Tony C. Quick, The StarPhoenix

 

I am appalled at the decision to extradite Marc Emery on May 10 for clearly political reasons, despite the move directly violating Canada’s extradition treaty with the United States which states that no citizen may be extradited for a political crime.

 

On the day of Emery’s arrest, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency released a statement that confirmed that the extradition was politically motivated.

 

It’s clearly targeted at the rapidly growing marijuana legalization movement in both Canada and the U.S.

 

Since Emery has tirelessly crusaded for years to legalize this harmless substance, he’s an obvious target for the wasteful and futile American "war on drugs."

 

He is only one of thousands of people out there selling seeds in the U.S., Holland and Britain, yet those parties are not being prosecuted.

 

Emery was chosen because he is an extremely influential leader in the legalization movement.

 

Never have I been more ashamed of the Canadian government, which bowed down and gave away one of our citizens for a five-year sentence for what would merit a $500-fine in our own country.

 

We truly have given away our sovereignty in giving away Emery, and are that much closer to becoming politically subjugated to the U.S.

 

Tony C. Quick

 

Saskatoon

Robert Sharpe, Calgary Sun

 

Canadian marijuana activist Marc Emery is now officially a political prisoner. ( "Tinfoil hat delusion," Ian Robinson, May 16 ) If health outcomes determined drug laws instead of cultural norms, marijuana would be legal. At a time when state and local governments are laying off police, firefighters and teachers, the U.S. is prepared to spend a small fortune incarcerating Emery for five years. The Canadian government should be ashamed of its role in this travesty. There is no justification for criminalizing citizens who prefer marijuana to martinis. Marijuana prohibition has failed. The U.S. has higher rates of marijuana use than the Netherlands, where marijuana is legal. Canada should just say no to the American Inquisition.

 

Robert Sharpe

 

Common Sense for Drug

 

Policy, Washington, D.C.

Brett Boo, Flamborough Review

 

On Monday, May 10, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson signed an order of extradition sending Marc Emery to a federal institution in the United States.

 

His crime was selling one of Earth’s most basic forms of sustenance, growth and life – seeds. Marijuana seeds.

 

When Health Canada first began giving out licences to medicinal users, they recommended to MPs and licensed users that new growers should purchase seeds online from Canadian sellers like Emery.

 

Emery has never been arrested or convicted of manufacturing or distributing marijuana in Canada, as his business was seeds. This man has been a peaceful activist for 30 years. He gave away his seed company profits to drug law reform lobbyists, global marches and rallies, political parties, litigation and a host of organizations dedicated to promoting drug law reform. He has never entered the U.S. as a seed seller.

 

The arrest and subsequent extradition are based on political motives – – Emery’s drug legalization efforts – as proven in a press release by DEA administrator Karen Tandy.

 

Our sovereignty was violated when undercover Drug Enforcement Agency agents infiltrated our country, and it was again violated by our own Justice Minister, who signed the extradition order.

 

Shame on you Rob Nicholson and shame on the Conservative Party of Canada. A refusal of extradition would have sent a clear message to the DEA and the U.S. that we are a sovereign nation not under the control of the United States of America and not subject to their drug war.

 

All we ask now is that if Emery applies for a transfer, it will be approved by Safety Minister Vic Toews. For the sovereignty of Canada – – America must free Marc Emery.

 

Brett Book

 

Hamilton

 

Jodie Emery, The Calgary Sun

 

Marc Emery is a Canadian who never went to the U.S., and never grew or sold marijuana. He sold only cannabis seeds in Canada, did it openly, paid taxes on all income and used the profits to fund political activism. Vancouver police tried to have him charged in 2003, but the Crown declined, so they worked with the Drug Enforcement Administration to indict him in the U.S. The DEA press release about Marc’s July 2005 arrest bragged it was "a significant blow to the marijuana legalization movement" because hundreds of thousands of dollars of Emery’s profits are known to have been channelled to marijuana legalization groups in the U.S. and Canada. U.S. authorities offered him a plea deal to allow him to serve his time in Canada if he was charged here, but the Conservative government refused. Marc then agreed to a five-year plea deal in the U.S. to avoid a life sentence. The justice minister’s decision to extradite Marc to the U.S. is unjust. If he broke the law in Canada, he should be tried and sentenced in Canada, not sent to a foreign country to be punished under much harsher laws.

 

Jodie Emery

 

Vancouver

Ben Morris, Calgary Herald

 

Re: "Marijuana activist faces U.S. extradition," May 11.

 

With Marc Emery’s extradition, Rob Nicholson and the Conservative government have made a mockery of Canadian sovereignty and given in to pressure from the American government. Emery’s prosecution was politically motivated. American law enforcement wanted to shut him up. Emery is not the only one who mails people marijuana seeds, yet he will sit in an American jail for it. And what is wrong with marijuana? Nothing. By Googling marijuana, you will see its medicinal benefits.

 

Emery’s extradition and Bill S-10 will do nothing to curb the marijuana trade because freedom-loving people have the fundamental right to put whatever substance they want into their own bodies. Marijuana has not killed one person and Emery is not a proprietor of death. He is the leader of the movement and his extradition will not be forgotten or ignored. The Canadian government should concentrate on enacting tougher laws to curb real criminals. But of course, the Harper government is too cowardly and idiotic to realize that.

 

Ben Morris,

 

Calgary

Richard Kadziewicz, Vancouver Sun

 

Re: Prison-bound Prince of Pot says he has ‘no regrets,’ May 11

 

It’s distressing to see B.C. marijuana activist Marc Emery be subjected to the draconian U.S. prison system. At a time when California is on the cusp of legalizing marijuana, why is Canada abandoning one its citizens to a for-profit U.S. penal system?

 

I thought our government was here to protect us.

 

Richard Kadziewicz

 

Scarborough, Ont.

Courtland Sandover-Sly, Victoria Times-Colonist

 

If the United States can have Marc Emery extradited on trafficking charges, what’s stopping Saudi Arabia from arresting Kim Cattrall on indecency charges? What’s stopping China from arresting all its political opponents in Canada? How can we feel comfortable as Canadians when we know that any other nation’s government can order us arrested and sent there for imprisonment? Our sovereignty is no longer intact.

 

Courtland Sandover-Sly

 

Saanichton

Elijah Paull, Montreal Gazette

 

Canadian pot activist Marc Emery has been ordered extradited to the United States by Justice Minister Rob Nicholson for selling marijuana seeds to consenting adults there. It appalls me that our Conservative government can so readily hand over its law-abiding citizens – on whose business activity it has happily collected taxes for years – to a foreign country and penal system. I would bet that the Hell’s Angels are not buying 10-seed packets over the Internet to run their grow-ops. Our government should be spending my tax dollars and its energy more wisely, and more importantly protecting its citizens.

 

Elijah Paull

 

Pierrefonds

Travis Erbacher, The Province

 

When I was 15, I wrote my first letter to the editor regarding Marc Emery’s arrest. He personally emailed me and told me to keep writing and that I could become a great activist someday.

 

In May 2009 I became one of the youngest candidates for political office in this country’s history, for the B.C. Green party. I couldn’t have done it without him. He has inspired thousands of other young people to get involved in politics.

 

This man is a hero, and now I can say proudly, a friend. What is happening to him is despicable.

 

Travis Erbacher,

 

Langley

 

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