By Frances Bula

The best known marijuana crusader in Vancouver -- and Canada -- is calling it quits.

Marc Emery will be giving up ownership of Hemp B.C., his business that sold marijuana seeds and growing equipment, and his restaurant, the Cannabis Cafe, after the city of Vancouver refused to issue business licences.

``The problem with running a revolution through a retail business is you have to conform,'' said Emery. ``I've been here four years. I have been nothing but an asset to the city. I've paid a million dollars in taxes. Our neighbours loved us because we drew money to the area. We were a big tourist attraction. But I ultimately had to conclude that my name is mud with city council.''

Vancouver community services director Ted Droettboom said the licences were refused because the city has a stipulation making it illegal to display drug paraphernalia.

So why did Hemp B.C. get a licence the last three years?

``I don't know, quite frankly,'' Droettboom said.

Emery has the right to appeal to council, but he said he won't bother. He'll be turning his businesses over to his employees, who plan to remove the controversial aspects of the operations -- vapourizers in the restaurants, seeds and growing equipment in the store and the mail-order business. Fourteen people in the mail-order business had to be laid off.