420 celebration could be Marc Emery’s last in Vancouver before extradition

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      Thousands of people will gather tomorrow (April 20) on the north side of the Vancouver Art Gallery to celebrate all things marijuana.

      The gathering—always guaranteed to produce a cloud of smoke potent enough to make Snoop Dogg proud—was first held in Vancouver in 1995. Since then, attendance has grown every year.

      Tomorrow’s festival promises to be especially notable for the fact that it could be Marc Emery’s last —at least for the next five years.

      “I can be extradited on four hours’ notice,” Emery, who was arrested in July 2005 for allegedly trafficking marijuana in the U.S., told the Straight.

      “I am really quite surprised that I am even here for this event,” he added, speaking from his home in Vancouver. “But the number of people writing the justice minister asking him not to extradite me has had a good impact.”

      Emery said that he expects 6,000 to 8,000 people to show up tomorrow—less than previous years on account of the event happening on a weekday.

      Still, Emery remarked, he’s looking forward to a festive atmosphere that those downtown will likely be able to hear—and smell—from three blocks away.

      In addition to the Canadian Prince of Pot’s attendance, many are looking at this year’s 420 celebration as special as it will act as something of a coming-home party for local marijuana legend David Malmo-Levine.

      On February 26, Malmo-Levine was released from a six-month prison sentence, which he served for possession for the purpose of trafficking. Malmo-Levine is scheduled to act as master of ceremonies for tomorrow’s festival.

      The Straight asked Emery if Malmo-Levine’s recent time in jail combined with hours in front of a microphone could give the event a more political tone than previous years. Emery would only say that it has been nice to have Malmo-Levine around again and that for Vancouver, April 20 is much more of a celebration than a protest.

      He also noted that the Vancouver Police Department has always been “really helpful” in monitoring and—when needed—controlling the festival’s large crowds.

      Vancouver’s 420 celebration is scheduled to run from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m.

      According to a Cannabis Culture article, “free weed” will be on hand at the VAG tomorrow, and prizes will be awarded for the best plants and best posters that Vancouver’s heads can produce.


      You can follow Travis Lupick on Twitter at twitter.com/tlupick.

      Comments

      8 Comments

      TomG

      Apr 19, 2010 at 8:54pm

      The governments are wasting money chasing after peoples who are into the plant drugs and all that. The man Marc Emery should not have to worry about a warmongering country such as the US of A that is killing people overseas with the help of Harper, who is a US of A puppet. That being said also to be honest it is true that marijuana is a drug that masks over people's interior problems and in many cases helps them become stupid stoners. And also that the BC Bud industry has corrupted our province with too much money going to the gangster motorcycle thugs and other vicious greedy jerks. There are bigger problems this earth is facing other than whether someone goes to prison such as the destruction of air, water, rivers, forests.

      Mark Hugues

      Apr 20, 2010 at 12:15am

      Ronald McDonald is now responsible for more deaths than Hitler.

      AdrianP

      Apr 20, 2010 at 4:49am

      Great shirt, Marc!

      John Q.

      Apr 20, 2010 at 7:01am

      The pot thing aside, I'm curious how this will affect international law in the internet age should Canada allow his extradition. Does that allow Canada to jail fraudulent Americans who sell fake medicinal pills over the internet?

      beelzebub

      Apr 20, 2010 at 1:05pm

      Jezzzus is he still here??

      17 7Rating: +10

      Rachel Rose Cyr

      Apr 28, 2010 at 7:33pm

      they have 4 20 in winnipeg manitoba over 3000 people showed up this year you can youtube 420 in winnipeg to veiw this event

      personal views aside

      May 23, 2010 at 1:03am

      I'm not a pot user but frequently take pain killers for arthritis, so who am I to judge others who smoke pot. Anyhow, it seems to me that Emery foolishly offended some big wig DEA official and is now going to jail. He was foolish. In the 1500s he would have lost his head, so maybe he got off lightly.

      TIm

      Nov 24, 2010 at 2:56pm

      To Personal Views Aside
      We don't live in the 1500s
      Besides, according to Canada's extradition laws he should not have been extradited.
      Perhaps you should read up on that before commenting. I don't mean to be rude, I thought the same thing first