Vancouver's so-called "Prince of Pot" has been diagnosed with a bacterial infection that's highly resistant to antibiotics while serving time in a U.S. prison.
Marc Emery's wife Jodie says the marijuana activist contracted Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) sometime between being locked up in Washington State and transferred to a facility in Mississippi.
A boil was discovered on Emery's back upon his arrival at the Yazoo City Medium Security prison, Jodie told ctvbc.ca., which then tested positive for MRSA.
"I am worried for him. Thankfully he's in a somewhat better prison right now and they're very concerned about MRSA and are doing everything they can to keep it in check," she said.
MRSA skin infections can cause complications such as blood, bone or lung infections if left untreated.
Outbreaks of MRSA have been common in prisons across the U.S. for years, spurring the federal government to release a set of MRSA management guidelines in April.
Jodie says the diagnosis is an unpleasant surprise with the couple's five-year wedding anniversary fast approaching on July 23.
"We're still both looking forward to that and hope that after his release we can spend the rest of our anniversaries together," she said.
Emery is due to be released on July 9, 2014.
His recent application to serve the remainder of his sentence in Canada was rejected. He can reapply for transfer in 2013.
