Watching the PBS three-part series Prohibition, I’m reminded of the fate of the Prince of Pot, Marc Emery. You know Emery’s story. He was convicted in the States of selling marijuana seeds. Our government gave him up and now Emery is serving a five-year sentence across the border for what is obviously a political and cultural action against an herb never to be demonstrated to be harmful to humans.
Luckily for Emery, he has an army of supporters, evidenced by the lightning fast collection of signatures – nine days – presented to Obama.
Under Obama’s newly launched “We The People” program, anyone who can gather 5,000 names on a petition will receive a formal response.
In Emery’s case, the petition-signing effort took just nine days, and the marijuana advocate’s supporters now expect a presidential response within 30 days.
Not that Obama will do anything but lip service. But this petition keeps the news cycles fed and modern prohibition in the headlights.
