As Marc Emery returns to Canada, U.S. scientists still face obstacles researching medicinal marijuana

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      After serving a five-year prison sentence for selling marijuana seeds to U.S. customers, Vancouver's Marc Emery is expected to cross the border back into Canada on Tuesday (August 12).

      His wife Jodie will be flying to Windsor on Monday (August 11) and will be waiting for him on the following day in the plaza outside Windsor City Hall.

      "I'm definitely excited, a little stunned almost," Jodie told the Georgia Straight by phone. "It's kind of surreal."

      She and her husband expect that he'll be escorted by U.S. marshals to the border between Detroit and Windsor. This will occur after he's flown, possibly in chains, to the Motor City from Louisiana, where he's still in custody.

      Jodie said that she's basing the details of the upcoming release on what a former cellmate of Emery said. He's a Canadian who was held in the U.S. on a drug charge, and he came escorted back in chains before being instructed to walk across the border.

      "That's why we picked Windsor City Hall," she said. "It's a half a block away."

      She had hoped to bring Marc some clothing to wear before realizing that all of his garments are at least eight or nine years old.

      Jodie also mentioned that she had to throw out his sweaters a few months ago because they'd been devoured by moths.

      "Everything of his was stained, torn, ripped up, or barely held together before he left because we didn't get him anything new for years before that," she said. "I'm just figuring out what I need to bring for him. He has absolutely nothing." 

      The Emerys will return to Vancouver, likely around 9:30 or 10 a.m., on Sunday (August 17). From around noon onward that day, there will be a party in Victory Square across the street from the headquarters of their marijuana-related businesses.

      "We'll also let Marc speak to the public when he does arrive," Jodie said. "He just wants to meet people all day long. He'll be making himself very available."

      One of the first orders of business upon his return will be to see a dentist and a doctor. According to his wife, he suffered a large red bruise on his leg for which there's no explanation. Once he's in Vancouver, the couple plans to head to Granville Island to stock up on healthy fruits and vegetables.

      "It's been very expensive keeping him safe and sound with healthy food," Jodie revealed.

      In a June phone interview from a Mississippi prison, Emery told the Straight's Travis Lupick that he plans to resume his activism upon his return.

      Emery has become a strong supporter of the federal Liberals after Justin Trudeau called for the legalization of marijuana.

      "Getting rid of Stephen Harper and making sure Justin Trudeau is elected along with the Liberal party is a pretty major job,” Emery said at the time. "Really, the only job that I’m going to have in the next year.”

      Jodie said that she has just received her papers to put her name forward for the Liberal nomination in Vancouver East. The riding has been represented by the NDP's Libby Davies since 1997.

      "That's why I need to go to the Vancouver police station today for a criminal-record check," Jodie said. "It's pretty standard for political-office applications."

      While Emery was in jail, voters in Colorado and Washington states passed initiatives legalizing possession of marijuana. A similar vote will take place this year in the District of Columbia.

      In addition, 23 states and the District of Columbia allow the sale of medicinal marijuana. 

      Despite these measures, people who research the medicinal use of pot have run into roadblocks in the United States, according to an article in today's New York Times.

      One academic quoted in the piece, Dr. Sue Sisley, alleges she was fired from the University of Arizona because of "her outspoken support for marijuana research". She sought funding to examine its effect on war veterans suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder.

      Comments

      12 Comments

      Franklin

      Aug 10, 2014 at 11:21am

      Funny he would be campaigning for the same Party who arrested him at the behest of the Americans back in '05. Politics indeed makes strange bedfellows.

      MarkFornataro

      Aug 10, 2014 at 11:56am

      Re:"Jodie said that she has just received her papers to put her name forward for the Liberal nomination in Vancouver East.", sad to see she is trying to bump Libby Davies-one of the most progressive MPs- out of office.
      As for Emery's clothes-"Everything of his was stained, torn, ripped up"- were there maybe a few seed burns too?

      Larry

      Aug 10, 2014 at 12:33pm

      It seems to me housing for the poor, and unemployment issues are far more important than smoking pot.

      Hankster

      Aug 10, 2014 at 1:26pm

      I quite the green, why?' cause it seems it will never be legal and I smoked since 1967 when the hippies said it would be legal when I reached 25, plus the price for a plant that grows like a tomato costs far far too much, Justin Trudeau said he will make it legal, but will he?' or did he just want to get attention?' I don't see him being able to skip the red tape and opposition of other parties, lets face it Canada, we are and never have been as free as we think we are, just look at our situation, there are more rules everyday, like plain ol tobacco Canada says it's bad and you cannot smoke anywhere, yet Canada still sells and taxes ciggies to death, hypocritical I say, what ever happened to live and let live as long as it's fashionable, I roll my eyes. Good Luck All.

      DavidAlder

      Aug 10, 2014 at 1:44pm

      Legalize pot legalize pot, they cried. Fools. And if the Canadian federal government does legalize pot, it will be with the intent of complete Government control over pot. The fools are playing right into the hands of corporations in bed with the federal government. Marc Emery can stand as the king of the fools.

      Roll over mom and pop in favor of over priced Government approved product. Fools.

      Roy

      Aug 11, 2014 at 6:03am

      Marc, you forgot your shirt at my place in 2010. I'll bring it Wed and we will see if it still fits. See you soon. Congrads to Jodie for the Liberal papers. I like that, 'don't quit' attitude, you represent well.

      John David Bourgeois

      Aug 11, 2014 at 12:36pm

      Anyone remember Danny Posse who was shot by police in a bungled pot raid? How about the Mayerthorpe Incident in which 4 Mounties were shot and killed in another bungled pot raid?--- No matter which side of the debate you're on, please remember that it is a serious issue and not a Cheech and Chong joke. Emery is hero, world-wide, for standing up for fair and rational laws. Welcome back, Marc!

      Emery is a publicity hound

      Aug 11, 2014 at 1:46pm

      Mark Emery has to be the whiniest martyr a cause has ever had but the funniest thing is that his only reason for getting into the weed business was to make money. Lots of money. Mark Emery wanted to be the Chip Wilson of weed, only he didn't know Chip Wilson existed at the time and nobody thought the yoga trend would be worth over a billion. Seriously: if Mark Emery had thought making clothes for yoga would have him his fortune he would have jumped at the business. Now he is going to get back to promoting himself, and arranging for a generous salary wherever he ends up.

      Martin Dunphy

      Aug 11, 2014 at 8:11pm

      John David:

      I wrote a Straight cover feature inspired by that police killing for which there was never any real justice.
      The officers barged into his home with bogus intelligence supplied by an anonymous informer and were holding a warrant issued by a part-time justice of the peace.
      That's how the cops worked in West Van back then, and maybe still do.
      A huge tragedy for the Posse family.