May 7, 2005
Marijuana Day ends in arrests
15 arrested in Tel Aviv, 7 in Jerusalem, for drug possession and use; Knesset Member Roman Bronfman on hand to support legal distinction between ‘light’ and ‘hard’ drugs
By Miri Hasson
Ynet News
Dog wearing 'Legalize drugs' t-shirt (Photo: Sharon Eden)More than 20 people were arrested for drug use and possession and during Marijuana Day events held in Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park and Jerusalem’s Sacher Park Saturday.
In Jerusalem, where Marijuana Day was marked for the first time, police closed down the celebrations and ordered the dozens of participants to leave the premises.
Knesset Member Roman Bronfman (Yahad), who took part in the Tel Aviv festivities, said during his speech “It is my democratic right to express my protest here against the government’s failed drug policy.”
No smoking, today “To solve the issue of drugs, a distinction must be made between light and hard drugs, and most efforts must be exerted to deal with the problem’s root - drug trafficking and hard drug users,” he said.
Bronfman told Ynet he was apprehensive about appearing at the Marijuana Day events.
“It is risky to hold such an opinion in Israel,” he said. “Knesset Member Yehiel Hazan (Likud) said that in light of my participation (in the event) I should be suspended from the Knesset’s Anti-Drug Abuse Committee.”
The events organizers asked the participants not to smoke drugs during the celebration.
“Do not smoke here. This day is not intended for that,” organizer Eran Vered told the crowd. “We have 364 days a year to do it, so please, not today.”
Vered told Ynet the number of participants in the day’s events was much lower than anticipated due to police scare-tactics.
“People said they do not want to arrive for fear they would eventually be arrested,” he said.
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