Marc Emery is still awaiting extradition to the U.S. on drug distribution charges, but there’s a new push to keep the Prince of Pot in Canada.

Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh, NDP MP Libby Davies and Conservative MP Scott Reid presented the House of Commons with a 12,000-signature petition Monday pleading with federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson to reconsider handing Emery over to the U.S., where he faces five years in jail for selling marijuana seeds online.

Dosanjh said he has an obligation to present petitions on behalf of constituents regardless if he agrees, but is glad to speak out in this case.

“This is an obligation as a Member of Parliament, but I sympathize with Emery’s plight,” the Vancouver-South MP told 24 hours. “There is a certain degree of unfairness in how he has been treated.”

Dosanjh said the marijuana activist should serve his time in Canada.

“I would like the Minister of Justice to consider not surrendering Marc,” he said, adding that the decision wouldn’t do anything to hurt relations between the two countries. Emery has been out on bail since mid-November as he awaits extradition, but the order has yet to be signed by Nicholson.

His wife, Jodie Emery, ran against Dosanjh in the last federal election as a Green Party candidate.

Matt Kieltyka is a reporter for 24 Hours Vancouver, where this first appeared.