Pot activists charged, lawyer promises fight
TORONTO Prominent marijuana activists Marc and Jodie Emery were charged with multiple drug-related offences in Toronto on Thursday after police in several cities raided pot dispensaries associated with the couple.
The self-styled “Prince” and “Princess of Pot” were arrested at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport on Wednesday evening. They appeared briefly in a courtroom on Thursday afternoon before police announced the full list of charges they faced.
Marc Emery faces 15 counts, including conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of proceeds of crime, while Jodie Emery is charged with five similar counts.
The couple’s Toronto lawyer said his clients were expected to appear in court again on Friday.
“My clients were uncertain of what they’d been arrested for,” Jack Lloyd said outside court on Thursday. “They’re in good spirits ... but they’re in custody, hopeful that we can have a productive bail hearing tomorrow.”
In Vancouver, another lawyer for the couple said they plan to fight the charges.
“We’ve been fighting this battle an awfully long time. And we’re going to fight it right to the end. And I expect we’re going to be victorious,” said Kirk Tousaw.
Jodie Emery mouthed the words “I love you” to her husband during the couple’s brief court appearance and flashed a peace sign to supporters in the room before being admonished by the justice of the peace.
The Emerys own the Cannabis Culture brand, which is used by a chain of 19 marijuana dispensaries in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.
Toronto police spokesman Mark Pugash said seven Cannabis Culture locations — five in Toronto, one in Hamilton and another in Vancouver — were searched on Thursday along with two homes in Toronto, one in Stoney Creek, Ont., and one in Vancouver.
“Our history of enforcing the law against illegal cannabis dispensaries is well established,” Pugash said. “This is the latest effort in our law enforcement, and I’m certain there will be further action.”
In addition to the Emerys, police charged three other people on Thursday. Thirtyseven-year-old Chris Goodwin and 31-year-old Erin Goodwin, both of Toronto, and 29-year-old Britney Guerra of Stoney Creek face charges that include conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.
The federal government is moving to legalize marijuana, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized late last year that the current laws exist.
The fact that the law still exists doesn’t mean police and Crown prosecutors must enforce it, said Tousaw.
“A lot of horrific things used to be legal. It’s not a good excuse to deprive people of liberty that the law is the law. That simply does not work in a society that values justice over authoritarianism,” he said.
The federal justice minister could “declare a ceasefire in the war on drugs” while legalization is brought in, he added.