Canada's Prince of Pot arrested by DEA!

Canadian authorities, acting at the behest of U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) officials, arrested seed distributor, activist and magazine publisher Marc Emery and two associates on July 29 on charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana seeds, conspiracy to distribute marijuana and conspiracy to engage in money laundering, following an 18-month investigation. The self-proclaimed "Prince of Pot" was nabbed prior to a speaking engagement in Nova Scotia, while Michelle Rainey-Fenkarek, financial agent of the BC Marijuana party he founded, and Gregory Keith Williams, an employee of his Pot-TV website, were simultaneously taken into custody in Vancouver -- home to Marc Emery Seeds since 1994. All three have since been released on bail by Canadian judges, but continue to face extradition to the United States for trial, where the ringleader would face a minimum of 10 years in prison, and possibly life.

Canadian and U.S. citizens alike should be outraged at this arrogant intrusion by American authorities into the affairs of Canada. In the midst of fighting two wars overseas, it’s unconscionable that over 50 American federal agents spent millions to combat the "threat" of seeds. Canadians especially must wonder at their status as a sovereign nation in the face of interference from south of the border, particularly the DEA's bid to have three Canadian citizens tried and potentially imprisoned by the American justice system for crimes allegedly committed in Canada (where cannabis seed sales are tolerated).

HIGH TIMES stands with those accused and against the DEA. Check below for the latest updates on this breaking story.