cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Lobbyists Light Up on Parliament Hill Marijuana Lobbyists Light Up on Parliament Hill Posted by CN Staff on May 04, 2002 at 20:33:46 PT By CBC News Online Staff Source: CBC Thousands of Canadians, some smoking pot, took part in what supporters called the "Million Marijuana March" Saturday. In at least 18 communities across the country, people rallied to decriminalize cannabis. Carrying banners with slogans like "Overgrow the Government," they sang songs and gave speeches demanding an end to the prohibition against pot. Similar demonstrations were held in more than 150 cities around the world – a tradition on the first Saturday in May for the past few years. "The Canadian public is coming on side. Sooner or later, the politicians will have to follow," predicted Eugene Oscapella of the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy. "What we need is legal, controlled, regulated access to marijuana for adults," he told a rally on Parliament Hill. "We need honest education about cannabis." But critics are worried that letting adults smoke marijuana will increase society's existing problems caused by drug abuse and addiction. "Our nation is at risk … our children and our families and our businesses and our way of life virtually are at risk because of the predominant use of drugs in our society," said Linda Bentall of the International Drug Education and Awareness Society. On Thursday, a Senate committee released a discussion paper on changes to marijuana laws. It suggested there may be good reasons to decriminalize the drug. The committee plans to hold public hearings over the next two months before issuing a final report at the end of the summer. Source: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Published: May 4, 2002Copyright: 2002 CBCWebsite: http://www.cbc.ca/Contact: cbcinput toronto.cbc.caRelated Articles & Web Sites:Canadian Foundation for Drug Policyhttp://www.cfdp.ca/index.htmMillion Marijuana March 2002http://freedomtoexhale.com/million.htmCanada: The Debate Over Decriminalization http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12697.shtmlShould We Treat Pot Like Tobacco? Senators Ask http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12696.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by WolfgangWylde on May 05, 2002 at 11:00:12 PT Why on this God's green earth... ...anybody would pin their hopes of legalization on another one of these special committee reports is beyond me. Folks, not to rain on anybody's parade, but its been done before, ad nauseaum. Schaffer, LeDain, etc, dating back to the early 1900's. They all recommend legalization and they all get ignored. Don't participate in the dog and pony show, its demeaning. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by E_Johnson on May 04, 2002 at 22:07:15 PT It's getting a bit much I think So like the world was totally silent east of Liverpool and south of the Canadian border?This kinda reminds me of when the Soviet Union used to jam BBC. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by null on May 04, 2002 at 21:21:43 PT Let it be The committee plans to hold public hearings over the next two months before issuing a final report at the end of the summer.I am sure they will arrive at the conclusion that the committe under Nixon reached: Legalize. To sum it up succinctly:Let it be, let it be. Let it be, let it be. There will be an answer, let it be. Let it be, let it be. Let it be, let it be. Whisper words of wisdom, let it be. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment