First published at True North on July 16, 2021.
The self-styled “prince of pot” is running for the People’s Party of Canada in London North Centre.
Political activist and cannabis entrepreneur Marc Emery is among 173 PPC candidates confirmed so far, according to a list released by the party Friday afternoon.
Emery has deep roots in London and is in the process of returning to the city, where his brother is opening a cannabis store.
Emery, who ran in the former London East as a Libertarian in 1980, said he’s come “full circle” with his latest candidacy.
“It was 30 years ago this summer I began my legalization of cannabis campaign in London, and now it comes full circle as I return to live and work in London once more, selling legal cannabis,” Emery said. “I know every street in the London North Centre riding, having walked every one of them in campaigns of the past.”
In an email to True North, PPC spokesperson Martin Masse welcomed Emery’s candidacy.
“Marc has been a vocal supporter of Mr. Bernier since the days of the CPC leadership campaign,” Masse said. “He spent most of his adult life fighting for more freedom and paid the price by spending many years in prison for a crime that doesn’t exist anymore. The PPC is a broad coalition of people from different backgrounds and perspectives united in the desire to restore common sense policies in this country, and we’re very happy to have Marc run as a candidate for the People’s Party.”
True North previously reported on Marc Emery’s return to politics when he was eyeing the nomination in neighbouring London––Fanshawe.
In a January interview on The Andrew Lawton Show, Emery said the “COVID dictatorship” had, in part, motivated his candidacy.
“The bottom line is, I think the People’s party will become much more popular because they’re a clear alternative to the Conservatives, Liberals, Greens, NDP,” Emery said at the time. “Those four parties…have endorsed the same totalitarian authoritarian measures. They’ve all been part of the dictatorship.”
London North Centre is currently held by two-term Liberal member of parliament Peter Fragiskatos, though the Conservative Party of Canada held the seat from 2011 to 2015.
Fragiskatos is seeking re-election, with Conservative candidate Stephen Gallant and NDP candidate Dirka Prout also vying for the seat.