cannabisnews.com: Marchers: Weed The People ...





Marchers: Weed The People ...
Posted by CN Staff on May 04, 2003 at 08:00:12 PT
By Philip Lee-Shanok, Toronto Sun
Source: Toronto Sun 
Toronto's cannabis community sparked up yesterday and celebrated changes in federal pot laws expected this summer. About 2,000 doobie tokin' supporters enjoyed the weather and a bit of the herb in Queen's Park as part of the annual global march for cannabis liberation -- The Million Marijuana March.
No problems were reported and police presence in the park was low-key. The group grooved to reggae music then marched up University Ave. to Bloor St. W. and over to Yonge St. before heading back to Queen's Park. ENJOYING THE DAY "We're here to celebrate the many successes of the past year, and there have been many," said Larry Duprey, chairman of the Toronto-area Marijuana Party, who asked the crowd not to overtly provoke police. "There's no reason to consume in their faces," he said. "Let's have some discretion. Let's enjoy the day." Despite the warning, there was lots of open partaking between the trees of the provincial legislature's north grounds. The celebration comes on the heels of Prime Minister Jean Chretien's announcement that possessing small quantities of marijuana would soon be decriminalized in Canada. The move follows the rulings of provincial courts of appeal and a recommendation by a Canadian Senate committee. A bill is expected to be introduced in June.  HEARD IT BEFORE "It's something we've heard before. I'm encouraged, but cautiously optimistic," said Neev, 31, of Cannabis As Living Medicine (CALM), a club for users of medical marijuana. Steven Bacon, one of the first Canadians to be given federal exemption to grow and possess weed for medicinal reasons, has high hopes for legal changes. "The federal government is between a rock and a hard place," he said, adding decriminalization is a half answer. "There will be no way for cops to tell the difference from medicinal and recreational users," said Bacon, who uses pot to control pain and increase his appetite. "Regulate it and no one would have a problem. Decriminalization will be a half measure we'll have to live with ..." Note: Tokin' demo at Queen's Park.Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)Author: Philip Lee-Shanok, Toronto SunPublished: Sunday, May 4, 2003 Copyright: 2003 Canoe Limited PartnershipContact: editor sunpub.comWebsite: http://www.fyitoronto.com/torsun.shtmlCALMhttp://www.cannabisclub.ca/Million Marijuana Marchhttp://www.millionmarijuanamarch.comMillion Marijuana March News 2003http://freedomtoexhale.com/million.htm CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml 
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