Marc Emery: the cannabis world's first #MeToo

Marc Emery, the Prince of Pot« Canadian, has gained an international reputation among legalization advocates. But recently, disturbing testimonies from former employees and people who worked with him have cast a shadow. These testimonies, numerous enough to be taken seriously, collectively paint the picture of a sexual predator who took advantage of his position of power as an employer and his celebrity as an activist to prey on the naivety of young girls and behave with them in physically and verbally inappropriate ways.

An unhealthy work environment

According to eyewitness accounts, Emery was very tactile with his employees, most of whom were teenagers aged 19 or under. Hands wandering, kisses, hugs - these were all attentions that some of them at first felt proud of, or considered harmless, before realizing, with hindsight, that they were completely inappropriate. In a Facebook comment In response to these allegations, Marc Emery says: «I'm probably a touchy-feely guy, but I like to think it was always moderate and non-sexual.

It's not just his actions that are being criticized, but also his inappropriate comments about his employees« looks and his unbridled sex life. Some of them testify to the fact that he signified his intention to engage in sexual relations with them, and that they had to endure daily accounts of his romps and fantasies. Marc Emery himself admits that he had »occasional but vexing outbursts of sexual remarks, insinuations and shocking stories that he would say aloud in an ill-advised manner".

According to Devyn Stackhouse, a former employee: «It was an uncomfortable, sexualized work environment. Marc felt entitled to persistent hugs, hands on shoulders and touching without permission. As far as I'm concerned, it wasn't a healthy working environment. For his part, Marc Emery responded on Facebook, »I'd like to think that I've cared for every one of my employees and every woman I've known, of any age, in an admirable and honorable way. I say outrageous things but I truly believe that I have never hurt or sexually harassed anyone in my life.«.

A taste for young girls

What's probably most disturbing about these testimonials is Marc Emery's taste for young girls and his predatory practices. The modus operandi, always the same, consists of initiating online correspondence via the Cannabis Culture magazine forum with young girls aged 16, 17 or 18. On the strength of his fame and status as a legalization martyr, Emery is accused of taking advantage of the admiration he aroused in these young girls to lure them into his orbit.

«He's a leader and he's good at rallying people around him,» explains Heather Bryant, one of the witnesses. «We thought we were friends. That we were going to fight for the cannabis cause together». Journalist Deidre Olsen also recounts being flattered by his interest in her: «I thought, «Oh my God, this cool person is talking to me.» He was really charming and charismatic. At the time, she was 17 and he was 50. In their conversations, she reports that he signed «Bisous & Caresses», «Ton Prince».

Vice News even reports that he held parties called «lotion parties» where he encouraged underage girls to take hard drugs (DMT, Ectasy), then massaged each other, sat on him, pulled a bong between his legs and shared intimate details of their sex life. Marc Emery denied ever having held a «lotion party». According to Anthony Olive, a former employee, «he took advantage of people who were too young to make decisions for themselves and be critical». Melinda Adams, a former employee, explains that she accepted Emery's behavior as part of the culture of the underground cannabis industry, but in retrospect is deeply disturbed by it.

Abuse of power and blackmail

In several of the cases described, Emery also instilled a sense of indebtedness in the teenage girls he bussed or flew to him, offering them work and accommodation. The case of Melinda Adams is a perfect example. At the age of 17 and in a complicated situation, she moved to Vancouver, where Emery took her in and employed her. He introduced himself as her savior, telling her over and over «that she should be grateful for what he did for her and that he saved her life».

Emery is also accused of abusing his power as an employer by threatening his employees with dismissal: «you had to put up with his advances to stay in his good graces» explains an anonymous source. «He constantly reminded his employees that he could always replace them with others who were «younger, sexier and more complacent»». Ajia Moon, a former employee, tells VICE News that Emery fired her because he considered her «too old». Mélinda Adams then replaced him, and she recalls being touched inappropriately, not being paid on time, and being verbally abused and belittled.

Post-legalization and post-MeToo

The the Huffington Post Canadian who first reported these allegations. Vice News then investigated and corroborated certain testimonies. The facts date back to the years 2000 and 2010, but the victims explain that they didn't dare speak out because of Marc Emery's celebrity and the prohibition of cannabis. Today, in the wake of the #MeToo movement and the legalizing cannabis in Canada, tongues are wagging. On her Twitter account, journalist Deidre Olsen lists these testimonials. An account entitled Marc Emery: the truth is out also appeared on Facebook.

According to Deidre Olsen, «the story of Cannabis Culture is that of a Old Boys Club where middle-aged men work alongside vulnerable teenage girls and young men and watch Marc Emery stalk, harass, assault and exploit them». «It's an open secret that he's a creep and has traumatized many women into silence. He's used his business and his position of power to make sure of that».

Lisa Campbell, who made podcasts for Pot TV, explains that the magazine's forum and covers were often filled « sexist diatribes that promoted toxic masculinity and sexualized women to market legalization». This imagery no longer has a place in the cannabis community, according to these women. «Now that cannabis is legal we look back and say «yes he contributed» but he's not someone we want to keep in the movement» explains Olsen.

What does the future hold for the Emery empire?

Marc Emery made his cannabis business through his magazine and his chain of dispensaries. A veritable institution in activist circles a few years ago, his empire is now in decline: the last three dispensaries in the chain have been closed. will soon close following a Supreme Court decision and Marc Emery's speeches at several international conferences have been cancelled following the above-mentioned accusations.

And since Marc Emery wouldn't be what he is without Jodie, he took the opportunity to reveal that they've been separated for a year and a half. Jodie had already been running Cannabis Culture since Marc went to prison in the US, and will continue to do so.