Marijuana activist Marc Emery appears on CTV's Canada AM from the Vancouver studio on Friday, April 30, 2010.

A five-year battle by Canada’s self-styled “Prince of Pot” to avoid extradition to the United States on drug charges appeared to be over Monday.

The federal justice minister has ordered Marc Emery surrendered to American authorities, the final step in the legal process.

Emery, who was charged in the U.S. in 2005 in connection with his Vancouver-based seed-selling business, had turned himself in to sheriffs earlier in the morning to await the federal justice minister’s decision.

Within an hour, his lawyer received an answer.

“The justice minister has surrendered Mr. Emery for extradition,” lawyer Kirk Tousaw said in an interview.

“I imagine there’s some paperwork that needs to be shuffled and arrangements that need to be made. My anticipation would be (Emery would be sent to the U.S.) relatively soon, within the week possibly.”

A spokesperson for the minister’s office said he does not comment on extradition decisions.

Emery has been out on bail since last fall, when he was released from custody while the federal justice minister made his decision.

He made a plea deal with U.S. prosecutors last year, agreeing to plead guilty in return for a five-year prison sentence.

Earlier in the day, Emery called himself a “great Canadian” and told reporters he’s spent his life advocating for the legalization of marijuana. Then he walked into the B.C. Supreme Court building and presented himself to sheriffs. Continue reading