New York Pot Protestors March to U.N.
Sunday, 03 May 2009 02:14
Despite a heavy police presence, the Cures Not Wars wing of the 260-city Global Marijuana March made its way to Dag Hammarskjold Plaza on May 2 for New York's annual pro-pot rally. Upwards of 10 arrests for smoking were made in the crowd, estimated at 420.
Participants included Yippies Dana Beal, David Peel, Aron Kay, Paul DeRienzo and Kenny Toglia; High Times staffers Danny Danko, Bobby Black and Rick Cusick; medical-marijuana activists Elvy Musikka and Arlene Williams; New York NORML's Doug Greene; and the Australian duo Kelly & Tara, who sang "Twenty Years" about incarcerated "Ganja Queen" Schapelle Corby.
Pot Activists Descend On Queen's Park
Saturday May 2, 2009
CityNews.ca Staff
Queen's Park was packed with tens of thousands of pro-marijuana activists lighting up for the third annual Toronto Freedom Festival.
About 250 cities around the world took part in the marijuana march - London, Paris and New York among them - but the one here was the largest.
Most of the protesters argued smoking pot should be legalized, with some saying it's essential for their health.
"It's important for me because I've suffered a few injuries and it helps me with my pain and it helps me to sleep. I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome as well," revealed Kim Sutton.
Despite the large numbers of people illegally smoking pot, police took a hands-off approach at the gathering.
"Because of the number of us here and the size of the crowd, we have to use our discretion," explained Sgt. Sean Narine of Toronto Police.
An Angus Reid poll released last year showed more than half of Canadians favour legalizing marijuana.
Hundreds turn out for pro-marijuana rally in Vancouver
By Graeme Wood, Vancouver SunMay 2, 2009
Pro-marijuana activists marched Saturday in downtown Vancouver to enjoy some 'wacky tobbacy' and protest Canada's drug laws, which prohibit smoking it.
Led by organizers on bullhorns and 'Herb,' a larger-than-life marijuana leaf mascot, about 300 pro-pot citizens began exhaling plumes of smoke at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
"I'm out of the closet," Herb said while blasting his lungs with a joint.
The group then marched to the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre where the Liberal Party of Canada was meeting.
"I hope Michael Ignatieff pays attention to the polls," said event organizer Jacob Hunter, a pro-cannabis activist.
Hunter was referring to a recent Angus Reid Strategies poll that said 65 per cent of British Columbians support legalizing the Maui wowie to curb violence related to the drug trade.
A number of signs at the march endorsed legalizing marijuana to curb gang violence.
This week, in an effort to scale back organized crime, Mexico's legisature passed a law allowing Mexicans to carry small amounts of the herb but in Canada it is still illegal to be in possession of any amount of reefer.
"It's amazing this law still exists," Hunter said.
Furthermore "we're asking the Liberals to not support Bill C-15," Hunter said.
Bill C-15 is a new set of laws governing criminal activity proposed by Stephen Harper's Conservative government. It would give people minimum sentences for trafficking weed.
Hunter said it could mean anyone caught growing just one dope plant could go to jail for at least six months.
Demonstrators like Dave Douglas believe there are better alternatives to harsher penalties and held a sign reading 'Tax Pot.'
"Why not make some money off it just like alcohol and tobacco. Funds can go to health care," Douglas said.
Green Party members could also be seen handing out 'End Drug Prohibition' leaflets.
The march was part of a worldwide event dubbed The Global Marijuana March and while it may not be as big in Vancouver, tens of thousands of people have participated in Toronto over recent years.
"We're still building up the Vancouver march," Hunter said.
Supporters gather for marijuana legalization rally
By LORETTA PARK
Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau
[email protected]
OGDEN -- Supporters of legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes gathered in front of the Ogden Municipal Building under tarps, applauding speakers and listening to acoustic guitars.
The rain on Saturday did not dampen spirits as the 30-plus supporters cheered the speeches and waved to honking vehicles.
"If marijuana was legalized for medical purposes, it could actually help a lot of people," said Codey Collier, 19, of Ogden.
Collier admitted he smokes marijuana occasionally.
Those who want to legalize marijuana say it eases the pain and symptoms for people with cancer, glaucoma, AIDs and other illnesses.
Andrew Morrill, 53, of Salt Lake City, told those at the rally he came out of the closet eight years ago and let members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints know he smoked marijuana to help ease his pain.
"In eight years, we've come a long way," Morrill said.
The group was one of about 300 across the nation rallying in front of city, state and federal buildings demanding a change in the laws in hopes of "Cures not Wars," said Happy Gorder, 27, of Ogden.
Gorder was one of the organizers of the Ogden rally.
She had hoped 200 to 300 people would come, but was pleased to see the 30 supporters who braved the downpour.
A petition was passing among those attending, seeking signatures in support of placing an initiative on the November ballot asking voters to decide if marijuana should be legalized for medicinal purposes.
"We just want an option to be able to use marijuana for medicinal purposes," Gorder said. "Studies have shown it is better than pills to stop pain. People should have a choice."
Dr. Ken Larsen, a retired genetic researcher and associate professor at the University of Utah, has been working for years to have marijuana legalized.
"Nowhere in the Constitution is there any justification for the government to prohibit marijuana," Larsen said.
Those who oppose legalization say marijuana is a gateway drug, he said. But forms of opiates are prescribed daily to patients suffering from pain, he said.
Larsen, in an interview, discussed the back-and-forth of other objections to marijuana:
* Opponents claim marijuana is addictive. Larsen agrees, and points out caffeine is, too.
* Opponents claim marijuana inebriates a person so they cannot safely drive. True, Larsen says, but so does beer that is sold legally in grocery stores.
* Opponents claim marijuana is toxic. Larsen agrees, but points at tobacco, which is sold legally and shown to cause lung cancer.
"You should tolerate people's rights to be stupid," Larsen told the group. "That's called the pursuit of happiness, and as far as I'm concerned, you're all heroes."
Protesters call for new marijuana laws
Written by Pamela Roth
Saturday, 02 May 2009
Tamara Cartwright has a suggestion for the Alberta government during hard times in a recession â?? legalize marijuana and use the tax dollars to help get out of a deficit.
But thatâ??s just one of several benefits legalizing the drug would bring to our society, she said, as she held her megaphone up to her lips and rallied about 30 supporters at city hall during the second annual Global Marijuana March on Saturday afternoon, which ended with participants lighting up and passing around a few joints.
Cartwright is the president of the Southern Alberta Cannabis Club and has been using marijuana medicinally for several years to help cope with her colitis. But it hasnâ??t come without some discrimination. She is one of three million people in Canada who canâ??t get their doctor to sign a note saying they can have marijuana for medicinal purposes.
As a result, she believes the public needs to be made aware of how much of a difference marijuana makes in helping people with chronic health problems. And since 53 per cent of Canadians support the idea of legalizing and regulating the drug, why not just do it, she questions.
â??I am out here for the simple fact that prohibition is wrong. There is a lot of people that support what we do, but canâ??t come out and say anything for fear of losing their job. I donâ??t have a job to lose so Iâ??m speaking for all the people who canâ??t,â? said Cartwright, who was also protesting against Bill C-15, which proposes mandatory minimum jail sentences for drug offenders.
If passed into law, the bill, among its other provisions, would throw people caught with one marijuana plant into jail for a minimum of six months. Itâ??s a bill Cartwright, and many other marijuana supporters, believes simply wonâ??t work. Increasing the penalties for growing cannabis will only increase the amount of organized crime involvement, she said, along with the amount of violence.
â??I understand their whole concept on cracking down on gangs, but if you ended prohibition the gangs would have nothing to work with,â? she said. â??They (prohibitions) have never worked and they wonâ??t work. We are wasting our tax paying dollars on trying to catch gangsters.â?
The marijuana march was part of an international event with 263 cities worldwide taking part this year. Although there werenâ??t as many supporters as last yearâ??s march attracted, which had more than 60 people show up at city hall, this yearâ??s participants were still boisterous as they walked through the streets of downtown, waving signs stating â??Iâ??m not a criminalâ? and â??I donâ??t do drugs, I need.â?
Wearing a green toque and holding a sign that read, â??Hemp for a green future,â? Charlie Christensen led the way.
â??I am here to bring awareness to the cannabis plant itself. Cannabis, as an industrial crop, is something that a lot of people donâ??t know about. With the environmental crisis that we are facing, like running out of oil and using synthetics, using toxic waste, all of that stuff can be stopped if we use hemp as an industrial crop,â? said Christensen, who organized a similar march in 2003.
â??I know quite a few people that use it for medicinal purposes and would have a worse life if they didnâ??t use it as a medicine. I fully support legalization and I think it should be available for use for everyone.â?