Marc Emery says Justin Trudeau more Canadian than Stephen Harper and Thomas Mulcair

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      Much as he’d love to go on a national tour to campaign for Justin Trudeau and the Liberals, the Prince of Pot is staying home in Vancouver to tend the shop.

      “I just have to be at the store because we are in a very competitive environment with all these dispensaries selling bongs and pipes as well as weed,” Marc Emery told the Straight when reached Thursday (August 27).

      Emery, who returned to Canada in 2014 after he was sentenced to five years in prison in the U.S. for selling marijuana seeds, was at his flagship Cannabis Culture store at 307 West Hastings Street. He has another store selling marijuana paraphernalia like vaporizers at 1674 Davie Street. The stores are not marijuana dispensaries.

      His 16-hour days have been fruitful with business picking up this summer: “I’m really happy that it’s been worthwhile for me to stay here.”

      It doesn’t mean that he’s forgotten that election season is on: “I’ve been trying to support the Liberals by giving donations, and campaigning for them where I can. I’m very enthused about supporting the Liberal Party in this election.”

      His wife Jodie may have been barred by the Liberal party machinery from seeking a nomination in Vancouver East, but that’s not stopping the Emery couple from supporting a party that promises to legalize marijuana.

      “I actually did want to promote the Liberal Party in many different ways and for many reasons, especially with Mulcair,” Emery said, referring to NDP leader Thomas Mulcair, “I believe is an authoritarian much like [Conservative Prime Minister] Stephen Harper, and not particularly progressive.”

      “I think Trudeau,” Emery continued, “will have much better advisers and … he’s much more Canadian than Mulcair or Harper are.”

      Emery went on, “I think Trudeau has actually been brought up on the West Coast, and really understands British Columbia, and he’s bringing that sensibility to the campaign and I really like that.”

      His wife Jodie is delighted that the Prince of Pot is back in charge of the store. “A lot of people are coming in,” Jodie told the Straight in a separate phone interview. “We’re busier than ever.”

      Comments

      16 Comments

      James Blatchford

      Aug 27, 2015 at 4:46pm

      Translation: the Liberals have him under shop arrest.

      Van man West

      Aug 27, 2015 at 5:01pm

      That's ridiculous. You're Candisn or you're not. There's no "how Canadian are you" measurement. No one is MORE Canadian. Just because my family's been here 7 generations doesn't make me MORE Canadian.

      Missed your mark

      Aug 27, 2015 at 5:19pm

      Very 1st thing, Vote for what closest represents your ideals & concerns - Always! If it happens to be legalization of Cannabis then so be it.
      However, the green scene in BC has been around far longer than when Mr. Emery came to the coast - though he has made his impact & influence & so the communtiy shall be ever grateful for his cause. Time has since passed & many changes occured while he was incarcerated. New generations are embrassing changes. These changes has been happening while Emery was imprisoned & changes are currently ongoing. Change will always be inevitable & eventually embraced.
      If you feel a certain party's particular policy is absolutely important to you then by all means vote for your party & their cause to represent your concerns. If you feel a certain matter, in this case with the legalization of Cannabis, is eventually going to be embraced but are far more concerned about greater issues in Canada then please vote for who represents your concerns the most.
      Any supporter of a certain party will most definitely deride another but it's very important to ALWAYS vote for who represents YOU & your concerns the most! So in short, don't vote high - vote smart :-)

      Edward Bernays

      Aug 27, 2015 at 5:43pm

      Mr. Emery is a great Canadian social and political activist and will always have my profound respect. Vote NDP.

      Does it matter?

      Aug 27, 2015 at 6:09pm

      Lets face it, Marc Emery is endorsing the party he feels that will best fill his wallet. I have a feeling he'd endorse Stephen Harper if he would make a commitment to legalize pot. (and yes I understand it was the CPC that allowed the US justice system to come to Canada and and imprison Marc and make a mockery of our sovereignty) Marc is just a 1 issue guy, the rest of the real problems facing this country are of no concern to him and Jodie. And btw, I've consumed cannabis for 44 years now, but I think there are more important issues to deal with now, so decriminalization is good enough for now.

      Self-Serving Dan

      Aug 27, 2015 at 6:52pm

      Marc seems to think that the Liberals will give him what he wants ... unrestricted ability to buy and sell marijuana simply by paying sales tax, with no other regulation.

      As a daily smoker, I believe in some regulation, but not the draconian laws of the Conservatives.
      Verify the thc and cbd levels.
      Label all product with those levels.
      Don't sell the thc varieties to anyone under 19, unless they've suffered some kind of traumatic shock. (I would've qualified for that.)
      And be responsible.

      CanuckYEW

      Aug 27, 2015 at 6:54pm

      We are all Canadian.
      Vote with a clear mind and conscience not under the influence of anything or anyone.
      People have died for this RIGHT.

      Anonymous

      Aug 28, 2015 at 12:56am

      Van man West ... my take-away from Emery's statement about Trudeau being 'more Canadian' was in his soul .... if I imagine the Canadian spirit, Trudeau's openness and willingness to listen to Canadians-all Canadians, easily beats both Harper's secretive, dictitorial ways and Mulcair's grasping doublespeak ... I am a Canadian ... this means something to me ...

      Too funny

      Aug 28, 2015 at 5:02am

      I'll bet Justin is just thrilled to have a stoned ex-con supporting him.

      Nolen

      Aug 28, 2015 at 5:56am

      Who is this pothead to decide who is more Canadian than whom? I am beginning to believe that cannabis causes brain damage, just reading this article.