Canada’s Princess of pot Jodie Emery led a dozen protesters on Parliament Hill Wednesday morning to demand the government act quickly to legalize marijuana and immediately stop arresting people for simple possession.



They chanted “Stop arresting people!” And “marijuana does not kill!”



She then lead the small band of protesters in a march down Bank Street to open a Cannabis Culture shop at 391 Bank St.



The Cannabis Culture chain has about 20 shops across Canada, although Emery, wife of longtime Canadian pot crusader Marc Emery, said it’s difficult to keep an exact count because of constant police raids.

Good Morning Ottawa! Join me and fellow activists & prohibition victims on Parliament Hill at… https://t.co/q6luoPeb6F — Jodie Emery (@JodieEmery) February 22, 2017

The Emerys have been opening illegal marijuana dispensaries across the country, some of them franchises, as they push for legalization. The Canadian government has promised to introduce legislation legalizing recreational marijuana in the spring.



In the meantime, several hundred marijuana dispensaries have opened across Canada, most ostensibly to serve medical patients. Police have responded differently to the spread of illegal dispensaries. There have been police raids in Ottawa, Toronto and a number of other Ontario cities, while Vancouver police have taken a more hands-off approach.



The Cannabis Culture shops sell to anyone over age 19. The Emerys have vowed to continue their push to open shops, regardless of police raids.

Cannabis Culture opened a string of dispensaries in Montreal in December, including one shop that had lineups after staff gave way free dried bud. Police quickly raided them.



A Cannabis Culture shop in Brantford was raided Tuesday, but apparently re-opened Wednesday morning only to be greeted by more police.

Was my husband Marc Emery arrested at @CannabisCulture re-opening in Brantford? I don't know... I can't get ahold of him. LET US BE FREE! 😥 pic.twitter.com/a1hWikgWOb — Jodie Emery (@JodieEmery) February 22, 2017

In Ottawa, police have raided nearly a dozen pot shops since November. Several have simply reopened.



Marc Emery is a long-time marijuana activist who has been arrested multiple times and spent five years in a U.S. jail for selling mail-order cannabis seeds.



Jodie Emery has also become a prominent activist speaking out in favour of legalizing pot. The Emerys say they are campaigning for the “civil liberties and freedom” of cannabis growers and consumers.



jmiller@postmedia.com



twitter.com/JacquieAMiller