City takes on Prince of Pot
A legal battle with city hall could see B.C.'s 'Prince of Pot' getting smoked out of his Downtown Vancouver headquarters.
Marc Emery faces drug charges in the U.S. that could land him behind bars. But it's a simple dispute over a city business license that threatens to hit the outspoken marijuana advocate where it hurts - in his pocketbook.
Emery says the city has refused to issue him a license for the businesses he runs on the 300-block of West Hastings Street. Emery claims the city won't issue him a business licence because of his 2004 arrest and conviction in Saskatchewan for trafficking - he says a witness saw him passing a joint at a rally.
"It's interesting they're being such tight-asses about that one conviction. We've been here since 2001. We've never required a business license up until now," said Emery, who suspects the apparent newfound interest in his vocation can be traced to next year's 2010 Games.
"It's just harassment," Emery said. "They just don't want me around for the Olympics."
At a business license hearing next week, Emery plans to argue he has done everything demanded of him to get a license, including thousands of dollars in renovations.
The city's chief license inspector, Barb Windsor, told 24 hours she couldn't comment on the issue since the matter is now before council.
http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/News/local...88086-sun.html
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