Pot TV
Encyclopedia
Pot TV is a web-based video channel owned by Canadian cannabis
activist Marc Emery
. Gregory Williams is the manager of the station, who along with Marc Emery and Michelle Rainey was arrested in July 2005 by Canadian police at the request of the US government following an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration
. The three are currently facing extradition hearings to the US. Guests have included former Texas drug enforcement officer Barry Cooper.
The channel has been used as a forum for activism in the fight over the legalisation of marijuana by the renowned "Prince of Pot
" Marc Emery and others. It has existed since the Spring of 1999, with broadcasts coming from Marc Emery's Sunshine Coast
basement. Featured programs included:
Following the arrest of Emery and the end of his seed sales in 2005 Pot.TV's budget was reduced dramatically, with staff and funding for new content cut. However, using user-generated content in conjunction with modern video tools like youtube
and BitTorrent, the station has been able to reduce streaming costs and continue to provide access to new content.
Because both the owner and manager of the station are facing extradition to the United States
(and Williams has recently applied for financial aid in the case, arguing he cannot afford legal representation) the station's future funding source is uncertain.
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
activist Marc Emery
Marc Emery
Marc Scott Emery is a Canadian cannabis policy reform advocate, as well as a former cannabis seed seller. He is currently serving a five year sentence in a United States federal prison for selling cannabis seeds....
. Gregory Williams is the manager of the station, who along with Marc Emery and Michelle Rainey was arrested in July 2005 by Canadian police at the request of the US government following an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration
Drug Enforcement Administration
The Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States...
. The three are currently facing extradition hearings to the US. Guests have included former Texas drug enforcement officer Barry Cooper.
The channel has been used as a forum for activism in the fight over the legalisation of marijuana by the renowned "Prince of Pot
Marc Emery
Marc Scott Emery is a Canadian cannabis policy reform advocate, as well as a former cannabis seed seller. He is currently serving a five year sentence in a United States federal prison for selling cannabis seeds....
" Marc Emery and others. It has existed since the Spring of 1999, with broadcasts coming from Marc Emery's Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia
The Sunshine Coast is a region of the southern mainland coast of British Columbia, on the eastern shore of the Strait of Georgia, and just northwest of Greater Vancouver...
basement. Featured programs included:
- "The Big Toke", a "cannabis comedy hour"
- "The Grow Show"
- "Cannabis Common Sense"
- "Shake 'n Bake", a cannabis cooking show
- "Healing Herb Hour", exploring medical marijuana
- "Prince of Pot", Marc Emery's personal show
- "Yours in Defence", a legal discussion concerning cannabis
- "The Tommie Morgan Show", reality show from Oklahoma
- "Burning Shiva", exploring the role of cannabis in ancient religions with author and former Pot.TV station manager Chris Bennett.
Current status
The station was originally funded with revenues from Marc Emery's marijuana seed selling business.Following the arrest of Emery and the end of his seed sales in 2005 Pot.TV's budget was reduced dramatically, with staff and funding for new content cut. However, using user-generated content in conjunction with modern video tools like youtube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
and BitTorrent, the station has been able to reduce streaming costs and continue to provide access to new content.
Because both the owner and manager of the station are facing extradition to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(and Williams has recently applied for financial aid in the case, arguing he cannot afford legal representation) the station's future funding source is uncertain.