VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The lawyer for Canada's so-called Prince of Pot said Monday that his client has been ordered extradited to the United States.
Marc Emery has sold millions of marijuana seeds around the world by mail over the past decade, drawing the attention of U.S. drug officials, who want him extradited to Seattle.
Emery's lawyer, Kirk Tousaw, said Canada's Minister of Justice Rob Nicholson signed off on his extradition shortly after the marijuana advocate turned himself in on Monday to authorities.
The justice minister's spokeswoman, Carole Saindon, would not comment on the order or the timing of his surrender, saying only that Emery has the option of a court appeal of the order.
The department said Emery's extradition was sought on charges of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, conspiracy to distribute marijuana and conspiracy to engage in money laundering.
Emery reached a plea deal with U.S. prosecutors last year, agreeing to plead guilty to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana in return for a sentence of five years in prison.
The charges are in connection with his Vancouver, British Columbia-based seed-selling business.
Emery's wife, Jodie Emery, said she was appalled that the Canadian justice minister would order the extradition.
"It's the worst option. We didn't even entertain it as an option," she said. "I'm just stunned."
She accused Nicholson of wanting "to silence the most vocal opponent of the drug war."
Marc Emery has long maintained that the prosecution was politically motivated in the U.S. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has repeatedly denied that.
More of this story at AP >>CannabisCulture.com: It's Official: Conservatives Extradite Marc Emery
By Jeremiah Vandermeer and Jacob Hunter, Cannabis Culture - Monday, May 10 2010Cannabis Culture has learned that Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party of Canada made their decision shortly after Emery turned himself in to Canadian authorities this morning: The Prince of Pot will be handed over to the United States for selling marijuana seeds over the Internet.
READ THE JUSTICE MINISTER'S LETTER CONFIRMING HIS DECISION (PDF)
"I am absolutely devestated that this Conservative government has opted to send my husband, a Canadian citizen, to the United States for a 'crime' that amounts to a $200 dollar fine in Canada," said Marc's wife Jodie Emery. "This case is about silencing my Husband for his marijuana activism. This Conservative government has declared a culture war in Canada and my husband is it's latest victim."
Marc spoke to reporters outside of the downtown Vancouver Law Courts before turning himself in, and said orders to extradite him would be the equivalent of outsourcing our justice system. He said he hopes some good comes from his imprisonment.
"If he sends me away, it will anger millions of Americans and millions of Canadians," he told the press. "I need them to be angry, otherwise we won’t get any change on this drug war."
Marc's lawyer and fellow marijuana activist Kirk Tousaw told Cannabis Culture that in all likelihood, Marc would be sent south across the border by the end of the week where he will eventually appear before a sentencing judge. Marc is expected to be sentenced to five years as part of a plea deal arranged with American prosecutors.
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