Canada's self-styled "Prince of Pot" was ordered extradited to the United States on Monday, ending his high-profile five-year battle to avoid U.S. drug charges related to his Canadian seed-selling business.
The federal Justice Department announced that the minister had signed off on Marc Emery's extradition to Washington state.
Emery could be turned over to American authorities within days.
As he surrendered himself to sheriffs in Vancouver earlier in the day, not yet sure whether he would be extradited, Emery urged his supporters to punish the Conservative government if he ended up in the U.S.
"I think the best thing that could happen to our movement is that the minister decides, foolishly, to extradite me. Canadians will be very, very angry and punish this government," Emery told reporters, his wife by his side and supporters carrying "Free Marc" placards standing behind him.
"If I'm extradited, I've told my supporters that every Conservative member of Parliament is to be hounded endlessly and unmercifully until they are defeated in the next or following elections. It's to be a life project for them as long as I am incarcerated in the United States or Canada."
Emery had been out on bail since last fall, when he was released from custody as the federal justice minister considered whether to allow the extradition.
By Monday, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson had made up his mind.
"The minister ordered the surrender of Mr. Marc Emery to the United States," department spokeswoman Carole Saindon said in a brief email statement, adding the minister wouldn't be commenting further.
Emery was charged by a U.S. grand jury in 2005. American prosecutors allege he has sold about four million marijuana seeds through his magazine and website, and that 75 per cent of those went to customers in the U.S.
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