Canadian pot activist to plead guilty in Seattle this summer

VANCOUVER, B.C. — The lawyer for Canada's so-called Prince of Pot said Wednesday he'll appear in a Seattle court this summer to plead guilty to a charge of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement has steadfastly maintained Marc Emery is among the world's top 50 drug traffickers for selling millions of marijuana seeds to U.S. residents in the past decade.

Emery admits making millions selling the seeds through his Vancouver-based mail-order business. He says he used the money to finance his battle against the U.S. drug war.

Lawyer Ian Donaldson said exact dates and details are not yet available as negotiations with the U.S. Attorneys Office are continuing. Donaldson said the plea will lessen the time Emery faced in jail on other charges if convicted.

He said charges of distributing seeds and money laundering would be dropped in exchange for the guilty plea.

Emery has been the subject of extradition proceedings since his 2005 arrest by Canadian police and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officials after an 18-month investigation.

He was facing life in prison if convicted on all counts.

"There are clear advantages to negotiating a resolution," Donaldson said.

Emery admits he's nervous about his impending jail time.

"You start thinking about every moment being precious," he said.

Donaldson said attempts will be made to have Emery transferred to a Canadian institution to serve his time.

Two employees of Emery Seeds pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Seattle on April 24 to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

Michelle Rainey and Gregory Keith Williams entered into a plea agreement and are due to be sentenced to probationary terms on July 17.

Emery said he knew that he would eventually be arrested.

He has said his extradition and possible trial is the greatest platform he could have in his 16-year fight against the prohibition of marijuana in North America.

The case is the latest twist in Emery's fight against the prohibition of marijuana in North America. To his supporters, he is a brave crusader for the use and sale of a drug with both recreational and medicinal value. To drug officials, he is a criminal and the biggest purveyor of marijuana from Canada into the United States.