Canadian marijuana activist says he's reached a U.S. plea deal

VANCOUVER, B.C. — A Canadian marijuana activist says he's going to prison after his lawyer made a deal with U.S. prosecutors on charges he conspired to distribute marijuana seeds into the U.S. over the Internet.

Marc Emery, known as "the prince of pot" in Canada, said Monday his lawyers told him there was no hope to refute the U.S. allegations.

U.S. drug enforcement officials asked for Emery's extradition in 2005 so he could face charges that he distributed millions of cannabis seeds to American customers at an annual profit of $2.9 million.

Emery, 50, said U.S. prosecutors made the offer to his lawyer for a 10-year prison term, which he said would mean he would have to spend at least five years in prison, most of it in Canada.

Emery is the leader of a group called the British Columbia Marijuana Party.

The plea agreement still needs the approval of the Canadian Department of Justice.

Alain Charette, a spokesman for the Department of Justice, said the plea is in negotiations involving other parties and doesn't yet involve the department.

Emily Langlie, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in Seattle, said it was not appropriate for officials there to comment.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration did not respond to a request for an interview.

Selling marijuana seeds is illegal in Canada, but authorities generally ignore small operations.