Marc's US Prosecutor Pushes for Legalization; Exclusive Newspaper Articles about Marc & Prison Life
Today is Wednesday, April 25. I have 805 days to go to my release. Ten days from now, on Saturday, May 5 – on the day of the Global Marijuana March, and on the occasion of my great friends Chris Goodwin and Erin Gorman's wedding in Toronto after the march – I'll have put in 795 days in prisons serving out this 1,825 day sentence.
Marc's prison band "Yazoo"With my 235 days good time credit, I'll have 1,030 days behind me, and 795 days to go. On that day, I'll be at the exact halfway point of the experience, with as much time remaining as I have put in.
So the 66 days in Canada I spent waiting to be extradited, the 5 1/2 months I spent at Sea-Tac Federal Detention Center in Washington state, the 4 weeks at Oklahoma Transfer Hub, 3 weeks at Nevada Southern Detention Center, 4 1/2 months at the immigrant concentration camp D Ray James, and 12 1/2 months at Yazoo Medium, in all, 795 days; I just have to do it one more time! And then I'm home.
When I write it like that, it seems like a long time I've been gone, and a long time to go. But then I think of the more than 12 months so far here at Yazoo and it’s gone by very quickly. My daily work out on the bass guitar and being in my band Yazoo has aided the passage of time immensely.
You can see a photo of me and my bandmates in a 2-page newspaper spread by columnist Jon Ferry in this upcoming Sunday's “The Province” newspaper in British Columbia. (A one-page article appeared on Friday April 27 in the same paper, seen here.) Jon visited me here last weekend in order to write this exclusive story. The two-page feature will discuss my political opinions, the continuing fight against prohibition, and life here at Yazoo, with several photos. I did take some photos with Jon Ferry that are kind of fun but they will not be back in my hands for a week, so they do not appear in the Sunday edition.
[Update: see images and links to the Sunday edition of The Province newspaper's cover story and 2-page feature at the bottom of this page!]
Jon Ferry told me he thinks I look so healthy, youthful and relaxed because I am "drug free"! I explained that on the outside, I had the stress of imminent extradition weighing on me, legal bills, money problems, closing the print version of Cannabis Culture magazine, sleep problems from all that accumulated tension. So, here I am fit, I eat modestly, and try to eat only the good foods I can get, drink only water, read and write extensively, no watching TV, play music and work with my band every day.
Right now on the bass guitar I am getting down Back in Black by AC/DC, Sharp Dressed Man by ZZ Top, and Jumpin Jack Flash by the Rolling Stones. The air here is terrific and smells nice, every day is sunny and warm, when it rains it tends to do so at night, the water out of the taps is very good, I sleep like clockwork from 11:30pm to 7:30am, and I walk 3 miles around the track daily. Our next concert, my 6th here at Yazoo, is on May 26, on the Memorial Day weekend.
Part 1 of the Province newspaper featureI have been on the TV here this week as Discovery Channel aired the National Geographic episode "Marijuana Nation" again, of which I am in a fair bit of that episode. The documentary "A NORML Life" was also seen by of the C.O.'s (correctional officers). I have had 8 letters published in newspapers in Canada signed "Marc Emery, Yazoo City Medium Federal Prison, Mississippi" since I have been here at Yazoo, and the most recent two letters, published in the last two weeks in the Globe & Mail and National Post newspapers (the two cross-Canada newspaper publications), have been read aloud on the National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB). MPB must think its interesting a Canadian in Mississippi gets letters about the drug war published from his Mississippi jail cell.
The 4/20 celebrations in Vancouver and Toronto saw record numbers of people in attendance, and good weather to make it all pleasant. My friend in Adelaide, Australia, Rhiannon Lynch, put on a 4/20 in her hometown too. It’s so cool that an event that’s now a worldwide phenomenon started with my store staff in April 1995 (read about the history in this Huffington Post article I wrote, "The Origins of 4/20 as a Day of Celebration and Protest"), and eighteen 4/20's later I can confidently say is witnessed by millions of people around the world who meet that day for political and herbal inspiration and fellowship. It doesn't get any better than that!
In my original hometown of London, Ontario, the police announced in advance they would disrupt any 4/20 celebrations, the only Canadian police force that did so, and 250 people responded to the police disruption of the 4/20 at Victoria Park by marching to a major intersection and chanting 'Fuck The Police' for an hour. Absolutely right, London. The London, Ontario police dept. is still in good need of an enema, twenty years after I left there.
My fabulous wife, Jodie, had what I would call a career week last week. She appeared alongside my prosecutor, former District Attorney for Western Washington state, John McKay, as well as former BC Attorney General Geoff Plant, at a joint press conference in Vancouver hosted by the amazing new pro-legalization organization Stop The Violence BC.
McKay articulately denounced the drug war and marijuana prohibition, and Jodie was extensively interviewed across Canada for days; headlines appeared in all media across the country, such as "Prosecutor of Prince of Pot Marc Emery wants to legalize marijuana". You can see news coverage here, and video of the press conference here, as well as a Canadian Press video here.
My wife's major week of accomplishment continued. On Thursday, April 19, the day after the McKay press conference, Jodie had her first Op-Ed (opinion editorial) piece published in the nationwide National Post newspaper, titled "Victims of the Drug War". There was a critic of Jodie's Op-Ed the next day, columnist and editor Matt Gurney, writing in the same National Post "A Grass Bed of his Own Making", and then I had a letter rebutting him on the day after that, Saturday, April 21, titled "Immoral Pot Prohibition Laws".
Jodie was also profiled in an article in the Vancouver Sun newspaper on Saturday, written by "Bud Inc." author and columnist Ian Mulgrew, called "Jodie Emery Rises to the Occasion" (click image on the right, below, to read it). I was so pleased with this feature on her, published in between the two Province articles about me. Team Emery was on it like white on rice! (Or like ink on paper?)
Vancouver Sun news column on JodieThe great news continues. My former prosecutor John McKay, not content with just being a lecturer on the evils of the drug war, is also co-sponsor of an excellent legalization initiative on the Washington State ballot this November. Apology accepted, Mr. McKay! What’s really disturbing though, is the number of the 'grassroots' activists in Washington state who are absurdly opposing the I-502 legalization bill because of a clause that allows police to issue DUI's if a very high level of THC is in the bloodstream while driving. Otherwise, adults can possess, transport, and buy at licensed outlets a huge range of cannabis buds – all legally, without fear of arrest or prosecution. That's incredible!
Currently 10,000 people in Washington State get arrested for pot possession each year. That would end under this legislation. How ironic that I currently have far more respect for my former prosecutor and his proposed legislation than I have for those activists who would foolishly and dangerously oppose this great step forward over trivialities, much the same way as done by many so-called members of the movement who killed Prop. 19 in California in 2010. Much of the Washington state opposition to I-502 is rooted in adversarial jealousy, because after three attempts, some activists just can't get an initiative of their own on the ballot, so resent McKay, the ACLU and their backers who did manage to get I-502 on the ballot. Sometimes the famous quip Pogo Possum said in the eponymous cartoon is correct: "We have met the enemy, and it us."
I implore all Washington State activists and concerned citizens to support I-502. Read the very important editorial in the NY Times by Seattle activist Dominic Holden called "Smokeless in Seattle" and NORML's Russ Belville's blog on why supporting I-502 with your vote this November is essential. I think Russ Belville is the best commentator out there regarding our movement, and all his writings are very, very good.
To show you the kind of momentum the campaign to end prohibition has, an all-political-party panel called "Speaking Truth from Within Power: Passion, Politics, and Drug Policy in Canada" takes place in Vancouver on the evening of May 4th, the day before the Global Marijuana March. From Canada's Parliament, Conservative Senator and chairman of the 2002 Special Committee on Cannabis, Pierre Claude Nolin, will speak along with Liberal Senator and former Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell, and NDP Member of Parliament and deputy leader Libby Davies about their attempts to get modernized drug law legislation passed or promoted. All three favor various legalization models. They will be joined by provincial BC NDP legislator Nicholas Simons. If you live in the Greater Vancouver area, please consider attending.
Our movement is gaining momentum where it’s needed most – beyond the activist grassroots. While I count down the days in prison for my “crime” of selling seeds to finance major activism efforts and campaigns with millions of dollars from 1994-2005, it’s comforting to know that my work continues not only in the grassroots cannabis community, but also in the political and mainstream sphere where real change has to happen. When I get home in just over two years, there might not be anyone left to convince about legalization! Keep the pressure on, fellow activists and friends.
Update:
The Sunday edition of the Province newspaper had Marc on the cover, and two pages inside. Read the articles here, and click the images to enlarge:
Marc Emery claims victory in drug war
Marc Emery's suggestions from prison to better B.C.
Marc Emery calls B.C.'s leaders 'uninspiring'
The Province cover, Sunday April 29, 2012
Province feature, page 1
Province feature, page 2
Comments
marc
i am a long way from Marc in Arizona. here we went from a seed for a felony to now opening medical dispensary's. if it wasn't for people like Marc to put there asses on the line. like a soldier in a war zone. we wouldn't make these giant leaps to get out from the pharmaceutical giants and large corps. and make and distribute a holistic lifestyle. we are the people who want water not coke, we want to ride bikes not lifted 4x4s. we want cannabis, and holistic meds, not vicodine and prozac. Thank you Marc for bettering us, sacrifice, and stress for us.
Here Here
Well said.
I was just looking for this
I was just looking for this information for some time. After 6 hours of continuous Googleing, finally I got it in your web site. I wonder what's the lack of Google strategy that do not rank this kind of informative websites in top of the list. Usually the top web sites are full of garbage.
lump sum settlements
Justice for the rich Justice for the poor
When you compare the treatment The Lord Conrad Black received to Marc Emery's it proves that there are 2 different justice systems, 1 for rich 1 for poor.
The marches next week also prove that most consumers are both intelligent and non violent.
I had the opportunity to look at some close ups of the crowd from Toronto last year. Most of the protestors were under 30, and clean cut. Not what the establishment would expect. There were a few older people in the crowd. It is obvious that the older crowd is paranoid to be seen protesting in public as there are prying eyes, including uncle sam watching. Peace Bro.
Seeing the Light
I would like to see Karen Tandy do about face now that she is a big wig at Motorola
Thank you Jodie and Marc!
Thank you for helping set the record straight. What is most important right now? legalizing cannabis in WA state? or making sure they don't have a dui provision for cannabis in WA state? Seems quite simple to me. I wish some of those folks out there that didn't like that measure would form a coalition that would go to directly fight that starting NOW. We should recognize the win that this would be and be organized to challenge the validity of a 5 ng/mL limit. This is something that we can do and still start the ball rolling on legalization. Hey the research on the limit might help as other states join in on this push for freedom.
Forgiveness
Marc, I did eight years in a Canadian pen a long time ago for a cannabis so-called "crime". You're a more forgiving guy than I am. As far as I'm concerned, that mercenary legal thug who sent you away should be where you are and you should be back home with your lovely and accomplished wife.
Thank you, Marc!
Thank you, Marc, for your kind words. Thanks also to your wife, Jodie, for her great "Jodie Emery Show" that we're airing on The NORML Network. I encourage everyone to check us out at live.norml.org, where it is 4:20, 24/7/365.
ART
Putting marc in prison for seeds?Not even the bud it self?.that is balony bull shit and im from america.
I beleave no one should be put in jail over weed because its not harming anyone.my names arazul and im a artist,not a professional though.
I like to drew marijuana art to inspire people about the friendly plant called marijuana and i will be posting my art on youtube,google,facebook,and cannabisculture.com to reach out to marc and maybe someday this will help in the long run..
I-502 Response
I highly doubt that the hard-working Washington activists are opposing I-502 out of "adversarial jealousy," because they weren't the ones who could get their own initiative on their ballot.
They object to the initiative with good reason. This initiative isn't about legalization, it's a decrim bill which still has penalties attached. They have no real scientific way to determine if you are an impaired driver. Sounds like a lot of profiling to me.
It would be one thing if Marc (and Jodie) were to urge people to be for this legislation and let it go at that. But to say that any activist out there is "foolishly" and "dangerously" opposed is divisive. To label the Prop 19 opponents as being "so-called members" of the movement is insulting to many of the hard-working individuals who have been at this even longer than Marc has been. To attempt to discredit people just because they have different viewpoints than yourselves is reprehensible in my opinion. I would hope that Marc isn't trying to provoke people on purpose. We have enough Gov't agents to do that already.
Also...
I don't think it's a good think to test drivers' blood. I was opposed to it in BC, and I oppose it elsewhere - but I absolutely must support a bill that:
1) legalizes possession of marijuana
2) legalizes the production of marijuana to sell to recreational & medical users
3) legalizes the establishment of stores to sell marijuana to recreational & medical users
4) legalizes the sale of marijuana to all adults
5) legalizes the sale of up to an ounce at a time, a nice big amount, to all adults
6) legalizes the use of marijuana by all adults for recreational or medical purposes.
There are WAY more pros than cons to this bill. Continuing to see people arrested for possession - continuing to keep marijuana illegal, by refusing to support all the ways it could be legal under I-502 - just because it isn't "perfect" is irrational and wrong, in my opinion. It's wrong to wait for the ideal law when something so incredible (see points 1 through 6 above) is on the table.
We support I-502.
I-502, which would make marijuana legal for purchase at stores, up to an ounce at a time, for all people - sick or healthy - to use as they please is not a step backwards. The fear over blood samples taken from drivers is a red herring. The province of BC has a law to allow police to take blood samples from drivers. They never do it. To continue seeing people arrested in Washington state for possession - to turn down the chance to have legal recreational marijuana sold in stores - is a true folly. Marc and I are proud to support legalization initiatives, of all kinds. Any less punishment is always better than more punishment. Any fewer arrests for possession is always a good thing. Any legal stores selling marijuana to adults is incredible. We support I-502.
Operation Cannabis 420 - Phase II
Greetings from Anonymous and Team Vendetta,
As many are aware, Operation Cannabis 420 is a grass roots effort to bring all who use cannabis together for the purpose of legalization. Our efforts have been largely successful in terms of raising awareness and getting the word out. Our video and press releases for Operation Cannabis 420 - Phase 1 have reached countless numbers of people thanks to the internet and the pro-cannabis media. The support we have garnered for this operation is better than we could have dreamed.
Now, we would like to welcome you all to Operation Cannabis 420 - Phase 2! In this phase of the operation we will be focusing on two objectives: 1) Organizing several worldwide marches for cannabis legalization, the first of which is scheduled for October 1st (some of you may live in countries where the 1st falls on a Monday and might need to march a day sooner) and 2) Bringing to the forefront the "narco-warriors" (as they have come to be known). These are primarily the police unions, the private prison contractors, big pharmaceutical companies, the alcohol and tobacco industries, the corporate lobbyists for these organizations and the politicians who accept payoffs to legislate in their favor. These are the people who have a financial stake in keeping cannabis illegal, and are willing to spread lies, incarcerate cannabis users and ruin people's lives. No more. We are calling them out and will not rest day or night until they end their unjust war on cannabis users.
This is a wake up call. Every single person who uses cannabis and every single person who supports our right to do so must take a stand now. We have too many people languishing in jail for marijuana "offenses". We have too many people who are still ignorant to the facts of this miracle drug. It has been shown that THC can actually kill brain cancer cells, and also slow the rate of regeneration. It's been proven that cannabis is extremely beneficial to cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy. These are just some of the benefits we are being denied because of the sleazy activity of a greedy minority.
Join us as we venture to put a stop to this once and for all. Organize an October 1st march for cannabis in your city/town. Talk to everyone. Make people aware. This fight could be won by simple math alone. We have far greater numbers. It's time to put them to use.
Sincerely'
Team Vendetta
Jason Steele, Enon E Muz, Portugese Manofwar, AnonNuke Dawn, You'May Call'Me Vee, Luke Windwalker, Young Guns, Milina Wolfrider
Very well written! I hope
Very well written!
I hope Phase 2 is as successful.
Thank You for taking the initiative and communicating this. =)
Thank you Marc!
You continue to be an inspiration to us all. We'll keep pushing on this crumbling wall 'til it's down, eh? Mongo ;?)~
we support you 100%
we support you 100%
mj
Over the last few years it seems one after the other, former DEA agents, former cops, former prosecutors are coming out of the woodwork claiming pot should be legal. But while they were enforcers they did their jobs with zest. All of them gleefully put cannabis users behind bars. Maybe Marc can forgive them but I cannot. If Mr.McKay is serious let him take Marc's place in prison, then I will forgive him.
What a good 'rule' might look like....
Marc is right to applaud those with the courage to seek reason and change. Such things do not come easy or often. One has to press the advantage when the opportunity arises
Adopting a 'soft drug' protocol that everyone can understand and one that removes the dysfunction that decriminalisation retains and would embed for years, might look like this...
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2008/0373/latest/whole.html
These are the rules Professor David Nutt, former Chair of the UK drug policy expert advisory committee said "He wished he had thought of them himself"
Look carefully where it comes from. One of the places where Marc Emery ploughed his seed resources. As one sows, one reaps. Thanks Marc.
We can either ask the Tooth
We can either ask the Tooth Fairy to stop people taking drugs or we can decide to regulate them properly. Prohibition is not regulation, it's a hideous nightmare for all of us and our families - except of course for the lowest lifeforms amongst us.
Because Drug cartels will always have an endless supply of ready cash for wages, bribery and equipment, no amount of tax money, police powers, weaponry, wishful thinking or pseudo-science will make our streets safe again -only an end to prohibition can do that! How much longer are we willing to foolishly risk our own survival by continuing to ignore the obvious, historically confirmed solution?
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