extradition to the United States, he says he’s resigned to the possibility of prison and even sees a potential benefit, if it brings more attention to the legalization struggle. "I am blessed by what the DEA has done," Emery said. "I’d rather see marijuana legalized than me being saved from a U.S. jail." "Your language is pretty much that of a martyr," Simon remarked. "The language I like to use is one of a person, a leader who’s confident and prepared to accept the punishment that noble purpose will bring about," Emery replied. But McKay says he's not interested in Emery's cause. "I’m not interested in his political beliefs, so-called political beliefs. What I’m interested in is the fact that he has distributed drugs in the United States, huge quantities of drugs," he said. "You know he calls himself the 'Prince of Pot' but he may become the prince of federal prison." The Canadian courts will decide whether or not to hand Marc Emery over to the Americans. They’ve handed over drug dealers before and, with a newly elected conservative government in Canada, Emery fears that’s likely to happen.Entire transcript available at: http://www.cbs.com/Source: CBS News (US Web)Author: Catherine Olian Show: 60 MinutesPublished: March 05, 2006Copyright: MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #44 posted by FoM on March 09, 2006 at 15:57:01 PT
News Article from The Associated Press
Extradition Hearing Date for Canada's So-Called 'Prince of Pot' Postponed***By Jeremy Hainsworth, Associated Press WriterThursday, March 9, 2006 VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- A Canadian marijuana activist wanted by U.S. authorities to face drug charges said Thursday he believes that being profiled on CBS's "60 Minutes" has increased support for dropping the charges against him on both sides of the border."Its my job as leader of the cannabis culture to thwart the United States government," Marc Emery, Canada's so-called Prince of Pot, told The Associated Press outside the B.C. Supreme Court. "The American government and their war on drugs has got to Kafkaesque extremes."Emery, of Vancouver, is charged with conspiracy to launder money and distribute marijuana and marijuana seeds, according to the U.S. attorney's office. Conviction on the charges would carry a sentence of at least 10 years in prison.He appeared at the B.C. Supreme Court on Thursday to set a date for the start of extradition proceedings, but the hearing was adjourned to April 6.Emery's battle with U.S. and Canadian authorities was highlighted on the popular television show, "60 Minutes" last Sunday. John McKay, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, told CBS correspondent Bob Simon that Emery was the "biggest purveyor of marijuana from Canada into the United States."Emery told Simon that while he's fighting his extradition to the United States, he's resigned to the possibility of prison and being a martyr for the legalization struggle."I am blessed by what the DEA has done," Emery said. "Id rather see marijuana legalized than me being saved from a U.S. jail."Emery says he's made $15 million over the last decade selling marijuana seeds online and by mail, along with equipment for grow operations and instructions on raising pot plants.Kirk Tousaw, one of Emery's lawyer, said his client never sold any marijuana, only seeds. A U.S. undercover operative tried to get Emery to sell some marijuana but he refused, Tousaw said.Emery was arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police last August after Vancouver police raided his marijuana seed and paraphernalia store in downtown Vancouver.Police arrested two other people, Gregory Williams and Michelle Rainey. All three are wanted in the United States on charges of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, distribute seeds and engage in money laundering.Rainey said she is licensed in Canada to carry medicinal marijuana for her Crohns disease."I dont know why the United States government is deciding what medicine is good for me," Rainey said outside the courthouse on Thursday.The three - all of whom are free on bail - were indicted by a U.S. federal grand jury in Seattle last May, after an 18-month investigation into the sale of marijuana seeds on the Internet and by mail. The indictment came out of Seattle because DEA officials there led the investigation, and there was evidence that Emery committed some crimes in Washington.Emerys Vancouver store, The Tokers Bowl, doubles as the headquarters of the political British Columbia Marijuana Party, which Emery heads up.---On the Net:Emery's site: http://www.cannabisculture.comCopyright: 2006 Associated Presshttp://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_Canada_Prince_of_Pot.html
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Comment #43 posted by afterburner on March 07, 2006 at 21:08:22 PT
R. v. Parker  (July 31, 2000)
"We have a law on the books don't we?'' [Justice Minister Vic Toews] said before brushing past reporters. No, Minister. The Ontario Court of Appeals declared cannabis prohibition (specifically possession) to be unconstitutional due to the federal government not taking action before the court-imposed deadline. The only way this could be accomplished is by removing cannabis from schedule 2. No subsequent legislation was passed. So there is no law on the books!Police Are the Prohibitionist Lobby in Canada by Greg Williams (05 Mar, 2006) The Canadian War On Drugs is almost entirely fueled by police http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/4684.html 
R. v. Parker  (July 31, 2000)
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Comment #42 posted by FoM on March 07, 2006 at 21:04:52 PT
Just a Note
It wasn't the whole piece. It didn't show Marc talking unfortunately except when he said the word flattered.
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Comment #41 posted by FoM on March 07, 2006 at 20:55:57 PT
Marc Emery on 60 Minutes Now Online
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml
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Comment #40 posted by FoM on March 07, 2006 at 17:13:31 PT
News Article from The Canadian Press
Tories Have No Plans To Loosen Pot Laws *** Sue Bailey, The Canadian PressPublished: Tuesday, March 07, 2006 OTTAWA -- Potheads beware: the Conservative government has no plans to relax marijuana laws as arrests in some regions are expected to rise. A spokesman for Justice Minister Vic Toews was unmistakenly blunt when asked if the Tories would resurrect Liberal efforts to decriminalize simple possession of marijuana. "It is a very short answer and the answer is No,'' said Mike Storeshaw. "We have no plans to bring any bill forward.'' Public toking became more common in parts of Canada as the former government moved to loosen laws. Three young men walking along Ottawa's Wellington Street passed a joint openly among themselves Monday as they strolled through the shadow of Parliament's Peace Tower. But police in some areas are once again cracking down. "I think we're in a dark period right now,'' said Alan Young, a marijuana activist and professor at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto. "They're going after growers and seed dealers, and more people are being charged with simple possession.'' Liberals moved to treat possession of less than 15 grams of pot as a minor offence punishable by fines of $100 to $400, much like traffic tickets. But the most recent related bill died when the last federal election was called in November. Before that, the Liberals were harshly rebuked by legislators in the United States. Former American ambassador Paul Cellucci hinted of border tie-ups if Canadian pot laws were eased. U.S. protests continued despite the fact that several U.S. states have already decriminalized marijuana in much the same way. Young says pot activists fighting to keep the cause alive are out of luck, but not forever. "It's dead, for the time being,'' he said. "This issue goes in cycles.'' Young predicts that Ottawa won't be able to indefinitely ignore a growing number of pot users. "We're a drug-consuming culture and we've got to start regulating it.'' Pot is the most popular illicit drug in the country, says the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. A comprehensive national survey of drug use, released in 2004, found that about 15 per cent of the adult population had used cannibis in the past year, up from seven per cent in 1994. The centre warns of side-effects ranging from impaired concentration to respiratory damage, depression, paranoia and the possible aggravation of pre-existing psychiatric symptoms. While in opposition, Toews assailed the Liberals for moving to increase pot demand while at the same time cracking down on suppliers with tougher trafficking measures. Critics also stressed the fact that police still have no reliable roadside test to snag stoned drivers. Also missing is a national drug strategy to discourage use. Still, pot advocates say marijuana on the whole is a lesser social hazard than alcohol. "It's much less harmful to our society than other legal activities and substances,'' says Kirk Tousaw, general counsel to the B.C. Marijuana Party. "Unfortunately, (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper ran on a get-tough-on-crime, lock-'em-up platform that isn't going to do anyone in Canada any good, except for perhaps those in the prison-building industry.'' Tousaw, a criminal defence lawyer, says marijuana prohibition flies in the face of bedrock conservative principles. "It's the antithesis of individual liberty. It is an economic program that's just dumping good money after bad: the courts, the jails, the police time.'' Moreover, pot laws are inconsistently applied across Canada, Tousaw says. "I'm a white, middle-class father of two. If I'm using marijuana in my own home, I run virtually no risk of being arrested.'' The homeless who smoke up in parks, for example, are much more likely to be charged, he says. "It's just another way that the law discriminates against both visible minorities and those with lower socio-economic standing.'' Toews barely stopped Tuesday when asked about such inconsistencies. "We have a law on the books don't we?'' he said before brushing past reporters. Copyright: 2006 The Canadian Press http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=485ef0b4-6792-4806-bb34-d2e2984a8fae&k=11641
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Comment #39 posted by FoM on March 07, 2006 at 15:07:55 PT
Sukoi 
I'm glad it fixed. 
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Comment #38 posted by Sukoi on March 07, 2006 at 14:56:38 PT
FoM
Me too and I'm sure that Kapt is releived as well :-)
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Comment #37 posted by FoM on March 07, 2006 at 08:14:34 PT
Sukoi 
I'm glad to see you can post now.
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Comment #36 posted by FoM on March 07, 2006 at 07:34:22 PT
rchandar 
I'm sorry. I didn't know about Brazil. It is way better to stand and fight in my opinion. 
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Comment #35 posted by dongenero on March 07, 2006 at 07:32:13 PT
majority vs constitution
Even if 64% want cannabis to remain illegal, in a constitutional republic the minority should be protected from the tyranny of the majority by the constitution.I think the laws used to persecute, prosecute and incarcerate those who use cannabis, are unconstitutional.
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Comment #34 posted by FoM on March 07, 2006 at 07:29:24 PT
afterburner
I hope it works out OK for Marc Emery. 
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Comment #33 posted by afterburner on March 07, 2006 at 07:21:46 PT
The Wheels Are Turning
CN BC: Pot Activist In Court
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n277/a01.html
Sun, 05 Mar 2006
Calgary Herald (CN AB)
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Comment #32 posted by daksya on March 07, 2006 at 03:58:45 PT
American attitudes
mayan -  Just what atmosphere were you referring? The one where 64% of Americans think that marijuana should not be legalized. Medical cannabis is a different perception, since a doctor has to approve.
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Comment #31 posted by Sukoi on March 07, 2006 at 03:37:08 PT
60 Minutes segment
In case anyone missed it, the segment with Marc Emery is posted here: 
http://hammeroftruth.com/2006/03/05/marc-emery-on-60-minutes/#comments 
Here is a direct link to the youtube video: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg0XvkL9WnM
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Comment #30 posted by rchandar on March 06, 2006 at 23:20:24 PT:
FoM
hmmm--oh, I meant countries without extradition treaties like Brazil. The Netherlands has extradition treaties with the US and wouldn't keep him, I know that. Plus the Dutch government's always been paranoid about that "special" pot policy that the US hates. Gotta admire Emery's sense of convictions, though. He really believes, that's great.--rchandar
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Comment #29 posted by mayan on March 06, 2006 at 17:49:57 PT
Daksya,Freshy
Daksya, you said..."There was a slight prohibitionist bias when they replayed Emery saying that marijuana is a "wonderful, healing drug" which the public may interpret as meaning that it is harmless, and even beneficial. I don't think the overall atmosphere is conducive for that drastic shift in attitudes, and CBS knows that."Obviously, 75-80% of Americans believe that cannabis IS harmless enough and IS beneficial enough for them to support medical cannabis. Just what atmosphere were you referring?Freshy, Bush has never been very respectable. His very first approval rating was 46%(by FOX News, no less!). That is horrible for a president. Only 9/11 and war are the only things that have given his numbers a boost but now the truth and lies of those matters are beginning to come out. He was appointed even though he lost but he is still a loser. There is a world of difference between a conservative and neo-conservative.
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Comment #28 posted by Hope on March 06, 2006 at 17:32:47 PT
Afterburner
I was close to the screen last night and looking for you in the various crowds. It doesn't help that the only clue I have is that you're male. But, I looked anyway. Like maybe you'd be wearing a sign or something. Lol!
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Comment #27 posted by Hope on March 06, 2006 at 17:28:14 PT
Hey, Daksya !
Good to see you here.
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Comment #26 posted by global_warming on March 06, 2006 at 15:40:04 PT
there is a 'dragon
biting your assmaybe 'you have not seen?how 'we those peoplemarch into this worldwith shackles that are 'not made from hempthat are mostly made from the browsof those who 'believe,they can hear God,they only hear the echoes of their own voices,they can deliberate into this infinite universe,and never find that place, called Home..What is Home?It is that place and TimeWhere you can take the "load off of your back,
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Comment #25 posted by daksya on March 06, 2006 at 15:20:24 PT:
Balanced but a tinge of bias
That part about Emery being a major drug kingpin was comedy gold. He's admits selling seeds to 70,000 Americans in 10 years. I bet more whole marijuana plants are smuggled from BC, every year.There was a slight prohibitionist bias when they replayed Emery saying that marijuana is a "wonderful, healing drug" which the public may interpret as meaning that it is harmless, and even beneficial. I don't think the overall atmosphere is conducive for that drastic shift in attitudes, and CBS knows that.
Drug War bookmarks
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Comment #24 posted by museman on March 06, 2006 at 15:12:52 PT
It's because of
Beauty, and it's vibrant colorful reflection of untampered-with nature.It's because of Love which is the one commandment that some of us (and a lot more cannabis smokers understand this than not) follow, some of us seek, find, and apply in our daily lives.It's because of the concept of 'Freedom, Justice, Liberty' that was pounded into our youthful minds, and because some of us truly embraced the reality of it rather than just the 'idea' of it.It's because the cannabis herb is like the prophetic "Tree of Life, whose leaves are for the healing of nations."It's because the sacred herb can remove the spiritual barnacles of eye-clinching ignorance that allows such as our current wealthy power elite to govern and oppress us.It's because of the Truth. Because the 'savior' that the republicrats, republic-rats, claim to follow said;"The Truth shall set you free."It's because they believe too many will come to know the truth about their spiritual nakedness, and their compounded lies, and rise up against them. Such is the nature of fear-based systems; Even though none of us advocate what they fear, and none of us do, or have done what they say we do when we partake of our God-given providence, still they call for the rocks of ignorance to hide them from the face of God, Whom is the Author of ALL TRUTH.That's why.
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Comment #23 posted by global_warming on March 06, 2006 at 14:33:12 PT
its amazing
that this guy called Marc has received so much 'international publicity, and along with all that publicity the American System is being held up to even closer scrutiny, some might conclude that this dea agency is literally "foaming at the mouth" to get this little skinny poor monk.Perhaps that RCMP more clearly understood the petty Americans when he said that Marc was a nobody in this world and all this big noise coming out of the mouths of those dedicated dea people was misguided and extremely foolish, given the times and real security concerns in this world.If this country the USA has the time and money to spend to get this little guy who is only selling seeds, just what are they doing to make our streets safer?I sincerely hope that Canada and the Canadian people do not allow the US to have its childish and foolish way with Marc.May God Bless Marc Emory..
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Comment #22 posted by Freshy on March 06, 2006 at 14:06:05 PT
replacement
it will be interesting to see how long it takes someone to replace him. I believe the Canadians will give him up. it's sad because Bush used to be respectable... I wonder if it would be different if the Republicans didn't own every part of the government. won't they be surprised next election! and if anyone is gonna start arguing for conservatives, i'm mostly conservative. i only disagree on a few issues.
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Comment #21 posted by afterburner on March 06, 2006 at 12:22:14 PT
Hope, You Should Hear Marc When He's Not... 
Under Pressure."soul...and everybody knows...that that's alright".Love that song:IT'S ALRIGHT
Curtis Mayfield
http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/i/itsalright.shtmlUnder Pressure by Queen & David Bowie
http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Under-Pressure-lyrics-Queen/7016B6D82A42E5C34825689400086311
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Comment #20 posted by ekim on March 06, 2006 at 10:14:23 PT
this is a neat calendar
http://www.november.org/stayinfo/Calendar.html
http://www.november.org/stayinfo/Calendar.html
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Comment #19 posted by FoM on March 06, 2006 at 09:50:39 PT
rchandar 
If Emery left Canada they would find him. Even Amsterdam said they will work with the US government.
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Comment #18 posted by FoM on March 06, 2006 at 09:47:04 PT
Ekim 
Thank you. I still have to install the programs and stuff like that but I am not in a rush since this computer is working fine. 
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Comment #17 posted by ekim on March 06, 2006 at 09:43:32 PT
good going on your Hard Drive FoM
you two are sure a great team. plus all the info from the crew here was fun to see. i hope cnews will grow i copy storys of interest from this site and pass them out at local cafes and bars and bookstores and tobacco shops and co-ops and radio stations and a sports shop. i hope we can have a membership drive, or readership drive -- it would be great to partner with a radio station so that after a guest speaker was on the person could come here and everybody could give their two cents. Like Marc could come here and let us know whats up like mrsrunruff. i hope she has gotten hold of Nov Col and put Jerrys name and story on their page and paper. buy the way do we have a link to the Nov Col web site. 
http://www.leap.cc/events
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Comment #16 posted by rchandar on March 06, 2006 at 09:40:23 PT:
FoM, others interested...
...it would be a useless defeat for Emery to get extradited and go to a U.S. jail. Methinks he should leave Canada, say, for another country lacking extradition treaties and open up shop there....the article itself made me very disgusted. I was talking about this with my wife last night. He sells seeds. Seeds are not plants, are not product. Where in our government's logic did we decide that: if you MIGHT commit a crime, you have to be charged as if you DID commit the crime? I have big problems with that "seed" law passed by Bush,Sr: seeds can be used for anything you can think of. You can eat them. You can use them to fertilize other crops. Seeds a fully grown plant and marijuana? That's just wrong.The DEA representative was acting like a real d#$k. Always hated government servants like that.--rchandar 
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on March 06, 2006 at 08:59:37 PT
Just a Comment
We have been watching CNN and haven't seen anything on the 60 Minutes piece. If anyone sees something on any news channel please let us know. 
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on March 06, 2006 at 08:26:53 PT
CTV.ca Video
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060306/pot_activist_20060306/20060306?hub=TopStories
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Comment #13 posted by Hope on March 06, 2006 at 08:21:55 PT
Bringing out the pretty boy.
The DEA agent did have striking features. But the lack of humanity in his eyes was his most prominent feature. That lack kept him from being an attractive spokesman at all.I thought Marc was beautiful. Marc had me worried from the way he looked in the promo photo. Lines and shadows and a gauntness and aged appearance I hadn't noticed until all the stuff that has happened to him lately. But on the show he looked wonderful. Marc had "soul...and everybody knows...that that's alright".
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Comment #12 posted by siege on March 06, 2006 at 07:47:49 PT
 Marc Emery a smoke screen
If the US can get him " Marc Emery" over here, Look Out 
DUTCH govt.
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on March 06, 2006 at 07:47:23 PT
Related Article from CTV.ca
Pot Crusader Facing Life in Prison, But 'Blessed'***CTV.ca News Staff March 6 2006 B.C. pot activist Marc Emery, facing a life sentence in a U.S. prison for selling marijuana seeds, says he is blessed by his international fame."I'm right at the point in my career where I expected to be, if I was successful …. That's what I want to do, I've always wanted to be the marijuana representative for people around the world," he told CTV's Canada AM Monday from Vancouver."And now I've got this international audience and this international stage to explain to people why prohibition is wrong and why I'm the person to lead us into an enlightened era of tax and regulated distribution of marijuana."Emery, 48, the leader of B.C.'s Marijuana Party, doesn't deny the charges against him. He is facing an extradition hearing later this year.Emery says he isn't afraid of being incarcerated."I've had a great life and I've anticipated this all my life," he said.In fact, he says he is "flattered" U.S. drug enforcement officers have paid so much attention to him and called him Canada's biggest trafficking kingpin because it further highlights his crusade.Emery feels he is being rewarded for his life's work, and told CBS's 60 Minutes on Sunday: "I'd rather see marijuana legalized than me being saved from a U.S. jail."Emery, the founder of Cannabis Culture magazine and Internet-based Pot-TV, has been arrested 21 times in the past. He has been mostly fined, but in 2004 spent 62 days in a Saskatoon jail for trafficking after passing a joint.He says it has all been worth it, considering what marijuana advocates have been able to accomplish."Ten years ago there was no legal medical marijuana, no legal and thriving hemp industry, no hemp stores across Canada. Even books and magazines about marijuana ten years ago were banned in this country and so we've come a great deal," he said."In 10 years we've seen Canadians embrace and support a tax and regulated medical marijuana regime, as well as a retail and recreational marijuana regime. The Senate found and recommended that marijuana should be legalized in 2002. We're making tremendous progress."In addition to selling millions of marijuana seeds, Emery readily admits spending millions of dollars from sales of the seeds on "democratic change" by supporting marijuana parties in several U.S. states, constituting money laundering."I've definitely tried to thwart the DEA and the U.S. government's war on marijuana and I like to think I've been very successful," he said.Larry Campbell, a Canadian senator and former RCMP drug squad officer, told 60 Minutes he doesn't think Emery is a major drug trafficker. When asked what the public reaction would be if Emery is extradited, he replied: "I think there'd be outrage."The outrage would be focused on the long arm of the U.S. law reaching up into Canada to charge someone many Canadians consider harmless.No Canadian has ever gone to jail for selling seeds and only two people in 35 years have even been charged, Emery said."The most recent person fined for selling seeds in the year 2000 received a $200 fine."The Canadian courts will decide whether or not to hand Emery over to the U.S. With a newly elected Conservative government, Emery fears that's likely to happen.But he isn't changing his stance. Instead, he draws parallels to historic civil battles, and to the words of former peace activists."Martin Luther King said we are obligated to disobey unjust law," Emery said."This is a terribly unjust law. Nobody should go to jail for marijuana."Copyright: 2006 Bell Globemedia Inc.
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Comment #10 posted by Sam Adams on March 06, 2006 at 06:59:31 PT
overgrown?
"The whole idea was that I would help facilitate the growth of so much marijuana that the DEA and all the agencies of the United States would ever be able to destroy it at the rate I would help create it and that, ultimately, I, one man, would neutralize the work of the entire DEA with their multi-billion dollar budget," Emery said."What a noble goal - of course, it's a goal that was realized back in the early 1960's when cannabis became commonplace in the US. It's interesting, the government has failed completely on several goals - eliminate drug use, drive up the price of hard drugs, eliminate violence - they have succeeded very well in procuring budget funds, hiring people, making money off corruption, gaining political power, etc.This process is contributing toward changes across our society. No longer must we focus on performing, or delivering meaningful, measurable work. No, it's OK to do whatever you want as long as the rhetoric is good. You don't have to DO good, just LOOK good. SOUND good in the media. Who cares what you've actually done, we can spin the PR campaign later. Feel free to steal and loot and rob from the proletariat masses, just make sure your lawyers and PR people are ready to go.You can even blast away at your friends with a shotgun, don't worry about it, Fox News will fix it for ya.
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Comment #9 posted by mayan on March 06, 2006 at 06:09:24 PT
Ignorance Vs. Intelligence
"I’m not interested in his political beliefs, so-called political beliefs. What I’m interested in is the fact that he has distributed drugs in the United States, huge quantities of drugs," he said. "You know he calls himself the 'Prince of Pot' but he may become the prince of federal prison."Drugs? I believe Emery sold SEEDS. Seeds from a plant that grows out of the earth. Sure, cage a human being for selling a plant's seeds. There is ignorance and then there is intelligence. It's obvious which force drives the prohibitionists. It's 2006. Think you might want to evolve? We'll be waiting.One man sells seeds and faces prison time, but look who the real criminals are...Former DEA Agent Wants George H. Bush, Negroponte And Other Higher-Ups Held Accountable For Illegal Drug Smuggling:
http://www.arcticbeacon.com/5-Mar-2006.htmlCUNNINGHAM SCANDAL FIGURE LINKED TO IRAN CONTRA COCAINE TRAFFICKING:
http://www.madcowprod.com/12072005.htmlTHE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...The Destruction of the World Trade Center: Why the Official Account Cannot Be True:
http://911review.com/articles/griffin/nyc1.htmlThe 9/11 signs point to a conspiracy (LTE):
http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=132678&format=htmlInformation Monopoly: Why the Germans of the '30s-40s' didn't come to terms that their 9/11 wasn't real:
http://valis.gnn.tv/B13441Scholars for 9/11 Truth Petition:
http://www.scholarsfor911truth.org/petition/
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Comment #8 posted by charmed quark on March 06, 2006 at 04:57:36 PT
Showed his modest apartment
I'm glad they mentioned that Emery recycles most of the money he makes into legalization efforts and keeps very little for himeself.They even joked about it in the 60 minutes article, saying he didn't seem to have the typical drug kingpin lifestyle.
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Comment #7 posted by Toker00 on March 06, 2006 at 03:07:30 PT
Watched it, read it.
Marc, yu da man. Clean, honest, truth. I love it! They (DEA) broke out their pretty boy last night, because they knew the truth about the rediculous War on Cannabis is sOOOOO,well, rediculous. It's stupid, but a lot of people base their opinion on how good the speaker looks. Think about it. If they had had an older guy like me with MUCH less finise, he would have looked like a jerk next to Marc. Marc made the pretty boy look like a jerk, but no one noticed because he was so PUURRDY. lol. Of course we could saw right through his image, but most people won't. Wage peace on war. END CANNABIS PROHIBITION NOW!
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on March 05, 2006 at 23:31:26 PT
Yup! There it is! I didn't imagine it.
Asked if there is something special about "BC Bud" or whether it is a marketing ploy, Emery said, "They’ve had a wonderful marketing man in charge of that campaign, yours truly." 
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Comment #5 posted by Hope on March 05, 2006 at 23:29:53 PT
My imagination again...
It would be cool if we could all boost him on our shoulders and carry him and jostle him about, while we joyfully shout about his victory tonight, like they do for sports heroes, sometimes.Thank you, Marc. You did so good!Thank you, 60 Minutes. You did the right thing!Halleleujah! I'm so thankful.
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on March 05, 2006 at 23:24:34 PT
Did I imagine it...
or did Marc admit, with a little bit of a grin, to starting the B.C. Bud HYPE as a promotional effort and a successful one at that?It is a hype...but it took me a long time to realize it. That's really pretty funny.After tonight...I'd say Marc Emery definitely is a "Prince"...indeed. I'm absolutely thrilled with how well he handled it and how honest 60 minutes was. They didn't "hype" us, reformers, to be idiots of some kind. I like that.And...breathing deeply...I'm so relieved. I was worried.What will the USA threaten to do to Canada if they don't give up Marc? I fervently hope they won't give him up. Surely after they've seen what was done to Herbdoc and Kubby after they were turned over to the Feds...surely they won't do it.
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Comment #3 posted by BGreen on March 05, 2006 at 22:33:59 PT
You're not fooling anybody but the dimmest bulbs
So much marijuana is grown inside homes in Vancouver that there’s a special unit in the local police force called "Grow Busters."Your haz-mat suits are the epitome of stupidity, but only the dullest crayon in the box would believe that these plants are toxic.A garden is NOT a meth lab.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on March 05, 2006 at 20:00:26 PT
It Was Very Good
I was afraid that they would make Marc out to be a threat but they didn't. I really appreciate 60 Minutes being fair and leaning towards Marc Emery's side of the issue. Marc looks tired, much older and thin though. The stress must be really hard. I hope it works out for him.
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Comment #1 posted by OverwhelmSam on March 05, 2006 at 19:17:04 PT
Tick Tick Tick Tick
Watched it and it was pretty good. Made me so proud of Marc Emery. That DEA agent was such a dick head. I'd rather be a pot head than a dick head anyday. Marijuana is safer than alcohol.
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