cannabisnews.com: 1,000 Rally in Toronto To Call for Legalization 





1,000 Rally in Toronto To Call for Legalization 
Posted by CN Staff on May 01, 2004 at 14:59:34 PT
By Steve Fairbairn
Source: Canadian Press 
Toronto -- Marijuana users chanted "we love weed" as they marched through the streets of downtown Toronto on Saturday, smoking their hearts out and calling for Ottawa to legalize the drug. About 1,000 demonstrators rallied at the Ontario legislature and later marched through some of Toronto's busiest streets with a police escort.
They were led by Alison Myrden, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and is wheelchair bound. She has long fought for legalized marijuana to ease her pain. Protest is important to raise public awareness about the medicinal benefits of marijuana, Myrden said. "People don't understand that sick people still don't have an affordable quality source of medicine," she said as she manoeuvred her wheelchair along a tony stretch of Bloor Street. "Our government is not helping us." Many Canadians with chronic illnesses have been granted exemptions under the law and can legally use marijuana to ease their pain. But getting a reliable source of marijuana continues to be difficult for many medicinal users. Ottawa has set up an underground grow operation in Manitoba, but many patients who have received the government pot have shunned it, citing poor quality. The federal Liberal government has dodged efforts to legalize marijuana, instead proposing to decriminalize it. Under a bill now before Parliament, possessing 15 grams or less of marijuana would no longer be a criminal matter, but would be dealt with by a fine. The federal bill followed a decision by an Ontario Superior Court judge last year who ruled that possession of less than 30 grams if marijuana was no longer against the law. Police forces in Ontario said they wouldn't lay charges for basic possession until the situation was clarified and that sentiment spread across the country. At Saturday's protest, police were more concerned about protecting the marchers from Toronto drivers than they were about the plumes of smoke that wafted around the demonstrators. One marcher holding a large joint stopped to have his picture taken with an officer helping to direct traffic, who only responded with an embarrassed smile. Although marijuana advocates want no strings attached to using the drug, they'll settle for Ottawa's middle ground for now, said organizer Franklin Skanks. "It's time to legalize it, time to change the laws," he said. "I'd prefer legalization but decriminalization would be the first step." "I really believe that everyone should be free to enjoy it because it is such an amazing thing," said Katelyn Knight, a 19-year-old Toronto college student. "Unless you smoke it, you don't realize how amazing it is." The demonstration was part of the Million Marijuana March, a worldwide event held annually in more than 200 cities to demand the full legalization of pot. Canadian marches were also planned in Vancouver and Montreal. Complete Title: 1,000 Rally in Toronto To Call for Legalization of MarijuanaSource: Canadian PressAuthor: Steve FairbairnPublished: May 1, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Canadian PressThe Marijuana Missionhttp://www.themarijuanamission.com/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #8 posted by WolfgangWylde on May 02, 2004 at 04:23:22 PT
Meanwhile, in the UK, the new classification...
of cannabis is resulting in the bottom dropping out of the illegal cannabis trade. Here's an excerpt from the Sunday Mail:SPLIFF NATION Dope Price Plummets Thousands of Scots Users Grow Their Own Weed THE price of cannabis has more than halved in Scotland because thousands of users are growing their own. Drug squads yesterday warned that the price of hash has gone through the floor, with an ounce selling for UKP32 compared to UKP100 two years ago. Last night, detective sergeant Kenny Simpson of Strathclyde Police said: 'Since reclassification there have been more people growing their own grass because they incorrectly think it's legal. 'The price of cannabis resin cannot drop any more. 'If it did it would stop being profitable for dealers.' 
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Comment #7 posted by Jose Melendez on May 02, 2004 at 00:31:20 PT
vote!
http://cannabisculture.com/articles/3422.html
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Comment #6 posted by Marc Paquette on May 01, 2004 at 18:31:17 PT:
Bravo Alison!
Hi again my Friends;Escapegoat is right! Alison spoke pretty well in this article and I'm proud of her! I know Alison personally because I've been fighting with her in courts a few times. I'm also a medical marijuana Exemptee :o) and I'm also very proud that Alison was also mentioned as NDP candidate in Oakville. I just hope that Alison will now shake our Minister of Health cage (Honarable? Pierre Pettigrew) Petty-Grew LOLPeace,Marc
http://www.medpot.net/forums
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Comment #5 posted by escapegoat on May 01, 2004 at 18:12:46 PT
Support Alison and the NDP!
This article doesn't mention Alison is the federal candidate for the New Democratic Party in Oakville -- the election is set to be called next week! Canadians, we need your support! Let's support the only major political party that wants to LEGALIZE CANNABIS!
Alison Myrden - Oakville NDP
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Comment #4 posted by Marc Paquette on May 01, 2004 at 17:46:29 PT:
You have seen nothing yet!
Hi my Friends;1000 people today in Toronto..that's nothing compared to what will happen on Parliament Hill on June 5th 2004 for the Fill the Hill march. There are caravan rides, buses and planes trips organised from coast to coast for this event. The message has to go through..it's time to legalize this herb!Usually cops here don't pay too much attention in these pot smoking events in Canada, as they are there to respect the order and circulation. The authorities already have their civil-dressed agents and hidden cameras everywhere to take pictures of those smoking pot in these protests though.Peace,Marc
Wow! Police Escort?
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Comment #3 posted by OverwhelmSam on May 01, 2004 at 16:12:35 PT
Wow! Police Escort?
They gave them a police excort? In America, they usually call out the riot police.
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Comment #2 posted by kaptinemo on May 01, 2004 at 15:33:54 PT:
The obvious question comes to mind
Namely, if they are that careless with their own lives and not checking the chamber of the weapon - as even the greenest Army grunt has pounded into them the very first day - then how can they be trusted with firearms at all? Especially around children?Sleep safe, America; the DEA is protecting you. The question is: Who's protecting them...from themselves? Perhaps, it's *we* who need protection from such rank incompetents.Given this demonstration of DEA firearms safety procedures, I wouldn't trust them with anything more technologically advanced than a spoon...
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Comment #1 posted by Dark Star on May 01, 2004 at 15:11:20 PT
Unrelated DEA Story
From http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/South/05/01/dea.shooting.ap/index.htmlGun safety presenter shoots self
Saturday, May 1, 2004 Posted: 12:11 PM EDT (1611 GMT) ORLANDO, Florida (AP) -- A federal drug agent shot himself in the leg during a gun safety presentation to children in what police describe as an accident. His bosses, however, are still investigating the incident.The Drug Enforcement Administration agent, whose name was not released, was speaking April 9 to about 50 adults and students organized by the Orlando Minority Youth Golf Association, witnesses and police said.He drew his .40-caliber duty weapon and removed the magazine, according to the police report. He then pulled back the slide and asked an audience member to look inside the gun and confirm it wasn't loaded.Witnesses said when the agent released the slide, one shot fired into the top of his left thigh. The gun was pointed at the floor.The agent was treated at Orlando Regional Medical Center and returned to work, a DEA official said.
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